River and creek water levels have dropped substantially since last week, and the Gastineau Channel is officially back to it's normal color.... That means they are without a doubt fishable again! With the recent large tides and rainfall, the Coho's have begun to move into their usual spots around town. The fishing has still been a hit and miss, but it is a great time to go see what you can find.
If you plan on taking a drive to Cowee Creek this weekend, try large flies like the Dolly Llama in black/white or pink/purple, Jig Spankers in pink, chartreuse or tutti frutti. Egg Sucking Leeches and Hareball Leeches can produce too. While your there, be sure to check out down by the meadow, just above tide water Here, try Clouser Minnows in addition to Dolly Llamas and Jig Spankers. Good colors in tide water are chartreuse/white, chartreuse/yellow, pink/white, tutti frutti and pink/purple.
For Silvers, you can also try the Gastineau Channel on the last few hours of the outgoing tide and the first few of the incoming: Clousers and similar patterns are the bread and butter. Try throwing these flies with a 9-10 leader or off of a slow sink tip. Good colors are the same here as Cowee; chartreuse/white, chartreuse/yellow, pink/white, tutti frutti and pink/purple. If you plan on fishing out in front of Salmon Creek, try the flood tide beginning about an hour into the incoming.
Still on a Dolly hunt? With the lack of Pink return this year, the creeks are pretty bare with the exception of the occasional Coho or Chum carcass, so the Dollies are hungry. In Cowee Creek and Montana Creek, the Dollies are dropping down into deeper holes and holding; Try flies like the Egg Sucking Leech, B.H. Bugger- White, Twofer, and occasionally some large fry patterns as well as some 8-10mm beads in Light Orange, Washed Orange, and Peachy colors.
Now is a great time to get out on the water and see what you can find...especially while the sun is shining!
Happy Fishing!
-Brad, Mike & Kayla
