Cutththroat trout on a fly

[Deleted User]

I'm going to get into flyfishing for cutthroats on this year. I am going to use a 9' for a #4 line rod and would like a some suggestions on what flies they respond to best. Can anyone out there give me some guidance? How about Bill H. or Pete or anyone else.
Thanks,
Stew

[First Bite]

Hey Shane
The spruce fly is a favorite of many sea-run cutthroat fly fisherman. The fly is available in a light and dark variation. I ran into a Guide at a fly shop in Sisters a few years back and that is all he ever used for sea-run cutthroat. Sounds like a lot of fun.
Mark

www.firstcastjigs.com (http://www.firstcastjigs.com)

[Phish_on]

Royal Coachman always a good bet, size 10-14.
Cutthroat, they're going to bite anything they see - FUN!

[Woolly Bugger]

I like using a mickey finn size from 4-6. I have had a lot of success with non sea run cuts with this but Im usually fishing for them on streams/rivers above Willamette Falls. These are pretty easy to tie up as well. I have been lucky enough to have some inland bluebacks as big as 14" slam these on my 7'6" 3wt. Oh yeah!

Dont forget to try a big fat black woolly bugger either. I like the bead head(a little more weight)the best. Again...pretty easy to tie up. Even my ugly ones work well. These even work well for giant Lahotan Cutthroats(16", 18" 20")as tested last month at Mann Lake!

Is summer the best time to target sea run cuts at the coast?

[Tanner]

Hey Stew,
I have had really good success with just about any steelhead fly that is scaled down. I have caught them on Purple Perils and Green Butt Skunks etc. but I tied them in smaller sizes such as 4,6 and 8. Just remember, a summer steely will grab these smaller sizes as often (and sometimes more) than the larger sizes. You absolutely cannot go wrong with a Spruce Fly or Royal Coachman either.

They are also alot of fun on dry's.

[SailCat]

As you may be aware, this season opens on the Northern coastal streams on Saturday, May 26th.

You may have noticed a similarity in the recommended patterns. Sea-run cuts are attracted to 'most any bright-colored fly and will strike readily. Spruce and Royal Coachman are classics; a Brown-Hackle Yellow works well, too, and is an easy tie

If there's a 'trick' to catching them, it's fishing the right water. These fish will not hang in traditional trout holding areas nor be found in the 'seam' like a steelhead. Try that dark, boiling water *above* a feeder stream and in the slow-moving current where branches overhang. Then hold on. Bluebacks are a real kick-in-the-pants.

Email me your address and I'll send you some flies, Shane. I owe ya.

~Michael

[PittsburghD]

My favorite! Cutts on a dry. Pretty much any attractor pattern right at the head of a pool where swift whitewater turns into swift clearwater. Boom--fish on. Also, for stripping cutts I use baitfish imitators or those fancy, expensive crawfish imitators. It really doesn't matter what you throw, it's how and where. Cutts will attack a salmon plug if it's there.


D

[BillK]

I would like to add both the Borden Special the Skykomiah Sunrise to the list. Tie them on with a size 8 TMC 200 hook instead of the upturn steelhead hook and your catch rate will go up.

BillK

[SSPey]

bluebacks hold on slow water, and many traditional steelhead patterns don't have enough motion for this slower water. I use two colors - pink and black - simple #6 rabbit strip flies on TMC 7999's. Often they'll hit on the pause, so a fly with motion helps. And dries - oh boy - as long as it is moving and big they'll hammer it.... IF they want - nothing could be more fun than catching sea runs on a dry images/icons/smile.gif