Might be a bit sporty tomorrow.
Which model to believe?
SF
Which model to believe?
SF
Puget Sound
- Thread starter Stonedfish
- Start date
speedbird
Life of the Party
First fly fishing trip since I got home from the hospital, Got a late start, so missed the incoming tide cycle. Driving across the bridge seeing the wind made me a little worried about casting for the day, but fortunately I picked my beach to have the wind behind me, and the structure of it offered tons of protection. First mistake of the day: Leaving the waders in the car in favor of my long boots, I’d assumed from previous cutthroat trips that they would be all I’d need anywhere I’d Cutthroat fish. Not the case at all at this beach at high tide. The parts where the drop off is steep enough to fish well (Based off my very limited successful cutthroat beach knowledge catalog of two, one being Purdy) are too close to the tree line, and the parts where the tree line sits far enough back to cast is too shallow to fish effectively. Regardless, I was able to get some short but fishable casts off at the deep parts, 40-55ish ft, but I got wet feet. Merino wool socks helped. Would have been a good day to test out the single hand spey setup @skyrise leant me, will pack it if I fish the high tide over here again.
I have found that the first couple casts I make after moving spots always tend to be the most efficient. Yes, the more I concentrate the more line I can get to shoot out, but I think I am overthinking my casting into being worse than it could be. The amount of extra effort I am putting in to take my casts from 60-70ft tells me I am doing something very wrong, because with the Rio Outbound Short, 40ft is as easy as a spinning cast, and 60 is easier than a baitcaster.
Worked my way up the beach mostly fishing a sili shrimp. I was quite surprised to see no signs of fish. This beach looks straight out of a fly fishing magazine. Picture perfect cobblestone, oysters scattered every so often, and very pretty oysters at that and current moving swift enough you could dead drift or swing a fly if you wanted. I essentially had the entire beach to myself, I saw two dogwalkers and they stayed around the end of the trail. Mostly fished a Sili Shrimp, I switched over to a pinkish orange clouser style baitfish pattern to see if it would help, but no takers. Tried a Delia Squid, and even an Olive Wooly Bugger but lost both to snags before they had been fished effectively. I was fishing the Sili shrimp and clouser with around a 3ft leader, making me wonder if I was spooking fish, but with no signs it may have just been a slow day.
I had planned to fish a second beach, one with no internet presence for a change, but wasted some time: As I walked back down, sitting a good 3 feet above the beach in a clearing, there was a bench. The bench appears to be unreasonably high to be used by folks walking on the beach, and the presence of the clearing led me to assume there would be a trail. It was not, and I ended up doing tons of unexpected bushwacking, and almost attempted to climb down a six foot vertical drop before recognizing it. I imagine the cliff was created by erosion from a king tide, and that the bench I found was part of a now abandoned trail. (Hope this isn’t too identifying, can take it out of the post if requested)
Stopped at the Gig Harbor Fly Shop to pick up some fly tying materials, decided to ask about the beach and they said it can fish quite well. I hope this beach fishes decently in the winter and late Fall, and that it is fishable at high tide when beachgoers are limited in access because I have yet to discover a more peaceful spot while cutthroat fishing. My very poor catch record of South Sound cutthroat makes me sometimes consider budgeting a stop at Purdy to at least get some fish to hand, but that sort of fishing isn’t really why I got into SRC. Now to binge Nick Clayton fly tying videos to figure out what I want in my box!
I have found that the first couple casts I make after moving spots always tend to be the most efficient. Yes, the more I concentrate the more line I can get to shoot out, but I think I am overthinking my casting into being worse than it could be. The amount of extra effort I am putting in to take my casts from 60-70ft tells me I am doing something very wrong, because with the Rio Outbound Short, 40ft is as easy as a spinning cast, and 60 is easier than a baitcaster.
Worked my way up the beach mostly fishing a sili shrimp. I was quite surprised to see no signs of fish. This beach looks straight out of a fly fishing magazine. Picture perfect cobblestone, oysters scattered every so often, and very pretty oysters at that and current moving swift enough you could dead drift or swing a fly if you wanted. I essentially had the entire beach to myself, I saw two dogwalkers and they stayed around the end of the trail. Mostly fished a Sili Shrimp, I switched over to a pinkish orange clouser style baitfish pattern to see if it would help, but no takers. Tried a Delia Squid, and even an Olive Wooly Bugger but lost both to snags before they had been fished effectively. I was fishing the Sili shrimp and clouser with around a 3ft leader, making me wonder if I was spooking fish, but with no signs it may have just been a slow day.
I had planned to fish a second beach, one with no internet presence for a change, but wasted some time: As I walked back down, sitting a good 3 feet above the beach in a clearing, there was a bench. The bench appears to be unreasonably high to be used by folks walking on the beach, and the presence of the clearing led me to assume there would be a trail. It was not, and I ended up doing tons of unexpected bushwacking, and almost attempted to climb down a six foot vertical drop before recognizing it. I imagine the cliff was created by erosion from a king tide, and that the bench I found was part of a now abandoned trail. (Hope this isn’t too identifying, can take it out of the post if requested)
Stopped at the Gig Harbor Fly Shop to pick up some fly tying materials, decided to ask about the beach and they said it can fish quite well. I hope this beach fishes decently in the winter and late Fall, and that it is fishable at high tide when beachgoers are limited in access because I have yet to discover a more peaceful spot while cutthroat fishing. My very poor catch record of South Sound cutthroat makes me sometimes consider budgeting a stop at Purdy to at least get some fish to hand, but that sort of fishing isn’t really why I got into SRC. Now to binge Nick Clayton fly tying videos to figure out what I want in my box!
Brian - have you found that one model performs better than the rest? Usually each model is biased in one way or another and more often than not, one might work well around PS and not so good in the Yakima Valley. Intuitively, I would go with either the HRRR or the NAM as they are supposed to be the highest resolution forecast models.Might be a bit sporty tomorrow.
Which model to believe?
SF
Bob,
I usually default to NAM. It seems to be the most accurate, but I cross check it also against some weather sites including NOAA.
Seems the Euro model is always a bit more extreme based on my experience.
What drives me crazy is the variations between the forecasts and the variations within the models themselves. I recently looked at one with winds forecast at 3 mph and gusts possible to 34 within the same hour? Obviously weather can change, but that particular forecast was like that for a number of continuous hours and there was really no wind that day.
I know weather forecasting isn’t a perfect science, but a lot have been way off when it comes to wind this fall. I’m glad in most cases I didn’t believe them and went fishing, though I’ve had my ass kick a few times by the wind direction forecast being totally wrong.
SF
Gone or just were caught Friday? On the rivers at least I long ago learn when fishing sea-runs fishing behind myself nearly always resulted in fewer fish.
speedbird
Life of the Party
They were jumping all over the place Friday and nowhere to be seen today. Maybe they wisened up
Coho
Steelhead
Some big high tides in the sound starting tomorrow. Luckily it doesn’t look like we’ll get any crazy weather to go with them, which only makes things worse.
SF
wsg.washington.edu
wsg.washington.edu
SF
King Tides Calendar | Washington Sea Grant
wsg.washington.edu
Program Development | Washington Sea Grant
wsg.washington.edu
cedarslug
Steelhead
Some big high tides in the sound starting tomorrow. Luckily it doesn’t look like we’ll get any crazy weather to go with them, which only makes things worse.
SF
King Tides Calendar | Washington Sea Grant
Program Development | Washington Sea Grant
Good call out! I have a rare opportunity to go out and fish the beach tomorrow afternoon. Looks like the king tide is happening in the morning, but I'll be sure not go out too far in the water
Heck yeah! I know where I’m going tomorrow!Some big high tides in the sound starting tomorrow. Luckily it doesn’t look like we’ll get any crazy weather to go with them, which only makes things worse.
SF
King Tides Calendar | Washington Sea Grant
Program Development | Washington Sea Grant
Yep...where I plan to fish Saturday will be at 13.6', so I'll sleep in and take my time. Might need to cast from the picnic tables as the tide will be up on the lawn.
Anyone ever mow a tide?
SF
This is unacceptable. There’s nowhere to backcast. Nowhere to nap.Yep...where I plan to fish Saturday will be at 13.6', so I'll sleep in and take my time. Might need to cast from the picnic tables as the tide will be up on the lawn.
Anyone ever mow a tide?
SF
It seems like WDFW is letting these king tides happen every winter now!
Looks like Sundays weather will make for a pleasant day on the canal. Do these high tides dissuade you from going because of the lack of beach? I plan to be there by boat and after reading this king tide mumbo jumbo wonder if the tides will keep the fish from being around. Or could it actually be a plus if the casting is in towards the shore and perhaps some cover along with real estate the fish seldom get to prowl.
Divad
Whitefish
I’m assuming you’ll be on your new boat! Hope you have a blast out there on it, and some good fish to christen the Lund.
I love the big tides, brings SRC nice and close and creates some good rips on both sides of the peak. Know of a couple nooks where fish like to meander into when the tide swings above 13ft as you eluded to, 16ft will be even better!
Wind should be playing ball
I think the plan is to hit some water by boat this weekend as well. At least as of today. Looking forward to it. I have not targeted SRC in over a month. I’ve caught fish in some interesting places on these big tides.
In a boat though, keep an eye out for shit carried off the beach with all the high water.
In a boat though, keep an eye out for shit carried off the beach with all the high water.
In a boat, no worries. As mentioned the big highs will reshuffle the deck when it comes to stuff on the beach, some that normally wouldn’t move will end up floating around.
There is definitely a lack of beach, especially in the deep south sound when you get 16’ plus tides. You can still catch fish, but not as much fun to beach fish when the water is that high in my opinion.
SF
Boy Kashf, I've been called a lot of things, but never skyrise.
I had a basketball coach and a youth leader that thought Stack was funny. My name is Stacy and I was 6' tall in like 7th grade so....yeah. I didn't like it. I won't even tell you my last name. Haha!I was actually just gonna comment on your leader. Is that 3' of total leader? And what sort of line? In general...your nice sleek wet fly will cast best with most lines if your leader is nearly as long as your rod. So 9' rod and a 7-9' leader is probably what you want. Especially if you're fishing a floater. If fishing an intermediate I usually go with the 6-7' leader since my fly line is clear. Tippet is usually at least 18" and no longer than 3' of 6-10 lb fluoro or 8 lb Maxima Ultragreen. If I'm using an actual sinker I like a 5-6' leader total. About 2' of that 5-6' is my tippet.
Only 3' of leader might be spooking some fish, although SRCs aren't that wary, but the bigger issue is it's probably putting some clunkiness into your cast. That could be costing you distance, but more likely causing timing issues and less enjoyment. And maybe some splashy casts, which actually could scare SRCs.
Keep at it! Oh, and....wear your waders man!