John, if you're roasting in the 120 degree heat, don't read this, it'll
just get you hotter.
Last saturday, I went exploring from the bridge to Point Evans, I was
throwing a grizzley popper and turned over two substantial fish. They
didn't hook, so I didn't get to see them close up. They were too large for
the cutts that are usually at the Narrows and I have never seen silvers
that size at this time of year.
I went back this last saturday with fellow list member, Brian Lencho. We
hit the beach at 7am and walked the shore looking for sign. The weather was
cloudy and overcast and the tide was 11.6' at 3:48am and dropping to -3.4
at 11:11am - an extreme tide, just the way I like 'em. We found bait
trapped in a back eddy, so we fished it and found the eddy to be chock full
of herring. Fishing uptide of the eddy, Brian hooked and landed two 20"
blackmouth in the fast moving water. I had two solid big fish hits. The
bite lasted about 45 minutes.
I went back alone on sunday in the same conditions except the tide, as you
know, was less extreme and about an hour later. I was fishing a six-weight
with a slime line and a three inch, chartreuse candlefish tied on a
stinger. I had four hits and two fish on which came off on their first
jumps. I estimate them to be in the 5-10lb class. This time the bite lasted
a half hour.
I went back again monday loaded for bear. I took an 8 weight Scott HP. I
figured the 6 weight didn't have enough backbone to give them the lumber
when they struck. I cast straight out across current and jerked the line as
it swung. Anyone looking would have thought I was trying to snag fish. Just
as the line was beginning to straighten out, I stripped as fast as I could
with one hand (in order to get pauses between strips). It worked. The first
fish was a blackmouth between 5 and 8 pounds and the second escaped just as
I was tailing it. It looked to be 10 pounds or more. Both fish took me way
into the backing and down the beach. I lost another take as I was
momentarily distracted. The next fish was lost 10 seconds later because I
wasn't expecting the fish to grab the fly as it hit the water.
Brian and I went back this morning. The conditions were poor - sunlight,
sea lions and flattening tide. Brian had one big hit and I had three big
fish hits, plus one missed fish which straightened out my hook, and one
landed, about five pounds. This time the bite lasted about 20 minutes.
In all cases, there were no boats and no other fishers near me. No fish
were showing or actively feeding, except an occassional "happy jumper."
There were no signs of feeding by fish or birds. There was no reason to
expect blackmouth to be within 35' of shore in water less than 10' deep
taking flies stripped rapidly (maybe six inches under the surface) in
extremely fast moving water.
Pretty interesting. I guess it just pays to walk the beaches. Hope you
liked the report.
Leland.
