I've never fished Golden Gardens at this time of the year, but there has
been some fishing for cutthroat from early fall through the first part of
the winter. Immature coho are about through the winter and spring. In the
fall mature coho can be reached from the shore, but keep in mind that that
the area south of Meadow Point is closed to salmon fishing until October
31st (which would be after all or most of the coho run). This brings up the
ethical point of fishing for cutthroat in an area where you are more likely
to be hooking coho, perhaps Lincoln Park would be a better choice.
Cutthroat seem to like Leland's popper (though I've risen many more fish
that I've hooked on it) and the Reversed Spider (with hot orange chenille
body and wood duck dyed mallard hackle and tail) has been a real producer
for me. My best pattern for mature coho has been the Hubert Humpy: # 6 or 8
Mustad 34007, tie a piece of dyed pink rabbit strip down at the bend of the
hook, long enough that the hair trails about a shank length beyond the bend
of the hook and leave enough to pull up over the back, tie in pearl diamond
braid and spiral up for the body. Tie in a bit of red floss and take a few
wraps to represent gills. Tie in a pair of bead chain eyes and pull the
rabbit strip up over the back and tie it down. Tied with olive rabbit strip
it makes a pretty good baitfish imitation that can draw a few strikes too.
Fish the popper with a floating line and irregular twelve-inch strips, the
Reversed Spider and the Hubert Humpy with either an intermediate or floater.
