Chinook & Silvers on the Fly (HELP)

rpnsteelheadlps · 09-30-2003, 07:05 AM

My desire is strong but I'm letting my frustration get the best of me. Try ,try and try some more I can't for the life of me get a strike.I'm using a 8wt rod with Airflo multi tip line. I've tried every pattern I have and tried different retrieves with no success.

PLEASE help me........................... [img]graemlins/1zhelp.gif[/img]

Old dog · 09-30-2003, 08:17 AM

David, maybe this will help. Just caught my first Silver on a fly yesterday, 9/29, on the Sandy below the hatchery. When I arrived at the first hole there were 3 guys fly fishing on the far side of the bank and one of them had on a large fish. I went to the hole below that and landed an 8-9 lb. Silver on a bright pink fly, a native that I released. Last week at the same place fishing with William I had 2 Silvers on for a few seconds with 2 different purple flash flies, but couldn't land either one. William (the best fisherman I've ever seen) experimented with lots of colors and hooked several fish. He wound up taking home 2 caught on pink yarn.

rpnsteelheadlps · 09-30-2003, 08:23 AM

I appreciate the info!

Mojo · 09-30-2003, 09:06 AM

David,
If big and flashy doesn't work, try a Muddler Minnow, and trim almost all of the hair off the head. In B.C. I use a "Rolled Muddler" and it is killer on Coho's...

Rolled Muddler 1

Rolled Muddler 2

Rolled Muddler 3

Old Coot · 09-30-2003, 09:35 AM

Double your pleasure...double your fun...with double good, double good... double hooks?

I you want to keep what you catch, try making your own double salmon hooks by simply clipping off the brazed-on third hook on a treble. It's much less expensive than tracking down high-quality doubles handmade in Finland by gnomes. Quicker, too.

Dog---GOOD FOR YOU! Fun, huh?

Not for nothing am I called a cheapskate.

[ 09-30-2003, 10:35 AM: Message edited by: Old Coot ]

rpnsteelheadlps · 09-30-2003, 10:16 AM

I only fish with single barbless hooks. I believe the hook penetraion is much better that way. plus I never have to look at the Regulations for hook sizes. I appreciate the advice though..

I'm looking for where,when,how, and type information. Better yet a trip with Stew down to the Nehalem this Sunday for some instruction would be great. :grin:

rpnsteelheadlps · 09-30-2003, 12:09 PM

OK , time for the million dollor question ? Where might you suggest going ?

Old dog · 09-30-2003, 02:41 PM

David, didn't give these details on my earlier post today about the Silver landed yesterday on the Sandy: I used a 10 wt. Lamiglas with Courtland Quick Descent line. It has handled fall and spring Chinook and summer Steelhead during the past year (my first hookups for big ones on flys). Yesterday, I tried my 8 wt. Reddington with a short sinking line extension, but the water might have been too fast for this set-up, so I switched back to the heavier outfit. The fly is a 2-toned pink with a little chartruese and flash that I hooked 2 winter Steelhead on (but couldn't land either one) and 10# leader. Hope this helps.

09-30-2003, 03:15 PM

I was thinking the Sandy in the Oxbow park area. There are a few runs that don't get hammered to much that may be worth a try...maybe?

[ 09-30-2003, 11:08 PM: Message edited by: Stew ]

Chromaflage · 09-30-2003, 03:55 PM

It depends on the type of water you are fishing. I have caught MANY nooks on flies in the Sandy. Totally different from drift fishing. Sinking tip line is a must in my book - you have to actually tickle their noses with the flies in order to get them to take. More oten than not, the take feels like your line is skipping over a jagged rock - once or twice. Find some fairly deep holding water and get the fly deep and get it there fast. Keep your line tight - it's a real touchy-feely game. If you feel ANYTHING that you even slightly suspect is abnormal, give it the iron! - One more thing - big bright flies.

ORS

[ 09-30-2003, 05:00 PM: Message edited by: OregonRedside ]

Bubzilla · 09-30-2003, 09:55 PM

I fish for salmon quite a bit with flies. Unfortunately, there is a lot of snagging that occurs with fly rods, and it gives virtually everyone else a bad name. So, my first advice, is to always be mindful of not snagging--intentionally or otherwise.

As far as flies go, most biters, in my experience, prefer sparsely dressed flies in fluorescent colors. Often, Chinook will focus in on fairly small flies too--#8 being not too small at all. Coho like all sorts of streamers--blue and white and chartreuse and white work awesome. Also, and you didn't hear this from me, all salmon seem to dig glow-in-the-dark. Why? I don't know, but they do. I think it may have something to do with how their prey appears in the ocean. One well-known pattern that always produces for me is the "Green King" of Scarlet Ibis fame.

There used to be several fly shops in the Willamette Valley with owners/staff that really knew their stuff when it came to salmon angling. One of the best is Rich Youngers in Salem--Creekside Fly Shop. Rich guides for salmon on the coast, and contrary to the statement regarding guides on the main board, is not simply taking anybody's money. In fact, a picture of a nice fall chinook (#35+)that my brother caught with him in '97 used to run every year in the Statesmen Journal, and was up in the Orvis shop in Salem--haven't been there in several years, so I don't know if the shop or the photo is still there. At any rate, if you're really serious about learning how to target salmon on the fly, you couldn't find a better source for gear, tips, or a guided trip.

A lot of the best fly fishing for salmon is done in tidewater. The Salmon River used to be really good, as did the Nestucca. Basically, it's like lake fishing for really BIG trout in terms of technique, i.e., cast and strip. Those fish are always biters when you hook them, which is the goal. Further up in rivers, for the most part, salmon, chinook especially, get far less inclined to take a whack. But let me set this straight: anyone who says you can't legitimately catch salmon on a fly doesn't know what they're talking about--a common disease among anglers I'm affraid.

Silvers are a strange lot. Some days you can do no wrong. Other times they won't bite at all. Why? One of the world's greatest mysteries. When they're on, I've got 'em on just about everything--including waking dries (which is incredible). Generally, the jacks are very aggressive, though. I've caught a lot of them fishing basic trout/steelhead indicator techniques (for the purists, "bobber" fishing). They love small egg patterns.

Good luck.

09-30-2003, 11:52 PM

David thanks for the offer about fishing the Nehalem but I've only fished it once this year and it was full of dark fish. Since we have had virtually no rain since then I think the Nehalem would be a bad choice until we get some rain.

Old dog · 10-01-2003, 08:17 AM

Bubzilla, thanks for the info. I strongly agree with your endorsement of Rich Younger at Creekside Fly Fishing in Salem. He worked his tail off for hours to help me hook my first salmon on flies last year. Now, I'm hooked on this method whenever there's room on a river bank where I won't offend the gear guys, or when I can take out my pontoon boat in tidewater. If every guide was as skilled, dedicated, and as good company as Rich, we'd see a lot more fly fishers for salmon.

rpnsteelheadlps · 10-01-2003, 09:08 AM

Bubzilla, Thank you very much and everyone else that replied.

Bubzilla that post is unbelievable you know how to put your words together.

TillamookChinook · 10-02-2003, 11:14 PM

This has been a great thread.

Now we need to hear reports from everyone who went out and tried it.