Well---the search for the Pinks continues!

 

Fished Ala Spit on Wednesday and saw some fish jump and witnessed one Pink caught on a buzz bomb but I had no hits and no fish.  Fished the incoming and early outgoing tides.  Ron Cooper and Carl Armstrong were out there as well---still no fish.  There were about 15 fishermen at the spit that day.  Only saw two fish jump all day.

 

Didn't fish yesterday but did tie some pink minnow patterns with bead eyes and this time epoxy'd the eyes on firmly--have been losing the eyes on my bead head patterns lately?

 

Took my new minnow patterns out to Fort Casey to fish the incoming tide.  Approximately 15-20 fishermen there by noon.  Got a hit and finally beached my first saltwater Coho--a nice size fish and a good fighter as well.  Caught her after about 30 minutes and didn't get another strike for 2.5 hrs.    Judy and I will have fresh Coho for dinner tonight!  Guy fishing next to me also caught a Coho about an hour before I left--he had three hits/one fish.  Saw one other fish caught during my three hours there--it was not a pink!  Saw no other fish caught or even jump in those three hours.

 

Where are the Pinks?????  There are lots of fishermen out there but not that many fish.

 

Rich

 

chad.t.lewis

 First, congratulations to Richard on his successful humpy hunt. I've been going at it sporadically the last couple weeks and have come up with nothing so far. Looks like patience and persistence, as in most fishing, is the key. I hope to get out there and hook up with a few pinks soon, maybe with Richard. So I can learn from a pro, you know?

 I had such a good day on Pass Lake yesterday, I thought I might as well let everyone else know. I got onto the lake about 10:30 and there were fish rising off the boat ramp. I've used a #14 Elk Hair Caddis with some success at Pass before; in fact, it's my favorite dry fly to tie on there. So I put one on and hooked up a nice 13-14" bow on the first cast. There was another guy there getting ready to go out and he just laughed. I said "Well, it doesn't get much easier than that".

 After that, I got in the boat and fished up and down the left-hand shore (as viewed from the parking lot) and found lots of fish rising. Good fish. I lost the EHC on the third fish, so I tied on a black deer hair beetle that I'd tied a couple weeks ago. Worked like a charm, and it caught fish until it was too ragged to float. Next I tied on an emerging midge pattern that I found on the internet that looked like just the thing for Pass lake. And got nothing. I've tried fishing that pattern a few times (it's called a shuttlecock, and it's a U.K. pattern) with no success. I guess it only works on fish that speak with a British accent.

 By this time I'd been there a couple hours and landed 10 fish, all big enough to be happy about. I switched back to the #14 Elk Hair Caddis and cruised around some more. The same guy I'd seen earlier at the boat launch was working a spot next to the weed bed, and had coaxed three risers out from under a tree with a streamer. A fourth fish was under there working it heavy, but wouldn't come out for the streamer. We talked a couple minutes while he cast, then he gave up and gave me a chance. It took a couple shots to get the fly in front of him, but he took it without a second thought when I got it right. After that I worked my way around the shoreline back to the parking lot. I found a couple more risers, but couldn't get one to take. Oh well, even the great days don't last forever.

 So, I had the best day of dry fly fishing I've had on Pass, or any lake for that matter. I've only been fishing three years, but I've found that I like this kind of fishing best and am especially happy when it happens. I haven't been able to get out for about a month because of work so, considering the good day, I suppose there is some justice in the world.

We had a fine day on the water at Ala Spit--well--the weather was fine but the fish did not cooperate much.

 

Bob Wiediger had the only humpy of the day, but at least we had one fish.  The weather was spectacular as you will see in the pictures and the food/friendship at the picnic was terrific.

 

Gil brought a spey rod for me to try out and well---I was not a very good student.  If I continue with spey rods I will have to take a formal class to manage this big rod.

 

Thanks to all for bringing all the wonderful food for the picnic.