Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
November 2013
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In This Issue
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Upcoming Seminars and Events.. November Outlook.. Belize 2014...... Yakima River Outlook.... Olympic Peninsula Outlook... The Secret Sauce: Chum Salmon on the Fly..... Tie of the Month-Starlight Leech... The Secret Season: Bob Triggs.. 2 3 4 8 9 10 12 13
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Headshake Magazine
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November Outlook
November is upon us and the holiday season is drawing near. Most people think of November as a month of pilgrims, turkey, and pumpkin pie, here at Orvis Bellevue we think about chum salmon, steelhead, and trout. November is a great month to be on the water and fishing opportunities are abound. If you need an idea where to go, what flies to use, or just need some general fishing knowledge, be sure to come in or give us a buzz at (425)452-9138. Chum Salmon-November might as well be called Chumvember! There will be thousands of chum in the estuaries and moving their way up rivers like the Skagit, Green, and Skykomish. Keep in mind that the chums are the last salmon to spawn and will generally be found lower in the river systems. Be sure and check out our free chum seminar on Nov. 6th and come to our free fish-out on the 13th. Also be sure to read this months Secret Sauce article on how to catch chum on the fly. Trout-Trout fishing will continue to be very good throughout November. The Yakima will fish well this month, check out our Yakima River Outlook for more info, as well as our west side lakes. Lakes including Beaver, Green, Silver, and Meridian have all been stocked with many more scheduled to be stocked throughout the month. Check out the Department of Fish and Wildlife website for a fall stocking schedule. Also be sure and make a trip to Pass and chase big brown trout with streamers. Steelhead- Some say the only trout worth catching is made of steel, and November is one of the best months to target these fish. Winter fish will begin entering our local rivers and anglers have a legitimate shot at fish in the 6-10lb range. Rivers to concentrate on include the Skykomish, Skagit and Cowlitz. The Klickitat and, if they remain open, the Wenatchee and Methow for summer runs. Anglers willing to do a little driving will also find great steelheading on Oregons Deschutes River or John Day. Be sure and check your regulations before heading to your favorite river to make sure it is open and there are no emergency closures. Puget Sound- Searun cutthroat fishing will be very good on all South Sound beaches. Stay away from the North Sound since most of those fish have made their way up the rivers. When chasing searuns use an intermediate line with small baitfish imitations. A good tactic is to fan cast in an area and then keep taking steps down the beach. Anglers should concentrate on fishing structure and inlets as well as a moving tide.
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The Fishing
Ambergris Caye is conveniently located amidst some of the most productive bonefish, permit and tarpon flats in the Caribbean. The area has long been a favorite of anglers chasing the coveted tropical saltwater grand slam. Although still a difficult feat, even for highly skilled anglers, many would agree that El Pescador is probably home to more grand slams than any other lodge in the Caribbean. The flats extend for miles, providing ample opportunities and a wide variety of species. The nutrient rich ecosystem provides a tremendous amount of food to the bonefish, permit, tarpon and numerous other fish that inhabit the flats. From extremely large schools of small bonefish to incredible schools of permit and tarpon exceeding 150 pounds, variety is what fly fishing in this part of Belize is all about.
Bonefish
Bonefish are the most numerous game fish available in Northern Belize. Many experienced professional and amateur anglers caught their first bonefish with an El Pescador guide. The fish are plentiful and there are always options available to anglers of all skill levels. The average bonefish weighs in at around 2 pounds but there are larger fish available, and fish over 10 pounds have been landed. Most of the bonefishing around Ambergris Caye is done while casting from the platform of a Mexican style panga flats boat. The elevated position of the angler and guide makes spotting fish easier and oftentimes the boat can get closer to the fish than a wading angler can. There are some flats that are hard bottomed and well suited to wade fishing. However, anglers spend most of their time fishing from the boat.
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Permit
Permit are a popular attraction for anglers visiting Belize. Although never easy to catch, if you are willing to put in the time and effort, this is one of the best places in the world to connect with this special fish. Permit sizes range from 5 pounds to over 40 pounds with the average fish landed running around 10 pounds.
Tarpon
Tarpon are available year round in smaller numbers. The resident fish that are found in the mangrove creeks from October April typically range from 15 40 pounds and are a lot of fun on a fly rod whenever they are encountered. Most of the tarpon fishing this time of year involves blind casting in deeper channels with sinking lines. In approximately late April through early October the larger migratory tarpon move into the area looking for baitfish schools on their annual migration through the Caribbean. This provides the best opportunity to sight fish for tarpon. It is not unusual to see fish over 100 pounds and larger fish are caught every year. The unique geography of the area allows El Pescadors well trained guides to find fish throughout the day by switching locations and species as the tide fluctuates. In addition to bonefish, permit and tarpon, these guides are well trained and eager to pursue other species including jacks, snapper, barracuda and the occasional snook.
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Included:
Local flights from Belize City to San Pedro and transfers to the lodge Guided fishing from flats boats (2 per boat is standard) Lodging in an air conditioned en suite room All meals at the lodge and boat lunches Beverages including local beer and rum Local sales and hotel taxes
Not included:
International flights to Belize City Marine park fees (optional) & fishing licenses Guide & staff tips, imported liquors Fishing equipment (available for rent/purchase) Fuel or tax surcharges that may be added (425)452-9138 at anytime prior to arrival (extremely rare) Headshake Magazine Orvis Bellevue Page 7
Planning a Trip?
Make your next trip down the Yakima a memorable one with Orvis Endorsed Guide Derek Young. Click on the logo to check out his website for more information and to book online.
Want to book a trip on the Olympic Peninsula or hit a Puget Sound Beach? Give Bob Triggs a call. Bob has been guiding for over 33 years and offers a full line of instructional and guided fishing opportunities. Bob Triggs 360-385-9618
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There are few things more exciting in fly fishing than watching a 10-20lb fish come up and absolutely crush a fly. November is a great time to catch chum in our local estuaries and rivers and the starlight leech is a great pattern to use when chasing these beasts. This pattern can also be very productive when chasing steelhead and Coho salmon. Try tying a few up in chartreuse, pink, black, and purple, and use them on your next outing.
Materials Hook: 1645 Size 1-2 Eyes: Pre-painted Lead Thread: Saltwater Size G Tail: Zonker Strip Body: Estaz or Ice Chenille Hackle: Saddle Hackle Head: Small Chenille
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Dont get caught in the high tide mentality. We have enough structure and current here on Admiralty Inlet and around the Olympic Peninsula region beaches that you can catch sea-run Cutthroat at any time of tide on most days, if you just work at it. It wont hurt you to learn the structur es of a beach by visiting it on a minus tide day and watching the flows as a tide comes in. One good thing is to find current flowing along a beach, on any tide, from there your fishing is just like freshwater river fishing anywhere. Having bait around helps, so be on the lookout for birds feeding, especially sea ducks and Cormorants and especially Osprey. Taking a little time to study forage fish habitats and behavior will pay off too. Look for gravel and cobblestone bottom beaches with moving water at some time of tide. Spurs of land, points and bars, ledges and humps, all indicate some current at some point of tide. Sea-run Cutthroat like an active fly so dont be afraid to keep that fly moving and alive! Strip-Shake-Rattle-N-Roll! Mix it up and make it look real. No bait fish with a set of trout teeth chasing it slows down or stops. Its not paranoia if they are really after you! Once you find a good spot and catch a few fish, dont get stuck- keep moving. Even a few steps at a time once in a while can make a big difference. Make an adventure of it. But remember where you caught the last one! Dont wade too deep; knee deep to shin deep is fine. Once you begin wading deep you can push fish away, and you will be losing your body core temperature the whole time you are fishing no matter how well you layer your clothing. Frequent breaks to warm up are a good strategy. Better yet; dont allow yourself to get cold to begin with. Simply walking out of the water for a few minutes occasionally is usually enough to warm you, along with snacks and sipping hot thermos drinks or soup during the day. Its supposed to be fun. Try to work your fly in the shallows before you ever actually do any wading. Standing on the dry beach at waters edge I once caught a 12 pound ocean returning Coho salmon in two feet of water right in front of me this way. Trout feed in ridiculously shallow water sometimes. Any time of year you could have a good day of catching Cutthroat right at the edges all day, and never once step in the water to do it. But only if you try.
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A nine foot five or six weight fly rod is fine. I like the medium to fast action rods, especially on a windy day or when Im pushing big poppers or fluffy flies. The Switch and Spey rods are gaining in popularity on the beaches these days too. A 12 foot six weight seems fine. I prefer a floating fly line all year round. But many people swear by the newer intermediate sink clear lines and sink tip lines. Using a dry line I can adjust my leader length according to the fly I am using and depth that I want to fish. In the broader, slower flows of most shallow water beach fishing situations here this is a refreshingly simple affair. A nine foot factory tapered, knotless 4X or 3X monofilament leader should cover most of it. Have extra spools of tippet and your leaders will last much longer. I use all kinds of trout and steelhead flies for this fishing but I especially like Lelands Beach Popper and big brushy Steelhead muddlers like Bill McMillans Steelhead Caddis. Generally I try to avoid long shank hooks and limit my hooks to size # 4 and # 6. I also use bait fish flies like the Clouser Minnow. I opt for more natural or imitative colors and patterns overall. Larger and longer shank hooks can easily kill a Cutthroat Trout. Remember that by law we are to release all fish without avoidable injury, as these fish are protected from harvest on Washingtons marine waters. If you dress properly for winter weather, though often it is quite mild here, being aware of the colder water temperatures on Puget Sound waters, and if you come with an open mind and a positive attitude, you wont ever be disappointed. Winter sea-run Cutthroat fly fishing on our beaches can become a new addition to your outdoors and angling life. Thankfully our regional beaches have easy access and ample parking, and much of the best fishing is right at our doorstep on the Olympic Peninsula. So what are you waiting for? Dont let the brown muddy rivers stop you- get out and fish!
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