Fished the Kalama on Saturday as well and was disappointed at the lack of fish in the river. My fishing partner and I were feeling like just coming back to Seattle but decided to hit the salt on the way back up. The only problem being was that I left all my salt flies at home so we needed to find a fly shop by my parents house in Onalaska. We found a place called the Toutle river flyshop in Toutle and I was glad to find it. By far the best fly shop I have been to even though it is in the middle of nowhere and basically in a guys house.
Gary the owner kept the shop open for us late Saturday and even offered opening up the store at 4am if we wanted to come in on Sunday. That is what I call service. He evened offered to let me borrow a vise and bring it back the next day. He also provided a wealth of information on fishing in that area and from what I heard I may not venture into eastern washington trout lakes again. This was good news as I am always down in that area and never have any idea of where to fish. That shop definitely brought back my faith in a a good honest fly shop that just isn't trying to sell you the most expensive thing they have. Look forward to visiting again and if you are in the area it is worth checking out. Well he didn't have the salt flies we were looking for but had plenty of materials that I bought to tie them myself. I didn't have a vise or bobbin so I had to tie them by hand ala Lee Wulff. Well a Mr.Wulff I am not and the flies did look like they had been put together by a child but I knew they would work. We fished southworth point on Sunday and caught 1 silver and saw another caught. Talked to a guy who caught a 15lb blackmouth the day before and the way the beach drops off I can see how a blackmouth would be a definite possibility. Will have to walk onto the West Seattle Ferry next time I am lincoln park on fish it again. So the large numbers of fish were not there like I had hoped but meeting Gary at the toutle river fly shop was more memorable than a coho on the fly will ever be. -sean Get 250 color business cards for FREE! http://businesscards.lycos.com/vp/fastpath/
