I had an absolute gold medal performance at the waste of time Olympics today, but ended it on a high tide at sunset with a saltwater beach to myself.
Managed to hit every single accident I could on my way between jobs today, which of course involved one scheduled in Seattle and another scheduled all the way over in Sequim in the afternoon. Took me four and a half hours just to drive over there because of multiple accidents, traffic on the Hood Canal Bridge, etc. The joys of urban sprawl. Half hour late to the appointment despite scheduling a 2 hour travel cushion, which probably bothered me more than anyone (there are only two things I'm never late for: work and fishing.) It was a grind of a day, and still isn't over.
Anyway long story short, that messed up schedule led to me driving by a favorite beach on Hood Canal at sunset and high tide. I tried to convince myself to keep driving, as I still had a report to write. Then I thought of what you gents would say about me passing up that opportunity, and the fact that my clients were probably going to be in bed before I finished the report anyway.
So... I pulled over.
This is a well-known trolling destination in South Hood Canal, but it is a terrible Beach fishing spot. Especially for fly fisherman. Very limited back cast, and the beach is too long and shallow so you can't really get out deep enough without wading a good ways. I always keep a couple rods in the truck, but I did not have waders today and didn't feel like wading deep in xtra-tuffs.
I rolled down to the beach just in time to watch the last of the trollers drive off into the sunset, and the sun come down below the tree line. About 10 minutes in it got fishy as all get out down there. There's a little bit of an estuary in this area, it was high slack tide, and great cloud / smoke cover muddling the moon as it came up. Probably the fishiest evening on a salmon beach I've seen in a very long time, and had it all to myself.
Pinks for sure jumping l, definitely some Kings flopping further out, and I believe even some Coho rolling around as well. I can confirm there are at least a few coho in the area, as I released a small wild coho in this very location about a week ago (caught from a boat).
I had an eight weight in the truck, and a few flies from a Steve Probasco pattern called "halfarabbit" that I really want to try out on pinks this year. Its well drowned in this photo, but basically a crude rabbit fur guide fly. If you don't know who Steve Probasco was he's a local fly fishing writer out of Raymond who passed away this spring. I'm kind of an old soul and I really enjoy that older style of fishing writer we don't see much of anymore. (My favorite local legends being Steve Probasco and Doug Rose, RIP.)
Anyway, my personal homage to Steve is to try to catch a salmon on one of his patterns this summer and fall.
If you know where I'm at, I would recommend bringing your biggest Canon, deepest waders and show up right as the sun goes down. It's still fishy down there now. I'm writing this from the truck staring out at the twilight and postponing the fact that when I get back to the house I still need to write a report for the client (EDIT: and then edit this from a speech to text document to some better prose for you fellas, but I don't guarantee a masterpiece).
Anyway I'm glad I stopped by despite a 15 hour workday that still isn't over. It's hard work being a degenerate angler, especially when you lack as much talent, poise and disposition as I do.
But if we don't carry the torch, then who will?
Carry on.
Managed to hit every single accident I could on my way between jobs today, which of course involved one scheduled in Seattle and another scheduled all the way over in Sequim in the afternoon. Took me four and a half hours just to drive over there because of multiple accidents, traffic on the Hood Canal Bridge, etc. The joys of urban sprawl. Half hour late to the appointment despite scheduling a 2 hour travel cushion, which probably bothered me more than anyone (there are only two things I'm never late for: work and fishing.) It was a grind of a day, and still isn't over.
Anyway long story short, that messed up schedule led to me driving by a favorite beach on Hood Canal at sunset and high tide. I tried to convince myself to keep driving, as I still had a report to write. Then I thought of what you gents would say about me passing up that opportunity, and the fact that my clients were probably going to be in bed before I finished the report anyway.
So... I pulled over.
This is a well-known trolling destination in South Hood Canal, but it is a terrible Beach fishing spot. Especially for fly fisherman. Very limited back cast, and the beach is too long and shallow so you can't really get out deep enough without wading a good ways. I always keep a couple rods in the truck, but I did not have waders today and didn't feel like wading deep in xtra-tuffs.
I rolled down to the beach just in time to watch the last of the trollers drive off into the sunset, and the sun come down below the tree line. About 10 minutes in it got fishy as all get out down there. There's a little bit of an estuary in this area, it was high slack tide, and great cloud / smoke cover muddling the moon as it came up. Probably the fishiest evening on a salmon beach I've seen in a very long time, and had it all to myself.
Pinks for sure jumping l, definitely some Kings flopping further out, and I believe even some Coho rolling around as well. I can confirm there are at least a few coho in the area, as I released a small wild coho in this very location about a week ago (caught from a boat).
I had an eight weight in the truck, and a few flies from a Steve Probasco pattern called "halfarabbit" that I really want to try out on pinks this year. Its well drowned in this photo, but basically a crude rabbit fur guide fly. If you don't know who Steve Probasco was he's a local fly fishing writer out of Raymond who passed away this spring. I'm kind of an old soul and I really enjoy that older style of fishing writer we don't see much of anymore. (My favorite local legends being Steve Probasco and Doug Rose, RIP.)
Anyway, my personal homage to Steve is to try to catch a salmon on one of his patterns this summer and fall.
If you know where I'm at, I would recommend bringing your biggest Canon, deepest waders and show up right as the sun goes down. It's still fishy down there now. I'm writing this from the truck staring out at the twilight and postponing the fact that when I get back to the house I still need to write a report for the client (EDIT: and then edit this from a speech to text document to some better prose for you fellas, but I don't guarantee a masterpiece).
Anyway I'm glad I stopped by despite a 15 hour workday that still isn't over. It's hard work being a degenerate angler, especially when you lack as much talent, poise and disposition as I do.
But if we don't carry the torch, then who will?
Carry on.
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