SEA-RUN CUTTHROAT FISHING ON HOOD CANAL CHAD GILLESPIE

TOPICS OF DISCUSSION Fjord Fly Fishing/Red’s 1997 Conservation Hood Canal SRC Life Cycle Hood Canal SRC Habitat Where to Fish Gear to use Tactics and Techniques Flies for SRC

History of Hood Canal Created 13,000 years ago during Late Pleistocene Formed by massive glacier carving it out Beautiful views as it sits at base of Olympic Mountain Range Depth – up to 600 ft. in some places Abundant with Wildlife

Hood Canal - Overview

CONSERVATION SRC are all wild, no hatchery fish Catch and Release started in 1997 Limited Numbers of SRC available Careful handling techniques for C&R Les Johnson at the forefront of conservation for SRC Marine Waters Catch and Release Rivers/Streams close October 31 st

Hood Canal SRC Life Cycle Andramanous Adapt fairly quickly from transition salt to river Wild genetics vary spawning cycles and systems Hood Canal SRC vary from other river systems Small stream spawners Timing dependant on freshets Each stream different Dependant on quality habitat WDFW Tagging Studies Can Spawn more than once

SRC Habitat Salt Water: Rocky, structured areas that have food and cover Salt water temperatures don’t vary much throughout the year, with exception of Southern Hood Canal and Puget Sound Fresh Water: Benefitted from salmon/steelhead recovery immensely Continued stream rehabilitation by WDFW, Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group Spawning streams range in size Downtown Poulsbo Example

Where do we fish? Daunting to new angler used to rivers that are easier to break down Large area – 50 miles long Focus is on Central to Northern Hood Canal Multiple Launch Points based on tides/weather Certain tides unable to launch/retrieve boat Run 2-5 miles or more sometimes prior to fishing Flexibility is key

What makes a good beach? Quadfecta – current movement, point of land, structure and decent pitch to beach Trifecta- current, point and structure Oyster Beds Creeks/River Mouths Tides – good on one, poor on the other Scout all tide cycles to learn structure

Where do SRC Live? SRC are ambush predators Stage down stream in current, use rocks structure to hide out Live in 6 inches to 20 feet of water Migratory habits – somewhat unknown where or how they travel WDFW Biologist tagging study WDFW research to figure out migration habits What we do know: Stay somewhat close to natal stream – within a few miles

What do SRC Eat? Opportunistic Feeders Sandlance Herring Sculpins Marine Worms Shrimp They can be selective!

SRC Diet - Sculpins

Chum/Pink/Coho/Chinook Fry Key in on these at times Selective at times General baitfish patterns work Olive/White clousers Chartreuse clousers Small sandlance patterns Sometimes, bigger/brighter will work better

Chum Fry Pattern

SRC Diet – General Baitfish Patterns

Red’s Fly Shop in Action!

Gear to Use: Rods - 9 to 9.5 ft. 5-6 weights are ideal Sage Salt 590 Sage Motive is utility player for Coho/SRC Reels – Sage 2200/3200 series Lines – Rio Outbound Short F/I Rio Sinking Tip Lines Full Floating Lines 9-10 foot Leader 8-10 lb. Maxima or Rio Flurocarbon? Do we need it for saltwater?

Beach Tactics Access – Where to start fishing? Get maps Google earth WDFW website for access sites Public Parks, easements or access sites offer decent fishing Plan on fishing 2-10 beaches per day Start shallow, then work into ankle deep water or more Keep moving until you find fish Use searching patterns to locate fish – bright/flashy Cast 45 degree angle to shoreline Once you think you have it figured out, it changes!

Boat Tactics miles of shoreline in Puget Sound and Hood Canal – Big Water Google Earth Hood Canal is 50 miles long Various Launch Points throughout Hood Canal Boat allows us to cover tons of water in a day Keep moving till you find fish Position boat at depth where just can see bottom Electric Motor Bright Days – go deeper, sometimes Vary line types, intermediate, sink- tip

Streamer Fishing Technique Rio F/I, slow sinking head is primary Let sink 5-10 seconds 3 strips and pause They like it on the drop, imitates wounded prey Floating Line Use for dry flies or weighted flies to get down a bit Rio Outbound full floating

Streamer Patterns

Top water and Dry Fly Techniques Poppers Surface Commotion illicits strikes Mimick chum fry or sand lance Can be violent! SRC can be hatch focused at times General dry patterns will work Royal Wulffs Chernobyls Stimulator