I finally caught one of the dang things! I’ve tried maybe three times before and always felt like I am on a fool’s errand. But after scoping this stretch of beach all week, I finally bit the bullet, bought the one day out of state license, got my 8 weight and 300 grain streamer express ready, and set my alarm for 5:30. I woke up at 5:10. Sweet, time for a leisurely coffee before I wader up and stroll up the beach to the deeper, steeper spot I’ve been watching.
Getting there about an hour before high tide, I was quickly reminded of how intimidating the Pacific Ocean surf can be, and how challenging it is to fly fish it. Line management line management line management and timing timing timing. The beach looked good, I guess, based on reading about surfperch fishing. It has the most structure to it of all this stretch—scalloping, rocky and steep-ish.
Up the beach:
Down the beach :
After an hour of nuthin, I had that fools errand feeling and so I took a break, ate a couple hard boiled eggs, and switched to a slightly lighter and all orange egg yarn fly. It wasn’t long before I laid a decent cast out into the retreating water right before a smooth wave face that I got a tug back and a decent wiggle on the ol’ TFO 8 weight warhorse. I was pretty pleased and decided to take this fish home to try. Maybe if Oregon offered a $15 one day CnR license I’d have bought that and released the fish...
That kept me going for another hour where I tried to replicate that same successful presentation. I made a few that felt pretty good but no more luck. The sun is out and it’s a beautiful day so I left to check in with the fam; last full day here.
Surfperch snacks later! And the skunk is finally off my PNWFF beanie! I was beginning to wonder about that thing...but it’s redeemed.
Getting there about an hour before high tide, I was quickly reminded of how intimidating the Pacific Ocean surf can be, and how challenging it is to fly fish it. Line management line management line management and timing timing timing. The beach looked good, I guess, based on reading about surfperch fishing. It has the most structure to it of all this stretch—scalloping, rocky and steep-ish.
Up the beach:
Down the beach :
After an hour of nuthin, I had that fools errand feeling and so I took a break, ate a couple hard boiled eggs, and switched to a slightly lighter and all orange egg yarn fly. It wasn’t long before I laid a decent cast out into the retreating water right before a smooth wave face that I got a tug back and a decent wiggle on the ol’ TFO 8 weight warhorse. I was pretty pleased and decided to take this fish home to try. Maybe if Oregon offered a $15 one day CnR license I’d have bought that and released the fish...
That kept me going for another hour where I tried to replicate that same successful presentation. I made a few that felt pretty good but no more luck. The sun is out and it’s a beautiful day so I left to check in with the fam; last full day here.
Surfperch snacks later! And the skunk is finally off my PNWFF beanie! I was beginning to wonder about that thing...but it’s redeemed.
