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Lowland Lakes
We hope you got out and enjoyed the past weekend on the lowland lakes. If not there is plenty of time left to enjoy the lakes after the crowds of opening day fade.
The reports from this past weekend were good with limits coming from popular lakes like Anderson Lake. Anderson Lake is often closed due to algae blooms so right now is the best time to fish it. The state plants it with rainbow fry because the lake supports a large insect population and these small fish get big quickly. It is a State Park so don't forget your Discover Pass and there is a fee to launch a boat. Anderson gets the most press but there are other lakes in the area worth checking out. It is always good to have a backup plan because the wind can be howling at one and nice at another lake only a few miles away. Here's a breakdown on a few of the other lakes on the NE side of the Olympic Peninsula. Gibbs Lake's regulations are more restrictive. It falls under selective fishery rules (barbless, no bait) and is catch and release. It is one of the deepest lakes and does not have a boat launch although there is a spot to hand launch a pontoon boat on the north end. There is also some shore access for those without a boat. Teal Lake is another lake that falls under selective fishery rules. Unlike Gibbs it has a one fish limit. Sandy Shores Lakes has a boat launch so it will be busier with powerboats, especially on the weekends. It does get planted with some large fish which can make it worth dealing with more people. The main spring hatches are chironomids and callibaetis mayflies. For fishing deeper the dragonfly and damselfly nymphs should become more active with the warmer weather. Of course, the standard black buggers and leeches always work well on an intermediate line.
Swing by the shop to pick out some flies from our large selection of lake patterns. Click Here for WDFW's weekly trout plant report. |
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Fishing Forecast
May is a different month when it comes to the rivers. The main reason is that the majority of the rivers are closed. Another factor is the other fishing opportunities available in the Pacific Northwest such as lake fishing, Columbia River springers, and ocean halibut. This means that the few places open see fewer anglers than just a few weeks ago. There are less fresh winter runs and you need to avoid spawning steelhead but there are chances for late-winter & summer steelhead, spring chinook and cutthroat trout.
The fishing regulations can be confusing so we'll break down the river fishing options in May. The Sol Duc River below the hatchery and the Quillayute River are open the entire month. You can harvest hatchery chinook and hatchery steelhead but everything else is catch and release. The Hoh River opens May 16th for hatchery chinook, hatchery steelhead, and catch and release for all other species. The main thing to remember is the Hoh is only open Wednesday through Sundays. Your best bet for the salmon are larger flies fished on sink-tips. If the water temperature warms don't be afraid to fish higher in the water column for the early summer-run steelhead, especially in the Sol Duc.
May is a prime month for lake fishing. Warmer weather should increase the activity of the trout as well as the bugs they feed on. Most of the lakes will be open (Lake Crescent opens on June 1st) so there are lots of options, from lakes with easy access and lakes that require a little more effort to reach.
The saltwater fishing continues to pick up as we get closer to summer. The sea-run cutthroat have all returned back to the saltwater after spawning and will continue to chase the later emerging chum fry as well as all of the other bait along the shorelines in Puget Sound, Hood Canal, and along the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
The first salmon openings happen out on the coast during the halibut season (May 10, 11, 17, 18). Feeding chinook salmon in the saltwater are one of the toughest fly rod targets in the Pacific Northwest but it is worth a trip if you can deal with the hoards of anglers that descend for the short halibut seasons. Rockfish and Lingcod are still available for fly anglers venturing out with boats or scrambling along the jetties until the main saltwater fly rod targets (coho and pink salmon) start showing up in July. Marine Area 5 (Sekiu) opens for lingcod and rockfish May 1. There can be good fly fishing all along the kelp beds from Kydaka Point to Pillar Point. It is often calmer at Sekiu so it is a great place for smaller boats and kayaks.
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TroutHunter Fluorocarbon Tippet
TroutHunter Fluorocarbon Tippet won the 2012 FlyFisherman magazine Fluorocarbon shootout. It won because of its superb knot strength and abrasion resistance. Fluorocarbon is much less visible underwater and is perfect for streamer fishing, lake fishing, and saltwater fishing. We carry this tippet in sizes from 0X (15.7 lb) to 6X (3.7 lb).
The other neat thing about this tippet material is the outstanding design of the spool. Line comes off with no memory and the spools click together for easy storage and access on the water. The packaging is Waterproof and UV resistant.
Grab a spool today and give yourself the best shot at spooky fish. Click Here to order online.
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Fly Line Sale
We are offering 15% off on all fly lines to help you get ready for your trip. Whether you need a new line for your first trip to the tropics or a backup running line in case an Alaskan King spools you on your first day we want to make sure you have have the right fly line.
To save 15% on fly lines enter the following coupon code at checkout: 15FLYLINE513
Don't wait, this offer is only valid for one week.
Click Here to check out our other Sale Products
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