Puget Sound

[Kfish]

We’re so far behind on this game, the bass guys figured this out long time ago



I rarely fish top water for cutts but have found that smaller flies are more successful . I tie my gurglers on the smallest SC15 hook that’s made and keep the tail short. That way the fish has a better chance of fitting the fly in it’s mouth.

 

[Pink Nighty]

Personally I blame the poor hookup ratio of top water on simply seeing 90% of the fish that interact with the fly. You go 3/15 or what have you on a popper and go subsurface and go 3/4. Was it really only 4? How many follows, swipes, chases, etc.....

 

[jeradjames]

^ That's a great point

 

[adamcu280]

Looks like it would slay coho in Alaska. Not sure about stripers!

well maybe it'll slay some coho later this summer too.

 

[adamcu280]

Personally I blame the poor hookup ratio of top water on simply seeing 90% of the fish that interact with the fly. You go 3/15 or what have you on a popper and go subsurface and go 3/4. Was it really only 4? How many follows, swipes, chases, etc.....

I've noticed an amazing amount of follows/swipes/chases/last second refusals when I'm fishing while standing in my boat or kayak. So I'm on board with your theory.

One of the other practical reasons I like to fish subsurface is to get below the salad, and to get below the chop if it's windy at all. I feel like I have a better connection with the fly subsurface vs. with all the surface undulations.

 

[Stonedfish]

Personally, if you are getting 17 or whatever takes on a topwater with cutts, chances are very good you are going to have a banner day fishing subsurface patterns.
They are so aggressive they’ll let you know they are there even fishing subsurface. Sometimes they bite multiple times before you hook them up.
SF

 

[wanderingrichard]

View attachment 153846View attachment 153847View attachment 153848

Adding to the theme of a terrible hookup ratio fishing top water. Probably went 3/12. Too much fun.

Does anyone have a hook they like for searcher/gurgler patterns? I had lots of fish come unpinned more than usual. Thanks in advance.

I like how you caught the top of that submarine in the frame..

 

[DimeBrite]

10% of saltwater fly anglers catch 90% of the fish. The other 90% are casting surface patterns on floating lines .

 

[Scudley Do Right]

I'm not a marine biologists but they live under the water so I would guess they are better at eating things under the water. For that reason I use the floater almost never.

 

[Wadin' Boot]

10% of saltwater fly anglers catch 90% of the fish. The other 90% are casting surface patterns on floating lines .

"The best way to fish a surface popper is on a very short leader, t5 line, so when you stop your strip it floats up. That makes all the difference"

 

[Northern]

Personally I blame the poor hookup ratio of top water on simply seeing 90% of the fish that interact with the fly. You go 3/15 or what have you on a popper and go subsurface and go 3/4. Was it really only 4? How many follows, swipes, chases, etc.....

I agree. When you're in a boat and can watch the whole retrieve, they often do multiple drive buys before you feel any bump.
I usually start with a topwater just to see if they're around, then switch up to the intermediate line after a few missed swipes.

 

[jasmillo]

Not sure if it’s not seeing all the interactions sub surface or the hookup ratio is better subsurface. Regardless I’ve been on boats and many beaches with folks fishing poppers/gurglers and others fishing sub surface and have never seen a popper/gurgler fisherman outfish or even match others fishing sub surface patterns. This is for coho and SRC. Whatever causes the hookup ratio difference (fish missing the target and us seeing it more frequently or maybe fisherman pulling the fly out of the zone with the more visual surface strike), the end result is it seems fishing sub surface is a more effective way to actually catch fish.

 

[Vandelay Industries]

I like this explanation as to why the hook up ratio can vary.



I don't think I've ever missed a cheeseburger.

 

[Wadin' Boot]

I love Kelly's confidence etc, it makes for good vids, certainty that is. But, fact of the matter is there is neurodivergence (and neurodegeneration) in animals and some of them actually DO suck at catching food, so I would argue there is most definitely a subset that always miss, just like there is a subset of fisherman that always miss the actual set....some of it can't be helped

Fritz vs the pasta will crack me up every time....

 

[adamcu280]

I love Kelly's confidence etc, it makes for good vids, certainty that is. But, fact of the matter is there is neurodivergence (and neurodegeneration) in animals and some of them actually DO suck at catching food, so I would argue there is most definitely a subset that always miss, just like there is a subset of fisherman that always miss the actual set....some of it can't be helped

Fritz vs the pasta will crack me up every time....

Another good point!

The fact that we see fish with obvious wounds indicating that have survived attacks by predators is proof positive that predators "miss" their food on a regular basis. Nobody/nothing has a 100% success rate.

 

[Northern]

Another good point!

The fact that we see fish with obvious wounds indicating that have survived attacks by predators is proof positive that predators "miss" their food on a regular basis. Nobody/nothing has a 100% success rate.

Yup. A nice, pithy line, but a completely false comparison. The cheeseburger is not live prey attempting to escape - it's the prey you already killed and prepped.

Most people can't catch a slow-moving piece of popcorn falling toward their face, even when they themselves tossed it!
More aptly; the most talented, highly trained shortstop still has the occasional ball zip between their feet or tic off their glove.

 

[Mossback]

Yup. A nice, pithy line, but a completely false comparison. The cheeseburger is not live prey attempting to escape - it's the prey you already killed and prepped.

Most people can't catch a slow-moving piece of popcorn falling toward their face, even when they themselves tossed it!
More aptly; the most talented, highly trained shortstop still has the occasional ball zip between their feet or tic off their glove.

Your cheeseburgers may be overcooked...

 

[Chris Bellows]

Not sure if it’s not seeing all the interactions sub surface or the hookup ratio is better subsurface. Regardless I’ve been on boats and many beaches with folks fishing poppers/gurglers and others fishing sub surface and have never seen a popper/gurgler fisherman outfish or even match others fishing sub surface patterns. This is for coho and SRC.

The point of fishing topwater patterns isn’t about maximizing hookups just like fishing dry flies vs nymphs for trout or waking flies for steelhead. The visual experience more than makes up for not touching as many fish.

Although I can think of one instance where gurglers outfished clousers. Inside kelp beds with kelp free lanes on the surface but kelp deeper down. Not landing many regardless because of tangling but there was no other way to hook fish.

 

[jeradjames]

Went to the darkside this morning and yeah, a lot more to hand but fishing surface patterns is exciting and a good way to start the day to see if they're around.

Lots of fry and tiny cutts where I've been fishing. Seen a few big jumpers but none to hand. Went to a size 2 clouser to see if that made a difference but even the fry are ambitious. Really clear water and a nice shelf/point at this new to me beach so I can see the follows and attacks from the point which has been super fun.

 

[jasmillo]

The point of fishing topwater patterns isn’t about maximizing hookups just like fishing dry flies vs nymphs for trout or waking flies for steelhead. The visual experience more than makes up for not touching as many fish.

Although I can think of one instance where gurglers outfished clousers. Inside kelp beds with kelp free lanes on the surface but kelp deeper down. Not landing many regardless because of tangling but there was no other way to hook fish.

Of course. As I noted in my last sentence, just pointing out if catching is the goal, that top water is less effective. I do think it is more disadvantageous than a guy who is a dry fly purist. I’ve been on lots of rivers where dry guys out fish nymphs and streamer guys depending on conditions. I’ve never seen that with gurglers…even fishing next to some well known diehards multiple times. It’s fun as hell though. No doubt about that.