2025 Tuna and Exotics

One of my past times is couch fishing (thanks CBY, wherever you are), with a favorite being The Obsession of Carter Andrew's.

Tonight's episode was him fishing albacore off the Oregon coast, "50 miles out" and doing just so so, with him being extremely happy that they caught several on fly after multiples on gear.

Was thinking to myself, "You haven't seen anything regarding tuna on the fly, dude. I know of some guys in WA who'd make this episode look like it was an elementary school play."
 
This has been an interesting winter for me. Lots of stuff outside of fishing that has been receiving the bulk of my focus, namely the failing health of my mother. But no matter what is going on, my mind and my heart are never far from a bait stop.

My official prep for the 2025 albacore season began in earnest this week. I am hoping for big things this year. I am approaching this season with a whole new attitude and I can't tell you how stoked I am to get going.

Step one this week has been addressing the fly boxes. I didn't tie any tuna flies heading into 2024, mostly due to the situation with my captains license and my health. Frankly I just couldn't bring myself to get my hopes up by tying flies, not knowing if I'd even be able to use them. Plus, it's not like I am lacking albacore flies.

But after a long and successful season my boxes are certainly low on some patterns, this squid being at the top of that list. I fished squid patterns nearly exclusively last season and was amazed at how well they consistently produced. I've watched @SilverFly do work with squid patterns for years, so I knew they worked, but in years past had lacked confidence to fish them often. I certainly changed that last season.

Squids just flat out consistently got it done for me to the point that I really never bothered fishing anything else. I've been experimenting with different materials and variations of this pattern. Orange/peach/tans have been my best color combos, but white and pink has also produced well. Whether stopped and casting, or on the troll, squid patterns are slowly becoming king of my box.

I'm also ready to pull the trigger on some T14 and T17 to experiment with trolling flies on gear rods. I've threatened to play with that for years and have decided this year to follow through. I'm looking forward to that.

I'm also searching for ideas for keeping a 3 piece rod rigged and ready

Lots of cool fishing to get through before getting serious about albacore, but it's never far from my mind. I am counting the days until I am back offshore in search of boiling blue water!


PSX_20250214_105255.jpg
 
Evan B said:
This works reaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaally well
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I have absolutely zero doubt! The only thing that's stopped me in the past is just the financial commitment. Wouldn't think twice if I was just fun fishing, but the thought of spending a decent chunk on some setups that could easily be cut to shreds by people who don't move with their fish has always prevented me, but this year I said screw it I gotta give it a try.
 
Nick Clayton said:
I have absolutely zero doubt! The only thing that's stopped me in the past is just the financial commitment. Wouldn't think twice if I was just fun fishing, but the thought of spending a decent chunk on some setups that could easily be cut to shreds by people who don't move with their fish has always prevented me, but this year I said screw it I gotta give it a try.
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Would stuffing T line into hollow core braid solve the cut off problem?
 
Never done it, but I'll say something stupidly bombastic anyway: 🤓

Go gurgler or GTFO!
 
Nick Clayton said:
This has been an interesting winter for me. Lots of stuff outside of fishing that has been receiving the bulk of my focus, namely the failing health of my mother. But no matter what is going on, my mind and my heart are never far from a bait stop.

My official prep for the 2025 albacore season began in earnest this week. I am hoping for big things this year. I am approaching this season with a whole new attitude and I can't tell you how stoked I am to get going.

Step one this week has been addressing the fly boxes. I didn't tie any tuna flies heading into 2024, mostly due to the situation with my captains license and my health. Frankly I just couldn't bring myself to get my hopes up by tying flies, not knowing if I'd even be able to use them. Plus, it's not like I am lacking albacore flies.

But after a long and successful season my boxes are certainly low on some patterns, this squid being at the top of that list. I fished squid patterns nearly exclusively last season and was amazed at how well they consistently produced. I've watched @SilverFly do work with squid patterns for years, so I knew they worked, but in years past had lacked confidence to fish them often. I certainly changed that last season.

Squids just flat out consistently got it done for me to the point that I really never bothered fishing anything else. I've been experimenting with different materials and variations of this pattern. Orange/peach/tans have been my best color combos, but white and pink has also produced well. Whether stopped and casting, or on the troll, squid patterns are slowly becoming king of my box.

I'm also ready to pull the trigger on some T14 and T17 to experiment with trolling flies on gear rods. I've threatened to play with that for years and have decided this year to follow through. I'm looking forward to that.

I'm also searching for ideas for keeping a 3 piece rod rigged and ready

Lots of cool fishing to get through before getting serious about albacore, but it's never far from my mind. I am counting the days until I am back offshore in search of boiling blue water!


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Good to hear from you Nick! We were recently wondering what you’ve been up to.
I have a couple of those squid heads but haven’t tried them yet, looks like I’ll have to tie some up now.
 
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Kfish said:
Good to hear from you Nick! We were recently wondering what you’ve been up to.
I have a couple of those squid heads but haven’t tried them yet, sounds like I’ll have to tie some up now.
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Where do you get those squid heads?
 
Ugh, reading this always makes me think about taking up tying again. Then I'll do it, remember why I stopped, purge everything.. Rinse and repeat 😂
 
Brute said:
These might make good pink wogs for coho as well…
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Not really good for wogs because the spawn heads are denser than water and sink. Not that they wouldn’t catch coho, but they wouldn’t wog too well.
 
Can't go wrong with Nick's pattern. The Spawn heads are more than proven, and I certainly dont want to disuade anyone from supporting Spawn Fly Fish in their hour of need.

OTOH, if you enjoy suffering at the vise, and want to fill your tuna box with squids, this is my go-to squid pattern. I fish this pattern 90% of the time. It produces trolling, on the slide, and cast retrieved.

About the only time I don't, is when they are keyed on sauries. Usually fish this in all white or pale pink/peach. Basically the same colors Nick uses, just more pale (I might rethink that now). SBS link below.

1739727833913.jpeg

Thread 'Eye tab SBS' https://pnwflyfishing.com/forum/index.php?threads/eye-tab-sbs.5628/
 
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PhilR said:
@Nick Clayton can we get an sbs for that fly?
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This is a basically a simplified version of the Spawn link posted above.

I do not tie mine articulated, just because I haven't really had a need to. Ya, it would add a bit more movement and some flexability for materials and such, but it also adds extra steps and I try to keep it as simple as possible.

I have a dozen of this pattern hanging up in the picture I posted above, and I'm not sure more than two of them are tied the same way lol. I enjoy experimenting with different materials and steps and such.

Orange and Peach have definitely been my favorite colors. I've sorta settled on these more bland colors because just about every squid I've ever laid eyes on off our coast is some sort of tan/peach/orange/brown or combo of. Mottled seems very common, which is why I like adding different colors, barred feathers etc.

Last year I fished these tied on Size 2/0 Kona Big Game Carnivore hooks, but I found that I missed/lost an abornormal amount of fish, and I began to suspect it may have had something to do with the Spawn head encroaching on the hook gap just a bit, so this winter I've been tying them on the same hook in a 3/0 and it seems about perfect.

I start by weighing them pretty heavily. I've been going with around 25 wraps of .03 lead wire. The only real reason I add weight is because I want the fly to break the surface film and start sinking as quickly as possible. I don't want to have to wait for the line to start pulling it under. One thing I find in fly fishing for albacore is that many times the best opportunities are limited in time. When fish are first located, particularly when a fish is hooked on the troll, many times it seems there is a small window where the fish will be extremely fired up and aggressive. The more time that goes on after initially stopping the boat and casting, their attitude often changes and they become a lot more weary. It doesn't always play out this way, but I can't begin to count the number of fish I've hooked by managing to be the first to get a cast or two after someone hooks up on the troll. I keep my rod where it's easily accesible so I can grab it and make a cast without any hesitation. I find that my fly sinking, and fishing the way I want it to fish in a quicker fashion just produces more opportunities.

I then add in the tailing materials...... Typically some bucktail for a bit of material support, marabou (Tied either as a standard tail like on a Bugger, or palmered. I like the look when it's palmered a bit more, but it is an added step that really isn't too crucial), a couple different types of flash, and typically 6-8 hackles of whatever colors I'm feeling. After these materials, I add the head. I like to make a few wraps of chenille before I add the head, to help add a little bulk to help the head secure with glue. They can be quite loose if you don't add anything.

After the head is secured, I reattach the thread and finish with two wraps of Chocklett Baitfish Emulator Flash right in front of the head, and then a couple wraps of either Rabbit Strip, or more palmered marabou. I usually use rabbit, but I have tried a lot of different materials here.

Super basic tie, and no doubt there are better squid patterns out there that move better or are more realistic or whatever. I just like this one cause it's simple to tie for a hack like me, not terribly time consuming, and I just think it looks cool.
 
Nick Clayton said:
I do not tie mine articulated, just because I haven't really had a need to. Ya, it would add a bit more movement and some flexability for materials and such, but it also adds extra steps and I try to keep it as simple as possible.
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Watching video of live squid, I've suspected articulation isn't necessary. They tend to keep to a tight, tapered profile. Maybe not "stiff" per se, but not usually waving tenticles around all willy-nilly. Seems likely some movement wouldn't hurt though.

Nick Clayton said:
Orange and Peach have definitely been my favorite colors. I've sorta settled on these more bland colors because just about every squid I've ever laid eyes on off our coast is some sort of tan/peach/orange/brown or combo of. Mottled seems very common, which is why I like adding different colors, barred feathers etc.
Click to expand...

Super useful info right here. I've been on dozens of tuna, and other ocean fishing trips and have yet to see a squid that wasn't partially digested.

Nick Clayton said:
I start by weighing them pretty heavily. I've been going with around 25 wraps of .03 lead wire. The only real reason I add weight is because I want the fly to break the surface film and start sinking as quickly as possible. I don't want to have to wait for the line to start pulling it under. One thing I find in fly fishing for albacore is that many times the best opportunities are limited in time. When fish are first located, particularly when a fish is hooked on the troll, many times it seems there is a small window where the fish will be extremely fired up and aggressive. The more time that goes on after initially stopping the boat and casting, their attitude often changes and they become a lot more weary. It doesn't always play out this way, but I can't begin to count the number of fish I've hooked by managing to be the first to get a cast or two after someone hooks up on the troll. I keep my rod where it's easily accesible so I can grab it and make a cast without any hesitation. I find that my fly sinking, and fishing the way I want it to fish in a quicker fashion just produces more opportunities.
Click to expand...

Again, super useful info. Knowing full well how seconds count out there, I never made that connection until now. I will be weighting my squid patterns from this point forward. So Nick, do you weight them towards the front for some jigging action, or more evenly distributed so they sink and track level?
 
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