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I’m not an expert on catching salmon
on the fly, but I’ve pursued it pretty aggressively in the past three
years. I have spent a great deal of time reading,
watching videos…and out trying stuff! There is no shortage of information
available, do a google or amazon search, and you’ll find some fine resources. Depending on the species you’re targeting,
there are different techniques. For Kings, I believe the preferred method is “low
and slow,” whereas you may be able to take a silver on the surface with a
quickly stripped fly. I have caught most of my salmon in rivers
on a slowly swung fly. The problem I had in the first year, when I caught few,
was to swing the fly in a “J,” that is, I would let the belly of my
line catch the current, so that as it drug more and more, my trailing leader
and fly would pick up speed and zip across current. Later, I learned to mend
the belly of the line “out,” away from the bank I was standing on,
sort of an up-stream mend. This created a much slower cross-current swing, and
helped me catch a lot more fish. I have also caught some chum on a dead drifted
fly, when there was adequate current. I suppose that because I was on a sink
tip and not under an indicator, there was probably some drag, so it might have
been more of an “ultra-slow swing.” I know people who catch many salmon using flies
under an indicator. I have not yet had a situation in which this has been an
effective way to catch fish, but I believe that it could be very effective.
Since you’re a trout fisherman, you should have that technique down
already. For me, an 8 wt sink tip is my go-to rod
for salmon. I have also caught more fish on sparse patterns than giant bushy
patterns, but I sure like to tie those big pretty ones. One last thought. Salmon can be easy to
snag when they’re stacked up. I like to fish smaller flies, and flies
with dumbbell eyes or a wing that makes them ride “hook-up.” I
think this is a much more sporting way to fish, and I didn’t snag any
using flies of this nature last year. I want badly to get up to Teeg Stouffer From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Jim, With all those salmon in the river, there must be some
rainbows around. Since you like to fish trout, I'm sure you'd like to
hook some of those bad boys also. I'd second Dell's suggestion on the
Purple Egg Sucking Leech. I'd also have some in Black. Here are a few others I'd suggest: Starlight Leech Flash Flies Volcano Pixies Revenge ShowGirl Alaskabou Articulated Leeches Sculpin Patterns / Egg Sucking Sculpins Egg Patterns / Beads Have a good trip. Brian Hi all. I?ve never fished salmon on a fly in my life, but I?ll be
getting my feet wet with it on the Alagnak from 7/24 ? 31. Okay, well
there was the time when I was a kid down at the Redondo pier (WA) stripping a
Mickey Finn to a school of silvers that would follow it but not strike? I
don?t think that really counts. I know there?s a wealth of knowledge on
this list in the area of salmon/steelhead flyfishing. Unfortunately, I?ve
tended to ignore a lot of this information over the years since I have always
been a trout-only kinda? guy. Now I?m hoping to solicit your help :) From what I?ve read there should be sockeye, chum and
Chinook in the Alagnak system at that time. I?ll be with guides that, of
course, will offer up flies including local patterns, but I?m a very
independent sorta? fisherman and have never fished with a guide. I?ll
want to have my own box of salmon patterns when I get there so I can try my own
stuff and not feel like I owe success solely to the guides. I have a list of suggested patterns that I got from the
lodge?s website (www.alaskatrophyadventures.com), and am hoping that y?all
can supplement this list with suggested patterns and suggest how the flies are
to be fished. I have a lot to learn? Here?s what I?m planning to
buy/tie in advance so far: - Fat Freddie - Popsicle - Yarn fly - Flashabou - Teeny Nymph - Marabou Wiggler * What else should I take? * How do you fish them (dead-drift, swing, strip [strip
how])? * Know of some websites I should visit that tell me all of
this and more? * How about sites that explain how to tie them? Tying
some of these beautiful patterns appears to be a whole new ballgame, but one I
think will be really satisfying once I acquire some skill. I know that?s a lot to ask ? I appreciate very much any
help. Thanks in advance. Jim Speaker |
- Suggested Salmon Patterns? Alagnak R. AK 7/24 - 31 Jim Speaker
- Re: Suggested Salmon Patterns? Alagnak R. AK 7/24... cd0418271
- Re: Suggested Salmon Patterns? Alagnak R. AK 7/24... fishbs
- RE: Suggested Salmon Patterns? Alagnak R. AK ... Michael Santangelo
- RE: Suggested Salmon Patterns? Alagnak R. AK ... Teeg Stouffer
- RE: Suggested Salmon Patterns? Alagnak R.... Jim Speaker
