Friday, May 31, 2013

Is Spring Runoff Keeping You Off the Water?



Is Spring Runoff Keeping You Off the Water?

The Yakima River is still out of shape, but it's not the only game in town. With cooler temps predicted over the next week we wouldn't be surprised to see some fishable flows over the next several days. In the meanwhile, trout and bass in our local lakes and sea-run cutthroat fishing in the Puget Sound are giving anglers plenty to do. Don't know much about lake fishing? Come on by the shop or call in and we'll gladly help you get up to speed with where to go and what to do. Hesitant because you don't have a boat, pontoon or float tube? There isn't a better time to get out and hook your first sea-run cutthroat off the beach. We have the info and resources you need to scratch that fishing itch!

HEY! YOU! Send in photos of fish you've captured and we will put them on our website in our Catch of the Week section. Email your photos to info@creeksideangling.com Bonus points for a Creekside hat. Here are a few more for your perusal.

#1 Chris Senyohl just returned from what looks like a heck of a trip to the Florida Everglades and West Indies where he managed to angle himself into what we here at Creekside like to call the "Super Mega Grand Slam": Permit, bonefish, tarpon, snook, sea trout, black drum and lookdown fish among others!

 

This beastly permit ate a Corbett's Crab! 

 

Chris hooked all his bones on a Crazy Corbett... 

 

The Tarpon ate a Corbett's Peanutbutter Milksy... 

 

A Sloppy Corbett fooled this Snook... 

 

Sea trout on a Corbett's Seadiever... 

 

And a choker black drum too!
For more pics and updated fly tying instruction/videos check out our blog here.

Yakima: The Yakima River is high for now, but don't expect it to stay that way for too much longer. Much of the snow melted during the hot weather over the weekend and the river is dropping into shape fast. Get your caddis dries and pupa patterns ready because the bugs are popping and the river should be in shape by next week. Flies to try are: CFO Caddis (12-14), Elk Hair Caddis (12-14), X-Caddis (12-16), Rubber Legged stonefly (4-8), BH Pheasant Tail nymph #14-20, Lightning Bug Pearl #12-16, Lime Copper John (16-20), Prince Nymph (12-16), Silvey's Pupa (12-16), Sculpzilla (4-8), Sheila Sculpin (4), Beldar (2-8), Slap & Tickle (4).

Lakes: Damsels and Callibaetis are here! This week we've had some great reports from guys fishing the E-WA lakes. Most had success fishing damsel nymphs, but there were mentions of sporadic Callibaetis hatches on both Lenice and Chopaka. Small tan chironomids (14-16) have also been producing. Locally, rattlesnake is continuing to fish well. Fish are moving a bit shallower and chasing down buggers, leeches and damsel imitations stripped or trolled. Bass fishing is heating up both locally and in E-WA. Small to medium sized clouser minnows or other baitfish imitations are working well on Sammamish and Pine Lake for smallmouth, and a variety of big nasties--including topwatwers--are taking fish around Potholes and Moses Lake. If you have never tried bass fishing before just wait until one of these hyper agressive predators blasts your fly and doubles your rod...you'll be hooked!
Flies to try: Rapunzel (10-12), Mini Damsel (10-12), Thorax Callibaetis (12-16), D&D Cripple Callibaetis (12-16), Hale Bopp Leech (8-10), Peacock Carey (8-10), Wooley Buggers (8-10), Ice Cream Cone (10-16), Holo Cironomid (10-16), Chironocones (10-16), Knobel Chironomids (10-16).

NaCl Water:
This has been a fantastic season so far in the Puget Sound! Particularly down south we have been finding willing fish more often than not and hooking some nice ones. Sand lance are showing up now in good numbers and there are still plenty of salmon smolts around. While a variety of baitfish imitations have been catching fish lately, hooking up consistently on any particular one has been tough. It really all depends on how active the fish are, how much bait is around and what type of bait the fish are eating. This is why it's important to have some accurate sand lance, smolt and herring imitations as well as some attractor patterns and wild color schemes in your box. A good rule of thumb is to go natural when you see fish feeding, but don't be afraid to think outside the box when things get tough. 

*For those of you who are new to beach fishing and want to give it a go, we offer guided beach fishing trips as well as trips out of the boat with our head guide Chris Senyohl. For more info on these trip visit our shop or give us a call at 425-392-3800*

Flies To Try: Wests Imitator, Foul Free Herring, Seth's Sand Lance,Rolled Muddlers, Wooley Buggers, Miyawaki Poppers, Clouser Minnows.

Intermediate Casting Classes With FFF Certified Casting Instructor Bill Wheeler-
Sharpen your casting skills with FFF certified casting instructor Bill Wheeler. Intermediate casting classes are a great way for fly fishermen to brush up on basic technique, increase casting distance and improve accuracy. These classes are also a great supplement to our "Intro to Fly Fishing" classes for beginners looking to take their casting skills to the next level. For more info on these classes or to sign up for a date, please call our Issaquah location (425) 392 3800 or check the "Classes" section of our website for upcoming dates and pricing
Gift Certificates are available.

NEW!! Featured Product for 5/15/2013:

- R.L. Winston BIIISX Fly Rods
Why should "fast action" be synonymous with "broomstick?" According to the experts at R.L. Winston, it isn't. At least, not anymore... They took the most powerful taper that has ever come off the factory floor and filled it full of smooth casting Winston soul. The results? An astonishing combination of performance and feel in an ultralight, powerful package that is perfect for the most demanding of salt and freshwater fly fishing situations. 

We fished the 9' 7WT this fall for coho off of the Puget Sound beaches and the rod proved up to the task. Long casts with large flies were effortless. Windy conditions were no problem. Big, bright coho were subdued time and time again. 

R.L. Winston offers the BIIISX in two different lengths from 4-12 weights. From big dries on windy days to cruising tarpon at 70 feet, there is something for everybody.

Price: 4-6WT-$795, 7-12WT-$895

Come on in to Creekside and check them out today!

Feed Fish Flies.
Charlie Robinton

Creekside Angling Company
Seattle & Issaquah, WA
info@creeksideangling.com
www.creeksideangling.com 

Planning a trip? Check out our friends at Off the Hook Fly Fishing Travel, a team of devoted fly fishing pros committed to connecting you with the very best fly fishing guide or fly fishing trip possible. They are experienced anglers and world travelers devoted to ensuring that clients receive the best up to date information on angling oportunities. This will be important in timing your fishing trip and in helping you choose the best fly fishing guide or global fishing destination. They book trips to destinations such as Belize, the Bahamas, Mexico and Alaska, but are happy to call Northern California home. Keep them in mind when you are looking for destination travel or fly fishing guide trips on the Lower Sacramento, Yuba, Trinity, McCloud, Pit, Feather or Putah Creek in Northern California. 

Attention Washington anglers: Boating laws in Washington state have changed. If you operate a motorized vessel 15hp or above on Washington waterways you are required by law to take a boating safety course and get your Washington boat license. Be safe while you are out fishing and don't get caught without it!
Take a safe boating course and get your boat license in Washington State to increase your fishing success and safety.

Make a difference. More controversial than the Chicago Blacksox, I'm sure most of you have heard about the proposed Pebble Mine near Bristol Bay Alaska. You've also probably heard about the environmentally disasterous potential this mine poses. Either way please read up on the issue and join the fight to stop the construction of the Pebble Mine. For more info go to Sportsman's Aliiance for Alaska or Renewable Resources Coalition or Save Bristol Bay.

Send us your feedback: info@creeksideangling.com
Register with us to receive these reports via email. Click Here to sign up.
Creekside Angling Company
1410A NW Gilman Blvd
Issaquah, WA 98027
425-392-3800
© 1994-2013 Creekside Angling Company All Rights Reserved


Thursday, May 2, 2013

The Caddis are Coming Fishing Report


The Caddis are Coming Fishing Report

May can be a challenging time to be a stream fisherman, a rewarding time to be a lake fisherman, and overall a good time to be a fisherman! Warm weather and sunshine can mean early season runoff on the Yakima, but we're not complaining! There are tons of opportunities to wet a line depending on what you are into. If you have never tried stillwater fishing before, why not give it a go at one of the many local lakes that are open to anglers and fishing well? Or you could head to the sound and get some salt on those waders casting and stripping flies for hungry sea run cutthroat. Don't waste this opportunity to get out and soak in some sunshine!

HEY! YOU! Send in photos of fish you've captured and we will put them on our website in our Catch of the Week section. Email your photos to info@creeksideangling.com Bonus points for a Creekside hat. Here are a few more for your perusal.




#1 Gary Kocher sent us this pic of a dandy he landed during a fishing trip on Whidbey Island.

#2
There have been some great fish coming out of the Puget Sound this season! Our head guide Chris Senyohl sent us this pic of this bruiser cutty.
#3 Chris had a great guide season out on the Olympic Peninsula. Steelhead are never a guarantee, but its sure nice to fish with someone who can pu the odds in your favor!

For more pics and updated fly tying instruction/videos check out our blog here.

Yakima:  
The Yakima is on its way up and with temps in the high 80's predicted for the weekend odds are that trend will continue. The river has been running clear however, and the hatches of stoneflies, caddis and march browns have been escalating. Make sure to check flows before you head over, and if you do go bring plenty of larger stonefly nymphs and bright green caddis pupae imitations. Bob from the shop fished yesterday and said they worked hard but caught a handful of decent sized fish on nymphs. Stomach contents pumped from a couple fish showed that caddis pupae are definitely on the menu! With the warmer temperatures predicted for the weekend lookout for the adults to pop. Flies to try are: Parachute March Brown (12-14), D&D March Brown Cripple (12-14), X-Caddis (12-16), Rubber Legged stonefly (4-8), BH Pheasant Tail nymph #14-20, Lightning Bug Pearl #12-16, Lime Copper John (16-20), Prince Nymph (12-16), Silvey's Pupa (12-16), Sculpzilla (4-8), Sheila Sculpin (4), Beldar (2-8), Slap & Tickle (4).

Lakes:  
The general lake opener was last weekend and reports were good for fishing in the local lakes. Fishing was particularly good in Beaver Lake, where fish were eating hale bopp leeches and buggers trolled and stripped. Rattlesnake has been fair with chironomids in 12-15 feet of water although fishing has not been as hot as it was a few weeks ago. Pass and Lone lake seem to be experiencing similar so-so fishing. Most of the fish are being caught in the deeper water (10-15') on suspended chironomids.
Flies to try: Hale Bopp Leech (8-10), Peacock Carey (8-10), Wooley Buggers (8-10), Ice Cream Cone (10-16), Holo Cironomid (10-16), Chironocones (10-16), Knobel Chironomids (10-16).

NaCl Water:
Our head guide Chris Senyohl was out for several days with clients last week and reported having some pretty great action in the South Sound. The cutthroat are still feeding heavily on chum fry so make sure that your fly patterns match the food source. Keep in mind that those little guys grow quickly and size your fly accordingly. As we roll into spring and bright skies become more common pay attention to the light levels when you fish. Cutthroat aren't big on feeding during broad daylight, so with the sunny weather forecasted for the coming week try to time your trips so that you can be out during low light conditions. If the tides (or your schedule) don't cooperate, try fishing a slow sinking line or weighted fly to get your fly down deeper.
*For those of you who are new to beach fishing and want to give it a go, we offer guided beach fishing trips as well as trips out of the boat with our head guide Chris Senyohl. For more info on these trip visit our shop or give us a call at 425-392-3800*
Flies To Try: Chum Baby, Chumpy Fry, Lord of the Fry, Wests Imitator, Foul Free Herring, Seth's Sand Lance,Rolled Muddlers, Wooley Buggers, Miyawaki Poppers, Clouser Minnows.

NEW!! Featured Product for 5/2/2013:
- Clear Cure Goo Hydro


Clear Cure Goo will change the way you tie flies! This new(ish) product from the mad scientists over at Goo headquarters is outstanding for tying all kinds of flies. Unlike any of the products they have offered so far it has a much lower viscosity, similar to that of head cement. The big advantage is that, like all of the other Clear Cure products, it cures within seconds when hit with UV light enabling you to save time, eliminate mess and do some amazing things with your flies that just weren't possible before. Here at Creekside we have found tons of uses for it, from creating beautiful lacquered heads on steelhead flies to making translucent shellbacks on nymphs and scud patterns. The sky is the limit with this stuff!

Price: $20.83

Come on in to Creekside and check it out today!

Feed Fish Flies.

Charlie Robinton
Creekside Angling Company
Seattle & Issaquah, WA
info@creeksideangling.com
www.creeksideangling.com 

Planning a trip? Check out our friends at Off the Hook Fly Fishing Travel, a team of devoted fly fishing pros committed to connecting you with the very best fly fishing guide or fly fishing trip possible. They are experienced anglers and world travelers devoted to ensuring that clients receive the best up to date information on angling oportunities. This will be important in timing your fishing trip and in helping you choose the best fly fishing guide or global fishing destination. They book trips to destinations such as Belize, the Bahamas, Mexico and Alaska, but are happy to call Northern California home. Keep them in mind when you are looking for destination travel or fly fishing guide trips on the Lower Sacramento, Yuba, Trinity, McCloud, Pit, Feather or Putah Creek in Northern California. 

Attention Washington anglers: Boating laws in Washington state have changed. If you operate a motorized vessel 15hp or above on Washington waterways you are required by law to take a boating safety course and get your Washington boat license. Be safe while you are out fishing and don't get caught without it!
Take a safe boating course and get your boat license in Washington State to increase your fishing success and safety.

Make a difference. More controversial than the Chicago Blacksox, I'm sure most of you have heard about the proposed Pebble Mine near Bristol Bay Alaska. You've also probably heard about the environmentally disasterous potential this mine poses. Either way please read up on the issue and join the fight to stop the construction of the Pebble Mine. For more info go to Sportsman's Aliiance for Alaska or Renewable Resources Coalition or Save Bristol Bay.

Send us your feedback: info@creeksideangling.com
Register with us to receive these reports via email. Click Here to sign up.
Creekside Angling Company
1410A NW Gilman Blvd
Issaquah, WA 98027
425-392-3800
© 1994-2013 Creekside Angling Company All Rights Reserved