Far Reaches of Northern CA - Coastal Cutts
So - I may be headed up to the Smith River watershed in October. Although I have caught the CA Coastal Cutt, I would like to get a better understanding of these very cool fish. Any ideas or input would be greatly appreciated. I know they are targeted in rivers in Oregon and Washington, but info is hard to come by here in California.
When do they run? What do they eat? what can I expect?
Thanks for any help.
CB
Here in Washington the
Here in Washington the coastal cutthroat tend to hang out into the "frog" water sections of rivers. Slower moving areas with lots of dead fall. October has always been a good time to target them, in rivers they are generalists, and will hit insect patterns, baitfish patterns or attractors, such as buggers and steelhead patterns. There is a great book by Les Johnson out call Fly Fishing for Coastal Cutthroat. I personally like fishing them in the salt water best up here in Washington. Pound for pound they are one of the strongest fish out there. You may also look into Big Lagoon down there as a saltwater/ estuary option. Marabou clouser minnows in olive/ white, brown/ white or yellow/ white in size 6 should do the trick.
Thanks
Thanks for the tips...I'm still hoping to get this trip in. I've fished some of the lagoons before and had different amounts of success. I've always skipped over Big Lagoon, just because it is so big - I didn't know where to start. The problem with Stone Lagoon this year is that it never broke open last year, so no new fish could enter the system.
My real hope is to find some fish on the Smith...
Oregon 'coastal cutts'
This may be too far north for you, but I was visiting Portland, OR on business between Sept. 8th - Sept 11th. I managed two early morning trips on the Wilson River (about 1.5 hours west of Portland). I caught numerous sea-run Coastal Cutthroat (10"-14") using #16 parachute adams on a 5x tippet. They occupied the deeper and slower runs and were not (seemingly) present in the shallow faster moving water. I also caught, and lost, inumerable fingerling (3"-5") Coastal cutthroat. A Portland fly-shop owner indicated that cutthroat on the Wilson were more active and easier to catch during warmer weather/midday, but I found them very active and catchable between 06:30am - 10:30am.
Coastal Cutts on the Smith River
Chris,
I have never gone after Coastal Cutts on the Smith River in the Fall however I have caught them numerous times in Mid-Late March while fishing the tail end of the Steelhead Run. My personal best is a 21" fish below the Peacock section back in 2002. I use Muddlers with a 600 grain shooting head. I'm sure clousers and small fish immitations would work too as they go crazy for smolts. Down in the estuary the muddler works very well as they predominantly go after sculpins which is the fillet mignon on their menu. I only try for them in certain sections of the Smith River like Peacock, Ruby, and Jed Smith. I think that is far up as they go until late spring and I don't bother as Steelhead season has ended. I know they are in there in the Fall however it is a totally different river during that season in regards to flows, etc..
Ned
Ned
Thanks
Well...I did make it up to the Smith last month. Every River I crossed on my way up Hwy 101 was the color of rich chocolate milk. The Smith was high, bet fairly clear. I fished from shore in a few places, but there was just too much water. No sign of the elusive Coastal Cutts that I was after...
Thanks for the input guys, I will continue to try for these cool creatures - I'm really looking for a sea-run fish...
CB
If you want one in
If you want one in Washington, I can certainly help there!
Sure
We should be in the Seattle area for a few days this summer. Would love to get a coastal cutt. Is there a time that is better (late summer compared to early summer)...
Thanks - CB
All around summer is good,
All around summer is good, October is by far the best month of the year though. I generally am able to pick up a few everytime out though.