Cutt flies?

[Spoons]

I am going to be at Netarts for six days next week over the holiday to hang with the family, crab, clam and I also plan on bringing my fly rod but am not sure what flies to use for the coastal cutts as I have never fished for them. Could someone help my please?

Thank you in advance.

[Wyndknot]

For dry's try an attractor pattern like a Royal
coachman or a yellow humpie something with
some color to it, the coast rivers dont have
the emerging insects like are found east of the
mountains so just get their attention with something, Sz 10 to 16. Streamers- Spruce fly,
Clouser minnows, muddler minnows fished in
the frog water with over hanging foliage, fish
on a sinking line, vary the depth and retreive
till you find them. I've done best in low light
conditions or when there is a light rain. Have
fun. Oh yeah, they are not real leader shy, you
might run into a steelie or a salmon. I would'nt
use less than 6lb tippet. Please release any
cutts you catch. I love these fish and want my
grandchildren to be able to fish for them. :smile:

[Paddlefish]

The old traditional cutthroat flies were often bright attractors: Borden Special, Royal Coachman, Brad's Brat, etc.

I've had good luck with Haig-Brown's Silver Brown Bucktail. It's a good fry imitation and these guys are prowlers and predators, after all.

A fish-busting buddy of mine uses a Bucktail Caddis: as a dry fly, as a wet fly, and as a streamer. It seems to be all the fly he ever needs. Likewise with a Muddler. Just hold on: the next explosion you experience may be a steelhead.

[santiamflyguy]

every time i fish for summer steelhead on the coast, i can't keep the damn cutts off of my fly :smile: .

i cast across, swing down, and feel what's almost an incessant 'tap, tap, tap, tap' on the fly. those are the little cutts and smolt.

the key is don't set the hook when you're swinging streamers or steelhead flies. if the fish is big enough, it'll hook itself right in the corner of the mouth b/c of the pull of the line.

i had a few 20-30 fish days on the nestucca and wilson last year...no steelhead, but just tons and tons of native and searun cutts.

seriously, though, anything you throw at them should be fine. i can't keep them off with a stick.

wyndknot had some good advice on the leader, too. go at least 6lb or 3x.
you never know :smile:

[santiamflyguy]

just reread your post, and in the netarts area, your best bets would be the wilson and trask, but don't overlook the tillamook. there's some big cutts in there...in the most accessible places. fish tight to the brush and structures and hold on!

[deefly]

All the above sounds like great advice! A couple of other flies: Orange body w/white strip wings and and dont forget the stimulators! Good luck! BTW, all cutts are catch and release in that area.

[Spoons]

Thanks for all of the information! Just reading it is pumping me up! I am heading down tonight w/o the wife and kids so I am will surely be stopping on the Wilson to try.

Thank you again!!!

[garyk]

Usually we fish for cutts a little earlier then this but I suspect the following will still work.

For dry pattern I like the Clarks Stone, and when they won't come up, like in deeper holes, I use a small black marabou leech.

See you in Netarts.

[Snapset]

All the patterns mentioned are great, but I have found yellow to be a key color.

[fishinbuddy]

I normally key in on nymph action, since that is where the fish feed the most. Green rock worms and chronomids work well for me. Also a little caddis or mayfly nymph pattern always works. At this time of year the water is low and clear. Key in on dark colors. You will usually use black, green, or purple. Just the other day I was fishing for cutts on the siletz with a beadhead green rock worm. I tied into a 10-12 lb steelhead on 4lb test with my 4 weight g-loomis. What a blast. Lost it unfortunately. Good luck!

[santiamflyguy]

found a bunch of searuns today on the wilson on a green butt skunk w/ pearl flashabou wing. they didn't seem to want anything else .

as a side note, i was checked by the OSP today. only the second time in ten years!