Hit a falling SWW river this morning hoping hatchery coho would be on the move, and they were.
Same pocket water I fished a couple weeks ago for Tule fall chinook. Water was significantly higher though. Due to the white water I fished a 12wt with floater and long leader. I don't like using shot or added weight, but basically impossible to get down in water this turbulent without.
Wasn't encouraged when the first salmon I saw move through the slot was a small, but surprisingly not-nasty looking chinook. Didn't take too long to see a few black back chromers moving up. Absolutely love N-type coho. They show up chrome, snappy, and when the river is fresh.
First fish landed was the only clipped keeper. Didn't want to cracker this fish when beaching like several chinook I did a couple weeks ago. So, I had a dumbass moment and highsticked, snapping the tip section of my 12wt Echo 3S. Sucks, but I have another 10 months before next tuna season. At least this 6# hen is headed for the smoker.
Switched to the 8/9 weight with an intermediate I brought to fish the pool. Didn't make much difference when high sticking, but a big difference in fish control. Hooked/lost a couple more before landing a smaller, unclipped fish (very brief, barely out of water shot).
Briefly hooked another bright fish that went aerial and threw the fly. Next cast into the same bucket connected with a beast, hook-nosed buck that took me on 200yd boulder scramble through this shit.
I was bummed to see an adipose, but still grinning from an epic fight I wont forget anytime soon.
Ended the day going 3 for 8, using variants on the same pinkish/orange pattern.
Same pocket water I fished a couple weeks ago for Tule fall chinook. Water was significantly higher though. Due to the white water I fished a 12wt with floater and long leader. I don't like using shot or added weight, but basically impossible to get down in water this turbulent without.
Wasn't encouraged when the first salmon I saw move through the slot was a small, but surprisingly not-nasty looking chinook. Didn't take too long to see a few black back chromers moving up. Absolutely love N-type coho. They show up chrome, snappy, and when the river is fresh.
First fish landed was the only clipped keeper. Didn't want to cracker this fish when beaching like several chinook I did a couple weeks ago. So, I had a dumbass moment and highsticked, snapping the tip section of my 12wt Echo 3S. Sucks, but I have another 10 months before next tuna season. At least this 6# hen is headed for the smoker.
Switched to the 8/9 weight with an intermediate I brought to fish the pool. Didn't make much difference when high sticking, but a big difference in fish control. Hooked/lost a couple more before landing a smaller, unclipped fish (very brief, barely out of water shot).
Briefly hooked another bright fish that went aerial and threw the fly. Next cast into the same bucket connected with a beast, hook-nosed buck that took me on 200yd boulder scramble through this shit.
I was bummed to see an adipose, but still grinning from an epic fight I wont forget anytime soon.
Ended the day going 3 for 8, using variants on the same pinkish/orange pattern.
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