Coho Update
This is a note from my fishing friend, John Beth, who was chasing trout and salmon last week.
I found a few coho when we first got there, and went 3 for 4. But they were nowhere to be found by early afternoon. There was, however, an abundance of kings. Every area that we normally fish was full of kings–a fair amount of fresh ones, too. We didn’t find any browns or steelhead, nor any other cohos.
So, if you have a hankerin’ for salmon, the waters are full of them. They take the fly well. We use leech style flies in black, purple, gray, white, and tan, with or without flash in them, and often trail an egg pattern about 15 inches behind (Oregon cheese is the color of choice for the kings).
The best overall tactic is to work the fly carefully with a jigging motion across the face of the fish. If possible the approach is made down and across—more down than across. Using lead eyes on the fly allows the imitation to be danced with a distinct up and down motion. If the fly is unweighted, allow a short tag end (about an inch) to hang out of the knot used to attach the fly to the leader. Tie an overhand knot in the end of this tag end, and then crimp a shot or two onto it. The knot keeps the shot from slipping off the tag end. It’s a great tactic.
To easily make a short tag end with a knot in it, thread the fly onto the leader, tie an overhand knot in the end of the tippet, and then tie the clinch, improved clinch, or other attachment knot, keeping the tag end to the one-inch length.
A nice fall coho. The run has just started.