Grandpa Jim
Steelhead
This is my 4th season fly fishing fishing for resident and returning coho from my local beaches on the Kitsap County side of Area 9 & 10. I don't have a long term perspective on this fishery like many on this forum have.
I've always seen and hooked a lot of coho smolts early in the season. Not this year. In fact there seems to be almost an absence of them this year. Are they still down in the South Sound? Have they moved west in search of food? I wonder...any thoughts on this?
I'm also seeing very little bait this year after seeing 10' diameter bait balls last year. I am only seeing occasional small schools of larger bait. I assume that last year was a banner year for bait and that this year is the other side of the spectrum? Still, it seems like this year has the least amount of bait I've seen over the last 4 years.
With the lack of coho smolts, I find it concerning for next year's fishery. Any thoughts?
I've always seen and hooked a lot of coho smolts early in the season. Not this year. In fact there seems to be almost an absence of them this year. Are they still down in the South Sound? Have they moved west in search of food? I wonder...any thoughts on this?
I'm also seeing very little bait this year after seeing 10' diameter bait balls last year. I am only seeing occasional small schools of larger bait. I assume that last year was a banner year for bait and that this year is the other side of the spectrum? Still, it seems like this year has the least amount of bait I've seen over the last 4 years.
With the lack of coho smolts, I find it concerning for next year's fishery. Any thoughts?