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Dance the tides

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  1. HL, I have been fishing skagit stye in estuaries ever since I was introduced to the technique many years go in the Pacific NW for steelhead fishing. I started using it mostly to keep my skills up for steelhead season. It translates very nicely to striper fishing in current and I found I could catch fish with regularity when there are fish to catch. The estuaries I fish are tidal and usually have a good current pull, both downstream and up, with little room for back-casts except a low tides.. I use the same rigs for stripers as I do for steelhead, just with different flies. I use a swing when the current allows, but I find a down-current strip works well at times. Line handling for cast-and-strip took a while to figure out. Everybody has their own style, but I use a stiffer rod than most, as most of my catching comes from deeper presentations with a floating skagit tip and a length of T14 for depth. I will ditch the T14 when fishing surface stuff. I don't see myself as a great caster, but manage to get the fly in the zone and catch fish if they are around. I am sure casting purists will differ with my techniques and rigs, but it they work for me.
  2. The fishery still exists, though it is quite different today, or at least as of last Friday. Bloos' comment on changing strains of source salmon some years ago is true. A few years back there was lively discussion about overpopulation of predatory lake trout on young salmon. Stocking also changed from dumping into watershed streams, to open water stocking. This was to help cut down on losses to stream based predators of the finned, feathered and upright two-legged variety. Fishing in the streams is prohibited September 15 through April 15. From my (amateur)fishing perspective, another result is that the fish do not congregate around the stocking(natal) streams, so the old honey holes are gone. Most Landlocks are caught trolling for lakers or by people who have put a whole lot of time in to figure it out. It is not a numbers game. I spent around 25 hours targeting Landlocks last week fishing a fifteen mile stretch of the lake. I landed 8 salmon, only one over the18" minimum size. My best action came in a wide open part of the lake when I spotted surface action and drifted through it a few times before they moved on. The fish were on what I call "glass smelt", small young of the year smelt pushed to the surface. I used very small 2-3" flies tied sparse. My best fishing is usually this time of year until ice up. But it is also bow season, so there are decisions to make. By the way, there were a couple of staging fish caught off the beach during the week. There was also 4-5" of rain Thursday night so all conditions are different today. I will probably be back at it in a couple of weeks and continue until the access points freeze up. Incidentally, I either fish from my 15 foot boat or my kayak, and from my dock.
  3. I have been fishing Chaumont bay since the 70's. From a kayak the last ten years or so. Generally speaking, its structure fishing, with weed beds thrown in. Its a big place, so I would recommend downloading an app like navionics to your cell phone or handheld GPS. Depending on weather, it can be a bath tub or a raging torrent. A heavy southwest wind can bring 5 footers anywhere south of Cherry Island. For the most part you will have opportunities for Smallmouth, Perch, the occasional Largemouth and very big Sheepshead(freshwater drum). Its not noted a a destination for Northern Pike, but there are a few around. Every year there are tales of a Musky or two caught. Walleye are usually targeted in the Spring and they are never small. Summer walleye are a night time thing, or so they say. If you are a fly fisherman, carp are a possibility when you see them slurping bugs under the trees and are lots of fun. If you can load your yaks on your vehicle, there are some very good launches that can put you in protected water depending on the wind. For the kids, go to the nearest drop off, find the edge of the weeds and drop lines and you will almost certainly catch something. Its a warm water fish factory. Enjoy!
  4. There are few problems in fly fishing that can't be solved with time on the water. I personally schedule several "practice" days per year to work on various casts and presentations. I always try to do it with fish in front of me. A six hour "practice session" flies by and I even catch fish!
  5. If you are going to be there definitely bring a fly rod and fish it. There will still be snow around and it will be more like winter steelhead fishing. It can be like wading on greased basketballs at times, and low and slow will pick up a few fish. The Ausable in April certainly is not much of a fishing destination, but you will be close by. Get on the water and once you are in the zone, the world is right.
  6. I am no expert, but I will wade in here. I fish both salt and fresh water, including steelhead and stripers with spey (skagit and skandi) techniques. There are places where it is the best way to cast a fly line. That being said, I can't see myself using a basket for spey casting because it gets in the way of the bottom hand. The rods have long butt sections and the techniques require sweeping the bottom hand from one side to the other. While I don't use a two hander all of the time, I use he same rod for salt water overhead casting as I do for skagit casting, fresh and salt water(usually with the same line set up too). I use the basket for overhead casting, but not for skagit casting. Line management was one of the steepest parts of the learning curve. I leave the basket behind if I know I will be spey casting or slide it around the back.
  7. There were a series of articles this past summer which pretty much said "oops" about the accusation that felt soled wading shoes caused rock snot. Here is a blog which summarizes the back-pedaling going on. http://theflyline.**************/2013/07/06/didymo-not-our-fault-after-all/. I would be surprised if there were any more bans on felt. If that link does not work, search rock snot , 2013 felt soles for the latest articles. Go with the most recent studies. According to this information, you will probably be okay anywhere felt is still allowed and probably see a roll back of existing regs.
  8. I have been going there for several years. While it is not a fly fishing destination, its definitely worth bringing your gear. The fishing can be good, but it can be hit or miss. There is only one sizable bonefish flat in Leinster Bay and the fish are well educated. There are bonefish scattered around the shallow parts of the Island and shores. Walking softly and hunting carefully will let you spot them. The hard part is seeing them to begin with. Small shrimp and crab patterns work for bones. I have also caught tarpon, snook and numerous reef fish. I walk/wade the shores and peek into the salt ponds. Wear coral booties with socks because you will working many rocky shores. The primary bait fish is a version of pilchards so decent sized Deceivers or similar patterns will work for tarpon and the occasional snook. The tarpon range from babies up to way-too-big-for-my-8wt. I personally have never had any great numbers days, but every trip I catch a few. Enjoy.
  9. I've had one for the past two years. I got it as a Birthday present because my wife thought it was "cute". When my regular unit (also a Humminbird) for kayak fishing died, I put it into use I've been using it ever since. The unit reads bottom to a little over 100' and fish down to about 70', both bait and biguns. I caught some guff from guys who felt that "real men wouldn't use a wrist-mounted depth finder", but its got about 250 hours on it without an issue, other than changing a battery in the display unit. The best part is there is no setup time. I just tether it to a cleat and trail it next to the boat. Wire leader is recommended because bluefish will try to steal it. They say the sending unit is good for 500 hours and I don't know about that, but so far so good. With a rod, gear bag, PFD and safety stuff I can be fishing 5 minutes after parking the car. I will trade excess gear for fishing time any day. I haven't gone back to the other unit and don't plan to.
  10. Sol Duc river in Washington State's Olympic Penninsula. I love those rivers, the Hoh, Clearwater, Calawah and Queets. Most of these rivers start in the Olympic National Park. I have not yet fished the Sol Duc But I intend to this winter!
  11. I fish the canal with a fly rod, but not exclusively. I nearly always bring both a fly rod and a spinner. There are times when flies out fish other offerings, but not most times. When fish are on small bait, a fly rod works great. The other time is when the tides is in and the weed is suspended above the rocks. If you can cast parallel to shore and just outside the weeds it can be productive, especially at night.. Be careful casting straight out and watch your back cast or you may be hooking spandex. As usual, it really depends on time, tides and UDL. I only fish the canal 20-30 times a year, so there are certainly others here who do it differently and more often and probably better.
  12. I use the Navionics app download for my Android phone. I have used it since April. I have to double bag the phone, but the App cost is $11.99 vs $200+ for the GPS Chip. I still have a hand held GPS, but when I need to see structure, the phone app does me fine.
  13. Thanks for that picture. I didn't know Scotty made those Depthfinder mounts until you posted. That solves many issues for me.
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