Sea runs on the fly

F
Fred
I mainly fish wooly buggers and reverse spiders near tidal areas with the latter being on the end of my line 90% of the time. So, I’ve had my fill with those two and would like to catch decent-sized sea runs on other patterns. My goal is to get at least one sea-run 15 inches or larger on popular sea run patterns. I knocked off the muddler minnow with two 15-inch fish and a lot of small fish in the 6–11-inch range. I still haven't hooked a good one on a Borden’s special as of yet. After I get one, I'll try to get a hefty one on the female coachman. Currently on my list are October caddis, elk hair caddis, female coachman, bwo, some type of egg pattern, and Borden special. I have books on sea runs with other patterns I might add and would love to hear suggestions. I caught one on an elk hair caddis (last spring), a muddler minnow (Last week), a tiny one on a bordens (a couple weeks ago), a muddler minnow (last Friday) and a fly I bought at the Orvis fly shop in Lake Oswego. If someone can Identify it and what it imitates thanks. Mostly use 5/6 weight rods, but also an 8-weight I find they still fight hard on it and I can end the fight faster. If I fish in precious locations, I want extra insurance in case of a lucky encounter with a steelhead, salmon, or monster sea run. I use a Douglas LRS 5 wt, echo base 8 wt, and a Beulah guide series ii 6 wt. My reels are a cross water and a Lamson liquid. Floating line and sink tips. 6 to 7ft leaders for streamers and 9ft for dries. Catching big fish on small flies, especially dry flies is another pursuit of its own. I lost an 18-incher using a small caddis on opening day. The fish jumped clear out of the water and proceeded to swim off with it after breaking my line. On the Borden special, I’ve had several 16- and 18-inch fish follow in tidewater, but no takes. One time I failed to notice a large chinook jack following it until I was midway into starting another cast and pulled it away from him ugh! Last few weekends I’ve been skating or stripping muddlers near the surface and that’s produced a couple of quality fish. Another goal related to sea runs is figuring out fishing for them in estuaries and the ocean. I’ve caught sea runs in a creek 100 yards from the ocean, but never in the surf. I read someone caught one in the surf at Neskowin Beach. Keep in mind the creek itself is closed during sea run season. In bays, only one spot has been producing for me. I named it the “Thomas Spot” after my friend who showed me it. My buddies have caught three sea runs that were 19 inches here. My personal best a 17.5-inch sea run also caught there and I broke off a fish 18 inches or larger there on a reverse spider. These fish were chrome and feisty only downside was the saltwater being bad for my gear. I’ve caught juvenile lingcod, crabs, perch, and staghorn sculpin there as well. On top of that, I’ve seen sea runs chasing baitfish and salmon and steelhead passing by. Only here have I had luck in a bay setting. I hope to find success in the mud flats, sand flats, eelgrass beds, and deep waters in the bay. I have a pontoon, a kayak, and a 12 ft boat that I could use out there. My other interest is fishing new rivers and creeks and getting decent ones in those new places. Coastal cutthroat are my favorite species so they always spark ideas in me. I doubt I’ll fulfill these goals anytime soon, but perhaps over the years, I’ll get some partially completed, just ranting and thinking of them is fun. For this season I’m aiming for fishing two new rivers and getting a decent one on two patterns. I’ll likely get distracted by the salmon and other species and far-flung destinations in Oregon. Anyway sorry for any grammatical mistakes’ grammar is not my strong suit and I'm
writing this at 4 in the morning. I’ve gotten into the bad habit of staying up late on the internet and it has made me miss far too many morning bites. I’ve got to work on the sleeping schedule haha. Also added some of pics from my trip my father and I did and a october caddis that landed on my rod this friday.
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John3
John3
. . . patterns for SRC . . .

“Sea Run” and “Fly-Fishing Coastal Cutthroat Trout” by Les Johnson

“Sea-Run Cutthroat Flies & Fishing” by Jay Nicholas
 
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troutdude
troutdude
John3 said:
. . . patterns for SRC . . .

“Sea Run” and “Fly-Fishing Coastal Cutthroat Trout” by Les Johnson
Ding ding ding! I actually have a 1st Edition. (from 1972 if memory serves) But I don't think that edition has any color pics. Only later editions, I believe, have pics.
 
F
Fred
John3 said:
. . . patterns for SRC . . .

“Sea Run” and “Fly-Fishing Coastal Cutthroat Trout” by Les Johnson

“Sea-Run Cutthroat Flies & Fishing” by Jay Nicholas
I’ve read both of them and I loved them. I also have two others, but I haven’t read them yet.
 
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John3
John3
You might also look this book “Fly Patterns of British Columbia: The Roderick Haig-Brown Centenary Edition” . . .

Haig-Brown was the dean of Pacific N.W. fishing on the Canadian side.

His patterns bear an unparalleled knack of brevity and proportion and colour in my opinion.
 
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F
Fred
John3 said:
You might also look this book “Fly Patterns of British Columbia: The Roderick Haig-Brown Centenary Edition” . . .

Haig-Brown was the dean of Pacific N.W. fishing on the Canadian side.

His patterns bear an unparalleled knack of brevity and proportion and colour in my opinion.
Never heard of the book or the author I'll take a look thanks!
 

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