Northwest Fishing Meets & Fishing Buddy Thread

I would like to go on a trip to a high mountain lake and fish for trout. I haven't done that since I was a kid, way back in the day. I also haven't fly fished before but that looks like a very relaxing sport. I enjoyed the movie A River Runs through It, it always made me want to go out and catch a fish on a fly.

 

You are more than welcome man! I know a bunch of great spots for it with very few people. some of them do involve a few mile hike, but hey, it's well worth it. Fly fishing is by far the best way to fish for trout, especially on high alpine lakes. I usually quit for the day because I start feeling bad or get bored because it can literally be like shooting something in a barrel....

It does take a while for the ice to melt in those places so early summer is typically too soon. Mid to late summer is the best.

 

Definitely want to go with you sometime this summer.

 

I'm in man. Let me know when. Got room on my boat if you ever want to catch something out of the Puget Sound. I mainly go for Salmon but I'll fish for lingcod and flounder also. You wouldn't need any gear. I have everything one would possibly need to catch fish out there, plus I have a bunch of crab pots and shrimp pots also.

 

Appreciate that a lot! I'll take you up on it. Very interested to try fishing for lingcod/ flounder/ etc. Obviously fly fishing gear doesn't lend itself to chasing those deep dwellers so I have not had the opportunity. Do you ever get out in the evening? Just weekends? No idea when the season even is for them.

 

Mostly weekends and early mornings. The ling season and bottom fish just opened on the 9th out on the coast. Most of the Sound opens from May 1st to June 15th for lings. Flounder is year round. Winter kings is still open for now until April15th or when the WDFG decides to close it early. There is always something go after year round. That's one of the great bonuses living in Western Washington.

 

You can definitely catch lings on flies, just sayin'.

 

I believe you, but it really seems like spinner gear with weight is best suited for it.

 

8-10wt with heavy sink tip.

 

yeah no thanks. Not fun for me.

 

Hey! Grangeville, Idaho here! I’ll be slinging flys most weekends. Also starting a Veterans Fly fishing group in Grangeville this summer. Free to vets to come learn how to tie flys from some of the local greats. Fly casting classes starting next spring and local meetups for some on the water fun. If you know of a vet that may be nterested please let me know (or someone willing to be come tie/help as a guest!)

 

That’s awesome and very cool of you. I have a Cousin in Whitebird, not too far from you.

 

I've been tempted to make the switch over to fly fishing. It looks more interactive than the general cast-and-drink-beer method. Can't wait for the season to open now since I live next to a lake now.

 

How do I become your best friend? lol. I have a few crab pots/snares but generally go way out to westport or hoodsport for crab. Plus you're in Lynnwood, my old stomping grounds.

 

Do it! Come to the dark side...but also bring your beer. I still cast and drink, I just burn a few more calories in between sips.

 

You are more than welcome to go crabbing with me. The season should be open on July 1st in the Marine Area's that I crab in.

 

Zzzzzzzz

I fished the Yakima yesterday, both near Cle Elum, and the Canyon. Was dead. River in the Canyon was blown out.

 

I fished it on Saturday. It was a bit off color but it fished really well for us. I think we had 5 fish over 18" and another dozen or so smaller fish. But I can see how the river could have been close to going out in another day or two.

 

Sounds like you had a much better day than me. What flies were you having luck with? Funny enough the only Skwalla I saw crawled off my boot as I took them off after calling it quits for the day. Maybe it’s a little early on the upper river or maybe I missed it I don’t know.

 

We fished the farmlands just upstream of the canyon, and I didn't see any Skwalas. The only place I've heard of them coming off a lot is in the lower canyon, and the hatch will slowly move upstream from there. We were mostly nymphing but got a couple on streamers also. My go to nymph rig on that river is an olive Pat's stone (substitute for San Juan worm if the water is off color like it has been) with a tungsten jighead frenchie trailing off the hook bend.

This pheasant tail frenchie slays that river year round. We had a few fish eat the worms and stones on Saturday, but most ate this.