Puget Sound

Hit the sound with @Kfish from his boat today. Day kind of went like this. Ok, we’ll do this for a couple hours and then go fish SRC. A dozen or more hooked chum later…ok, 30 more minutes…half a dozen hooked chum later. Ok, 15 more minutes than SRC here we come!! 15 minutes later…ok, let’s save an hour to hit that new SRC spot I scoped on my app on the way out….1.5 hours before scheduled takeout and so many hooked chums later our arm s hurt, our gear was breaking down, etc…well, they are really only here for 3-4 weeks. We’re going to be fishing SRC for the next 6 months…..

We did save a 1/2 hour to cast for SRC at one spot on the way out. They weren’t home though.

Lost a lot of fish today but hooked a ton as well. Been going small for chum with a lot of success the last couple years but Lou opened my eyes today fishing a Dali Llama. They loved it. Now I have another use for the 4 dozen Dali’s I have and only use 2 weeks a year when I go to AK.

Some from today.

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A handful from yesterday when I was shore bound at a different spot.

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We bent hooks, we broke reel, injured our hands, fishing for chums is like MMA level of angling. When you’re trying to get one in close to net it’s like an arm wrestling match, I need to start lifting for this shit 🤣

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I know I need a bigger net for these fish, many a times they come in and kicked right back out.
Crazy thing happened to my Nautilus CCFX2, the outer flange of the spool broke off cleanly. Apparently they machined it paper thin in that area and the aluminum must have corroded away which is strange because I always rinse my stuff when I get home.

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Yep that’s an 8 rods pile that miraculously didn’t get tangled up :)

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Very fun day and weather was great too.
 
Sunday morning report. It's been a minute since I've been able to get out. Family, weather and dad duties kept me from getting out these last few weeks. Took the first ferry out of MA9 and fished two beaches. Brought 8 nice size cutts to net and had a handful of nips. Was pretty satisfied after hitting beach #1 but am sure glad to have hit the second beach which produced the bigger cutts of the day.

Ran into Jeff Delia at beach two and had a good convo for a while. Learned the term "south sound strip" which is how I normally fish (fast strips). Thought that was pretty funny. It made me realize that I should probably change my technique from time to time but the S.S.S. sure worked well for me. Jeff also gave me a few of his flies which I thought was pretty nice.

Pink and chartreuse clouser minnow was the ticket for the day. That was a first for me.

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Tried something different and threw poppers for an hour today. Always surprising how close to shore these fish get. I moved spots and just as I walked down the beach a cutthroat jumped clear out of the water right where I was standing, couldn't have been more than a foot of water! Had a nice rise that I heard but didn't see later on but no takes
 
Tried something different and threw poppers for an hour today. Always surprising how close to shore these fish get. I moved spots and just as I walked down the beach a cutthroat jumped clear out of the water right where I was standing, couldn't have been more than a foot of water! Had a nice rise that I heard but didn't see later on but no takes

I agree. They can be incredibly close to shore.
I like to cast down current parallel to shore or back into shore if waded out.
Do you find you miss a lot of fish when fishing topwater patterns?
SF
 
Have you considered adding poppers/sliders to your list of known hates? 🤣🤣

😂😂😂
Noted! 🔥
I should considering how many fish I miss on the damn things! Run to the dark side my friends! 🏃‍♂️
SF
 
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I agree. They can be incredibly close to shore.
I like to cast down current parallel to shore or back into shore if waded out.
Do you find you miss a lot of fish when fishing topwater patterns?
SF
This was actually the first time I threw top water for sea runs. I definitely missed a ton of bites fishing dries in rivers but found the fish would often recommit
 
Even missing them still is a kick watching them slash or splash! And yes….I too miss more than I hook up.
I just wish my head wasn't turned to look at some eagles- the only evidence I have that my fly got attention was a sloshing sound that came from the general direction of my fly that was too loud to have been made by a fast strip or bend in the fly line straightening out
 
I just wish my head wasn't turned to look at some eagles- the only evidence I have that my fly got attention was a sloshing sound that came from the general direction of my fly that was too loud to have been made by a fast strip or bend in the fly line straightening out

It could have been an Atlantic salmon. 😉
SF
 
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