Coho 2025

Water was up a tad yesterday, but found a fishable pocket. Couldn't see well enough to know if fish were moving, but looked like a good resting spot. Saw a single fire truck move up so kept swinging a pink comet hoping a pod of bright fish would pass through.

Working the same pocket is a test of patience, especially when you have no idea if fish are going to show up. Or are moving through and just not biting. Although the scenery and solitude helped.

About 45 minutes, and a few flies later, I got a vicious grab as the pink comet was just starting to hang towards the bottom of the slot. Looked about 8 pounds of pissed off chromer was suddenly cartwheeling above the foam. Went from "Im wasting my time" to "OH SHIT, GAME ON!" in 2 seconds. Tried easing off to keep it from spooking downriver. That worked for a minute, but the downstream scramble was inevitable.

Wasn't enough to just bolt downstream through this shit. No, it jumped repeatedly, back-lit in the late afternoon sun rays filtering through the trees. As though taunting me for being stupid enough to fly fish in a raging torrent.

Somehow it stayed on, I managed to get downstream and get about half the flyline back. This after several runs fully across the river and back. I was as far downstream as I felt comfortable going in those conditions, but had it tired, directly downstream and "towing" it gently closer. About 30' to go and the hook finally popped loose.

Heartbreaking, but I knew landing in this stuff was "low probability".

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Better than me. Squeezed in 45 min in the backyard and 0-1.
Deluge has arrived so might be minute before I get back out. At least it’ll wash away the dead fish the damn dog keeps eating.
Ya im a little bummed. Ive got an urban creek in my backyard that ive seen salmon spawn in. None this year yet and its getting late.
 
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Think I'm calling it for coho season. I'm sure there are still some coming in, but they're so spread out in the system its a crap shoot without a boat.

Did try some new spots closer to home today but didnt see a single fish. Looks like decent winter unicorn water though.

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Think I'm calling it for coho season. I'm sure there are still some coming in, but they're so spread out in the system its a crap shoot without a boat.

Did try some new spots closer to home today but didnt see a single fish. Looks like decent winter unicorn water though.
I went out on my home water last weekend hoping for a last decent hen to bank some springer bait for the next year. Hooked two big fire trucks and decided to call it a season too.
 
I went out on my home water last weekend hoping for a last decent hen to bank some springer bait for the next year. Hooked two big fire trucks and decided to call it a season too.

Still a month early for unicorns, but might go down the hill one more time for the exercise if nothing else. Also a slim chance for a chummy to keep things interesting.
 
With the skagit closed I decided to take turkey day to check out the nook since I've never fished it and I figured the lack of access would be less of an issue on the holiday. Saw a coho rolling but none to hand. Did make contact with a good amount of chum swinging a fly, and by the middle of the day the pool all the gear guys had been fishing was free. Ended up with two feisty chum to hand on a pink and purple jiggy number. First one broke my single hander's tip (I'm blaming the fish, definitely wasn't me being stupid), could have sworn it was foul hooked since every time I brought it close to the surface it just started swimming straight down with its tail in the air, but was a clean take inside the jaw. Lots more hooked up, one took me to the backing swimming downstream and then just broke me off at the top of my leader. Honestly not even mad, I love being out on the water and I'll fight some chum anyday.IMG_0521.jpgIMG_0519.jpg
 
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