Fly fishing for Coho over the last few years has proven to be one of the most exciting and popular methods of fishing. Here in the Lower Mainland, we are blessed with many great streams where fresh Coho will eagerly take a well presented fly pattern. Rather than scaring fish with a float or spinner hitting the surface, a well casted fly often drifts into a group of Coho that are eager to take.

Coho Salmon are generally found in pools, tailouts, and riffled sections of a stream. Some sections cannot be fished with drift gear but are excellent pieces of fly water. Whether you are laying a tricky roll cast or casting a full fly line, use whatever the environment demands. A common error most new river fly fishermen make is not getting to the depth of the fish. Heavier weighted flies, sinking tip, full and intermediate sink lines will help you getting in the zone.

Like all fishing methods, there are drawbacks. For Coho fly fishing, river visibility and height are both major factors. No matter how good a fly fisherman's skill is, the river conditions will always make it difficult. For best fishing, first and last light are most productive. Depending on a stream's visibility it will let you decide what patterns of fly are worth trying. Generally, when the water is quite coloured a flashy coloured fly will draw a fish's attention much better than a simpler pattern often used when the water is clear. Common sense comes into play most of the time, think like a fish that is feeding in the stream.

For selecting flies, #4-10 are most productive. For Coho that are noticeably spooked, try a "sparse" tied fly. Some notable patterns are the Christmas Tree, Coho Blue, Green Woolly Bugger, Kelseys Hope and Rolled Muddler.

It will take a bit of time to learn the basics but with more experience gained from each trip, the better chance you have of catching a Coho on the fly. There is no better feeling than seeing a fresh Coho go aerial with a fly in its mouth.