Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum
Fishing in British Columbia => Fishing Reports => Members' Fishing Reports => Topic started by: Athezone on April 28, 2014, 11:53:42 PM
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Thought I'd post a report about todays trip. 5th trip out for me to the Cap and as I usually do in the early part of the season I go down Rabbit Lane way and fish the Granny Smith and the numerous pools that I have discovered over the years. Got to the river at 8 am and not a soul in sight which I thought would happen being a Monday.
Fishing chum roe and not much happening for the first hour except the beauty of mother nature and the calmness of being so close to the city yet so far away. All of a sudden at the end of the pool I see a splash and venture to guess its a lovely blue black. I make my cast as perfect and smooth as a balletist performing a pirouette and softly adjust it so that its right in line with the prize.
Drat, nothing on this cast. My drift ends and I quickly reel up hoping I can re-cast, locate and catch this beauty before she scoots through to another spot as early in the year these coho are as hard to catch as dragons teeth. But this cast and subsequent ones fail to find the pot at the end of this rainbow and with a sigh I settle in, relax and enjoy the serenity of it all.
A couple hours pass by quickly what with a good book to read, fishing, watching and snacking but I eventually grow edgy and decide to try another spot not far away. Its only a short hike, 15 minutes tops and I am again looking at a fresh pool with not a soul in sight and my anticipation begins to build as I put bait on my hook. Again the quiet is beautiful to behold. That we can all drive, hike and fish in such a magical river only steps from our backyards is nothing short of wonderful.
I fish this pool for about an hour and a half and see nothing rise nor feel any bites, time to move.
The third pool I visit is again within minutes to reach and as with any fisherman my optimism is again at a high. I rebait and cast and do as I've done for the last 30 years fishing this river. Smile, enjoy, breathe deeply and rejoice in lifes little wonders. An hour passes too fast and still nothing. Will I get skunked again ? In the 4 previous trips I have only hooked 3 fish and was only able to get one in so I wouldn't be surprised if I got shutout again. Patience is a fisherman's best friend.
As my float drifts half way down the pool my mind starts thinking maybe its time to go as it has now reached 1 pm and then all of a sudden my float dips, turns and is gone. I quickly set the hook and immediately feel and see this brute twisting side to side in attempt to get off. I know this is a big one and I say to myself don't lose him Al. Then with a show of strenghth and cunning there is a huge jump from the water and as it twists in the air I get to view its exquisiteness.
My heart is beating fast as I reel and walk to get closer to where this fish is and then she jumps again. I fear I have lost her as I allowed some slack in the line this time but she is still there and is peeling my line off in a true display of her strength. I'm worried my 8 lb test won't hold as this fish for sure is a 6 maybe a 7 lber and with the way it is fighting I just don't know. Again for the third time she jumps and as she settles in the water again I decide its time to try and land her. She is only 5 feet away but it seems so far as the closer to shore I get her the more animated she becomes.
Finally as she reaches the shore and I attempt to pull her past the medium sized rocks my line snaps, Oh No I scream !!!
But as I look to where she is I can see she is winded from the fight and I only have seconds to make my choice.
Into the water I jump with both feet and I slide both my hands under her tail and head, I have her. And then I do what any knowledgeable fisherman does, I immediately check to make sure she is a hatchery fish.
It is almost a foregone conclusion as I look to where the adipose fin should be as almost all Cap coho are hatchery. But when I look, there it is, a full adipose. She is wild. My heart sinks and then I think, coho for sure? I quickly check for white gums and black tongue, wide tail base, yes and yes and she is chrome silver just like the thousand other Cap coho's I have caught in my lifetime. She must be released and so still standing a foot deep in the river I lower her back to her birthplace and in an instant she is gone.
My heart is still beating and my breathe heavy and adrenalized as I step out of the water and attempt to regroup my senses. That was the most beautiful fish I have Ever caught in the Capilano and I shall never forget her. Neither all the Steelies nor all the other coho or springs shall ever equal what she has given me today. A truly magical and amazing moment in time and it allows one to realize that this is Why we fish. I re-hook and fish some more but my heart isn't in it for nothing could equal what had just occurred to me. With a smile and a glance over my shoulder I pack up and leave.
For those of you that will be saying, pics, pics, sorry I don't do that. You'll just have to take my word for it, or don't. Wishing you all the Best as the warmer weather approaches and I hope you all reach your dreams.
Good Fishing All !!!!
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6 lb. coho in April ?
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Yep, believe it. Or don't.
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Great report, thanks ;D
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I believe you caught a Coho in the Cap. I believe your story has some embellishments. And I believe you will now be fishing with 10 other anglers.
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Great write up. Definitely one of the systems I have to explore. Like Scott Howell said "a river needs friends too"
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I believe you caught a Coho in the Cap. I believe your story has some embellishments. And I believe you will now be fishing with 10 other anglers.
Hey its a fishing story of course its got some embellishments. And I don't know if I'll see 10 cus' I'm somewhat retired and can pick and choose my times but I'm a pretty social person so a couple here and there won't kill me.
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Great read, that little flash of silver before your float disappears never gets old. Looking forward to seeing the familiar sight of a small coho dancing after being hooked.
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There are some bigger fish mixed in with the small ones. In my favourite pool I can see the schools of coho when they swim by and sometimes I'm shocked how big 1 or 2 fish are.
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Great read. You are a pro on the Cap. I believe your story. Often in June on the holding tank you see fish that are much bigger than the rest and not a steelhead. But a wild fish? Probably hatchery not enough budget to clip all their released fish. I agree theeCap is such a little heaven in the midst of urban chaos. I like to hide away in the canyon too. Just getting old to hang down a rope on some of the pools. ;D
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Great read buddy.
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Thanks guys !!! I've been slacking off from posting for quite a while so's I suppose I was due. Went out yesterday by the way, same spot where I caught the beauty fish and just fence posted for the whole time. Stayed in the same spot for 3 and a half hours and didn't see anything nor did I get a bite, lol.
Oh well thats fishing and thats the Cap sometimes. Still great to get out and man did I get some sun. It should begin picking up soon at least I hope it does. Only takes me 20 min. to drive there so thats a nice treat and gives me incentive to get out and about. Well Good Luck everyone !!!
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Still very early for the cap. Usually picks up in June and that depends on water levels.
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Thanks for the great report! It is time to start hunting for them little silvers and yes I have also experienced large coho early in the past .I have found that it is a good indication of the run to come is going to be decent.
I believe the hatchery has been instilling a wild population of cohos. Taking a number of coho above the cleveland dam to spawn naturally, then in the spring collecting fry to transport and release below the dam.So You can figure it was a wild coho you caught!!
hotrod
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But wouldnt a wild coho come back in october like most cohos?
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143 guys are now fishing in your spot...
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They won't be in his spot for long lol. Good luck finding them this early, they may be around here and there, but in small small numbers and only passing by. Takes many skunked (no fish caught) days, proper timing and patients to find them. Not everyone knows the Cap enough to know the spot he is talking about anyway. I don't. :)
You've got that right Aaron, it takes many days of getting skunked before the fishing Gods take a liking to you. Gone are the days when we would see schools of 50, 60 sometimes maybe even a hundred fish push into your pool. Why I remember 15 or 16 maybe 18 years ago my brother and myself fished a pool in June for a couple hours and didn't catch or see much of anything. Then a large school came in and we ended up from 7 pm till dark catching over 60 coho between us.
Every cast we had either a fish on or got a good chomp on our bait. It was crazy and amazing and so stupidly funny we just kept laughing to each other time and time again. we have never had a day like that since. It was like all the planets had aligned perfectly for us and it was a once in a lifetime thing. Now a days, even in the peak of the run you'll be lucky to see a school of 20 enter your pool. Ahhhh, the good old days ehhhh.
But hey, if it was easy everybody would be doing it right. Oh hold on, everybody is Already doing it, lol. My best advice to everybody is to not get your hopes up. Go out and enjoy mother nature, the serenity and the peacefulness of it all, breathe deeply and just smile. You'll feel better for it.
Good Fishing All and Good Luck !!!
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I agree. This early the best thing is to enjoy mother nature first and fish second. Most of the time is no fish home. Don't count your dinner on it. ;D
Talking about long time ago, I remember those days after Expo 86 when I went to the Cap after work and from the Woodcroft bridge looking down you could see school and school of coho going up. I remember one evening at Nude Rock rapids me and my friend hit a long freight train of coho going by and we were hooking coho into the dark non-stop, fish on literally every cast, and even when the roe was so chewed up leaving only the white skein it still hooked them. Wow, what a memory!
You all still remember those days when people lined up at the rapids below Cable Pool and House Rock. In between waves of coho, people would stop and chat with their eyes on those guys near House Rock at the bottom. Once those guys started hitting fish, everybody went back to casting for the next wave coming up. Those were the days. Now, it is a ghost town there most of the time even in June. Fishing the rapids is so chancy now that most people just focus on the big pools and they are crowded.
Why can't the hatchery stock the river like the old days? The eco system hasn't changed. We just need more funding. Just imagine they save all that money on sockeye crash inquiry for stocking more fish. They haven't done a thing on the recommendations any way. Sigh!
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I was up there Friday fishing the river head to tail. Didn't catch anything, didn't see anyone and did see anything. It was a nice day but if you want to catch fish, go where the fish are -- ie. The ocean, local trout lakes, or the Fraser for sturgeon.
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I was up there Friday fishing the river head to tail. Didn't catch anything, didn't see anyone and did see anything. It was a nice day but if you want to catch fish, go where the fish are -- ie. The ocean, local trout lakes, or the Fraser for sturgeon.
Yeahhh, I agree Tenz85 it is certainly difficult to catch these little blue backs but when you do they are the most tastiest fish around. Going out tomorrow to try my luck once again, hope the river drops a bit.
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I got out the waders and tried the ocean/mouth at low tide yesterday in the pouring rain. As the tide came up I made my way to the mouth. Started getting dark (6 hours later) and I hadnt even seen signs of fish. If any did go up the river, I hope I wouldve noticed haha. As I was tossing my spoon accross the entire span of the mouth over and over and over till dark. Beautiful rainy beach weather though. Maybe next time
Hey Aaron, fishing the mouth of the Cap can be hit and miss at this time of year with the relatively low numbers of fish and strong water levels. Beach angling opportunites off the mouth really improve in the summer months as increasing numbers of fish stack up due to the low river water levels
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If you don't know already, try to fish with rising tide if fishing lower Cap. But this early, don't really have big school to push up yet.
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Haven't touched this system yet but is the cap spey friendly at all?
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Haven't touched this system yet but is the cap spey friendly at all?
No, mostly canyons
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FA is right. Forget about spey in the river itself. It is not even wide enough for speying. But the river mouth below the train bridge in the tidal portion can have the space and river width to handle speying. However, I don't know if there is enough flow there to drive the fly with action unless you retrieve it fast. But do speyers retrieve line fast like normal fly fishing?
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Hmm...normally just swing my fly but if the flow isn't there than maybe gear it is.
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Hmm...normally just swing my fly but if the flow isn't there than maybe gear it is.
Bring both. I've seen fly guys find the odd open spot to cast, but it's definitely not a lot of room.
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The Cap is not a fly fishing friendly river to, too much. One can always try but space is very limited and catching a fish is very difficult. The coho will take roe, spinners, spoons and sometimes wool but roe is the best bet if you want to catch Cap coho. If you plan on spey fishing the Cap you may as well stick to a soccer field cus' thats about the success level you'll have.
Good Luck though !!!
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I always get them while fly fishing with size 8 rolled muddeler or coho buggers.
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I fly fish the river all the time. As others have said there isn't always a lot of room but using single handed spey casts and roll casts are all you need as this isn't a big river. There are also spots that have enough back cast room if you look around. I was up on Saturday and connected with a nice sized fish mid river. I find later in the season when the've seen the gobs of roe over and over sometimes that small little fly is exactly what's needed.
People should take note the hatchery fish ladder tanks were chocked full. I've never seen so many coho in there. Mind you nothing was over 3" long. For those chucking goo the next couple days you might want to bring extra as you'll likely be feeding these little guys for awhile.
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I would have to disagree with you about flyfishing the cap as it is easily the most productive way to get them, if the water is below level2 that is.
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Fly fishing will not out perform roe guy in the morning in lower river or canyon pools. But when the fish are in, Cable Pool below 2 ft in the gauge can be a productive spot and most guys just do roll casts. Try a small olive green fly on deep sink line and fast strip.
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Please be reminded all steelhead and trout, including both hatchery and wild, must be released unharmed.
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Liketofish I know what you're saying but Im saying given the entire season now till Novemberish the fly will out produce everything period. You have a window now to use roe but once the melt is done and the water stays low all summer not to mention the bait ban.... No need to give me fly advice as I am there more than almost anyone rollcasting on my perch. Good luck, hope to bump into you.
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Liketofish I know what you're saying but Im saying given the entire season now till Novemberish the fly will out produce everything period.
Really !!! You really believe that ??? I'll tell you what my friend I'll go fishing with you and I'll outfish you using roe any day you pick. And I'm not talking about the Cable Pool when its below 2 ft. and there's hundreds of coho sitting so lock-jawed you'd think they were mini pit bulls with fins. I've seen the talented fly fishermen at the Cable letting their line drift to the fish and then hand retrieving so fast you'd think they'd just taken a hit of speed. Yahhhh, real skill there.
No I'm talking about a pool where the fish don't hold. They enter and move through rather quickly and your fly, lure or bait better be enticing to them or you just don't get them. No flossing in fast water either or through a pack of a hundred fish pooled together. If your fly is as worthy as you say it should'nt be a problem for you. Just name your day.
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If the argument comes down to bait vs artificial, then bait wins. Fish are driven by scent.
If the argument comes down to swing vs drift, then drift wins. It is simple mechanics. Drifting has your presentation at depth for much longer. Do you really think you can get a fly down and fishing as fast as a center pin or a bait caster? Since when does an egg swing through the water? What if you need to change your depth? You can tell a subtle take with a big piece of T10?
I enjoy casting my spey rod or single hander but not in the Cap and not to slay fish.
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Athezone, sure I'll take you up on that! Let's meet up, not once but many times throughout the season. I'd like to film it for my fishing channel also if you're OK with that. First thing I'd Like to do is get you to admit on camera that you are wrong and the coho are chasing a retrieved fly, not being flossed. That will be easy once you see the sight of a coho chasing a fly to the surface and taking it right in front of you. duhhh. 4thekids don't even comment, fly guys on the Cap don't use egg patterns, no fly flossing here. I'm In Kelowna this weekend but let's meet up and start this next weekend Athezone, or weekday mornings I can get out also.
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Athezone, sure I'll take you up on that! Let's meet up, not once but many times throughout the season. I'd like to film it for my fishing channel also if you're OK with that. First thing I'd Like to do is get you to admit on camera that you are wrong and the coho are chasing a retrieved fly, not being flossed. That will be easy once you see the sight of a coho chasing a fly to the surface and taking it right in front of you. duhhh. 4thekids don't even comment, fly guys on the Cap don't use egg patterns, no fly flossing here. I'm In Kelowna this weekend but let's meet up and start this next weekend Athezone, or weekday mornings I can get out also.
Thanks for the offer summersteel but I don't do Youtube video's nor would I appear on someone's fishing show. If I wanted to be a movie star I would of moved to Hollywood years ago. And as far as coho chasing a fly I'm pretty sure I've seen that once or twice in my life, duhhh. In fact I've caught a few coho in the ocean using bucktail streamers and what not.
Let me know when you want to go and where to meet. Hope you have a wonderful trip to Kelowna, I have a sister that lives there. Beautiful place, wishing you the Best summersteel !!!
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When it comes to bait and artificial I think it comes down to preference. For me wool has done the trick over roe. My brother, friend and myself have out fished roe guys in a heavy populated run in the vedder as well.
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For me wool has done the trick over roe. My brother, friend and myself have out fished roe guys in a heavy populated run in the vedder as well.
If you don't mind to share about your wool patterns, colors and kind of water to fish for (fast ,slow or pockets)?
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Athezone, sure I'll take you up on that! Let's meet up, not once but many times throughout the season. I'd like to film it for my fishing channel also if you're OK with that. First thing I'd Like to do is get you to admit on camera that you are wrong and the coho are chasing a retrieved fly, not being flossed. That will be easy once you see the sight of a coho chasing a fly to the surface and taking it right in front of you. duhhh. 4thekids don't even comment, fly guys on the Cap don't use egg patterns, no fly flossing here. I'm In Kelowna this weekend but let's meet up and start this next weekend Athezone, or weekday mornings I can get out also.
Wow, the duel of the masters of the Cap with the weapon of fishing rod. Nice. :) Most likely both of you will come to a draw & no one get hurt ;D Just kidding. I am not taking preference here as I do both roe & fly. Each has its merits in a certain kind of water & fishing spot. But this weekend? There ain't enough fish yet. So you both may come up with 0-0, a draw. ;D But I have no doubt you are both master of you own style. I like to learn form you both. You can take me on as an apprentice. I learned a great spot from Athezone already for red spring. He is a super nice guy and surely a Cap pro. Perhaps I can learn a spot or two from him. Tired of the pools below the H1 bridge and House Rock.
Perhaps I can also meet up Summersteel to learn a trick or two about flyfishing the Cable Pool later in the season. Besides using Rio deep 7, fluorocarbon 6lb tippet, a small greenish fly and stripping fast, and hanging down that rope to go to the lower rock at Cable Pool when it is below 2ft, what else to do in the Cable Pool to be more efficient? I can't go there at 5AM. If I can do that, I will probably get my fish. :)
Hey guys, I have started a thread 'Enhance the Cap like the old days?' in the discussion section. Perhaps we can convince the authority to enhance the Cap so that both methods will be super productive all season through. ;) ;D
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Hey guys, I have started a thread 'Enhance the Cap like the old days?' in the discussion section. Perhaps we can convince the authority to enhance the Cap so that both methods will be super productive all season through. ;) ;D
Convince our Goverment ? You must be joking, Right ?
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Convince our Goverment ? You must be joking, Right ?
Nothing will happen unless you try, right? How about getting 1,000 Cap fishermen to petition the government? Any volunteers?
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Wow, the duel of the masters of the Cap with the weapon of fishing rod. Nice. :) Most likely both of you will come to a draw & no one get hurt ;D Just kidding. I am not taking preference here as I do both roe & fly. Each has its merits in a certain kind of water & fishing spot. But this weekend? There ain't enough fish yet. So you both may come up with 0-0, a draw. ;D But I have no doubt you are both master of you own style. I like to learn form you both. You can take me on as an apprentice. I learned a great spot from Athezone already for red spring. He is a super nice guy and surely a Cap pro. Perhaps I can learn a spot or two from him. Tired of the pools below the H1 bridge and House Rock.
Liketofish you break me up and I don't know about masters of the Cap, lol. I am hoping that when I do meet summersteel he's as nice as you were when we shared our fishing time together. That was sure fun ehhhh !!! And like you I too hope that I can learn a few tricks at fly fishing that I can store away to use later. I don't always baitcast you know and have caught many a fish with my trusty 3 piece fly rod. I have never used a fly rod for the Cap though and unless summersteel can convince me of its value I doubt I ever will.
Good Fishing All !!!
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Nothing will happen unless you try, right? How about getting 1,000 Cap fishermen to petition the government? Any volunteers?
Good luck and when are you going to start ?
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Good luck and when are you going to start ?
We can tell how many people care from right here, or ask people what they think on the river. What can you do to help besides defending the fed? ;)
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If you don't mind to share about your wool patterns, colors and kind of water to fish for (fast ,slow or pockets)?
Don't mind sharing because ultimately if we share tactics that work it may show others that flossing and snagging aren't always the case. Usually a bright color (let's say pink) wrapped around a few strands of a mute color to give contrast.place in bait loop and trim until size matches clarity. Good rule I use is nothing bigger than my middle finger nail and nothing smaller than my pinky nail. As for water I've used in all situations but I find good tail outs with a couple of pools spread through out works best.
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We can tell how many people care from right here, or ask people what they think on the river. What can you do to help besides defending the fed? ;)
I didnt say nothing to defend the fed. Nothing to do with me. What ever you want to do good luck to you. Don't put words in my mouth and go fishing.
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Please be reminded all steelhead and trout, including both hatchery and wild, must be released unharmed.
X2
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Hey guys, I have started a thread 'Enhance the Cap like the old days?' in the discussion section. Perhaps we can convince the authority to enhance the Cap so that both methods will be super productive all season through. ;) ;D
You kidding me? Government is trying to build a dam to power more pipelines and LNG plants and you want to petition for more hatchery coho in the cap? bahahahah! So awesome.
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Hey Athezone, pm me your cell # so we can meet up. Check out 7 lb flyfishing coho so you recognize me when we meet up.
Chris.
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Hey Athezone, pm me your cell # so we can meet up. Check out 7 lb flyfishing coho so you recognize me when we meet up.
Chris.
Hey Chris that was a wonderful video and just a beautiful fish you caught. I've fished that spot tons of times but not for about
10 years or so now. A PM has been sent and I can't wait to meet up and share advice, learn, laugh and live. Wishing you the Best bro' !!!
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This should be good…can't wait to see the results.
I carry both bait and fly gear when i fish the cap and I can tell you even with the high water this year I still have more fly caught coho than bait this year. Definitely caught more Cap coho on the fly last year than on bait and hardware combined.
SS and I fish together lots so I am confident he will put to rest any question that these fish are flossed…they chase flies down mid water column. last year it seemed they liked it best when the fly was coming straight up and they often hit just as the flies reached the surface, striking up from below.