General advice on swinging flies for Coho?
- Thread starter Sneax
- Start date
Sneax
Smolt
Would it be accurate to describe that as casting out horizontal to current, mending as necessary for a full swing, then adding action in fast, jerky strips on the return when the fly is downstream, and you're mostly seeing takes on the strip part of that?
I don't know about down there but up here we usually find coho holding in more slack water areas, you know, salmon water. So swinging for them is usually sort of a low probability game. Do they have to transit the swing water? Yes, but do they hold there? IME, not usually.
Twitch heavily weighted flies along the bottom of deep pools holding coho from a position upstream of the fish. Stripping or swinging flies can work for coho just entering the estuary tidewater section; these are the most aggressive biters. Upstream coho are more lock jawed until they color up and are spawning (best to let them spawn in peace).
Pink Nighty
Legend
I swing 1/32nd and smaller jig heads dressed with marabou, rubber legs and flash, and I jig the rod lightly as it swings across. My goal in my mind is to get 2 ft of vertical drop on my twitches. I probably get 6" in reality but it works. Swinging, pop the rod tip/pull some line, drop the rod tip/slack, let it come tight, pop the rod ti.... FISH ON!!!
Pink Nighty
Legend
Would like to add, I catch more coho fishing jiggy flies in soft water than I do swinging. They do happen tho!
Same water you would swing for steelhead (flats and tailouts). They don't hang out much in tailouts, and they don't usually stay on flats for long, but when fish are on the move upstream, they can be very aggressive in those spots, and a swing can be very effective.
When the fish are staged up in deeper, slower holes, stripping streamers with heavy heads can be good, but I find it more enjoyable and effective to twitch heavier jigs with a spinning rod in that water.
Under the right circumstances, flies can be very effective for coho, but especially once the rivers open for salmon, it can be hard to pick your water; you kind of have to find a rock to stand on and make the most of it when it's crowded. That's why I usually pack 2 or 3 outfits with me when I go salmon fishing. Sometimes, you have to fish the way the river tells you, you know?
When the fish are staged up in deeper, slower holes, stripping streamers with heavy heads can be good, but I find it more enjoyable and effective to twitch heavier jigs with a spinning rod in that water.
Under the right circumstances, flies can be very effective for coho, but especially once the rivers open for salmon, it can be hard to pick your water; you kind of have to find a rock to stand on and make the most of it when it's crowded. That's why I usually pack 2 or 3 outfits with me when I go salmon fishing. Sometimes, you have to fish the way the river tells you, you know?
Rob Allen
Life of the Party
Biggest hit I have
If gear guys are catching them on spinners you can get them on flies.. if gest guys are using corkies they are snagging and your better off going home those fish won't bite.
99% of salmon fishing done with corkies is snagging.. I'd put it at 100% but there is one guy out there who might get lucky.
I will say my experience with witnessing this is limited to the entire state except eastern Puget sound.
If gear guys are catching them on spinners you can get them on flies.. if gest guys are using corkies they are snagging and your better off going home those fish won't bite.
99% of salmon fishing done with corkies is snagging.. I'd put it at 100% but there is one guy out there who might get lucky.
I will say my experience with witnessing this is limited to the entire state except eastern Puget sound.