Post by: jeepster on February 24, 2011, 10:40:25 PM
i used to troll the swinomish channel and cast from a few spots from shore for dollys (mainly using crocodile spoons), but havent fished for em in years... used to do pretty good in the salt with my best pretty close to 28 inches.... dont have a little boat anymore so i cant access my better spots. but ive heard of people catching em on the skagit out by conway.... anybody know of some spots where i can get in there with a flyrod?
-Erik
Post by: Widgeondeke on February 24, 2011, 10:52:11 PM
They do fight bigger than their size.
C&R always
Post by: Button Nubbs on February 24, 2011, 10:54:05 PM
I have caught a handful or so on the sky but all were when I was targeting steelhead. I've heard the skagit system can be phenomenal.
Post by: Shed Stud on February 25, 2011, 09:46:28 AM
Post by: D-Rock425 on February 25, 2011, 09:54:02 AM
Post by: woodywsu on February 25, 2011, 10:06:18 AM
Good luck and keep us posted.
Post by: Madison on February 25, 2011, 10:56:08 AM
Post by: CMG on February 25, 2011, 11:10:50 AM
Post by: jeepster on February 25, 2011, 02:05:45 PM
guess the entire skagit is closed...... :bash:
since when was fishing ever this complicated? i remember the days when i wanted to go fish, i went and that was that.
Post by: 270Shooter on February 25, 2011, 02:58:44 PM
Post by: cohoho on February 25, 2011, 04:46:09 PM
Post by: HuntandFish on February 25, 2011, 06:57:41 PM
Post by: Phantom Gobbler on February 25, 2011, 07:47:45 PM
The dollies follow the summer king salmon runs upstream in river systems mentioned above. We have also had good luck using egg fly patterns fishing them below strike indicator some some split shot to get the fly down.
Dollies can save the day when other targeted fish are not available.
Post by: ribka on February 25, 2011, 08:07:23 PM
Post by: singleshot12 on February 25, 2011, 08:33:47 PM
I fished Dolly Varden for years mostly in the salt. Not sure why they closed down the whole state and left the Skagit open for 20" retention. I understand that the Bull trout is not doing too well in a couple of streams hundreds of miles from the Dolly infested waters here in the puget sound. Yep I remember when the limit was 8 or 10 and we always had the smoker full, heck and before that their was a bounty on Dollys. 99% of their diet is salmon and steelhead eggs and smolts. I really don't understand why they closed it. Out of the hundreds we used to catch not one was a Bull trout.
Post by: 400out on February 25, 2011, 08:42:19 PM
You guys are fishing for dollies? In washington? :bdid::yeah:
Post by: 270Shooter on February 25, 2011, 09:13:25 PM
All I catch in the Tieton River now days are most dollies. They fight good and love flies. I would say the catching ration is a good 2 dollies to 1 trout in the rivers. I also have caught a some in Rimrock and Clear Lake. They range from 16-21 inchesYeah I've caught them in the tieton too. Sure seems like there are plenty around. Also, there seem lot be a lot more squaw fish around, especially in the naches. Me and a buddy caught over 50 in one little hole in about 20 minutes.
Post by: jeepster on February 25, 2011, 11:19:36 PM
the only time ive caught one in a river was on the kenia......
one of the most amazing game fish ive ever taken on a fly rod........
Post by: singleshot12 on February 26, 2011, 09:37:25 AM
Post by: jordano on February 27, 2011, 05:01:26 AM
Post by: Hyde on February 27, 2011, 08:18:56 AM
... If fishing them in the river I would try a fly imitating a salmon egg, betcha it would knock em dead.
I usually reserve my last day on Kodiak for dollies. The Buskin river runs near the airport, which makes it easy to get a half day in before the jet leaves. The Buskin is filthy with dollies, but most will be in the 12-18 inch range. A small bead pinned to a small hook will result in a fish-a-cast. I fish them with an indicator. I got one nice surprise the last trip, a 5 lb steelhead. On a 4 wt, it was a battle! I was up and down the stream like a mad man trying keep him from breaking me off.
Post by: singleshot12 on February 27, 2011, 01:45:18 PM
... If fishing them in the river I would try a fly imitating a salmon egg, betcha it would knock em dead.
I usually reserve my last day on Kodiak for dollies. The Buskin river runs near the airport, which makes it easy to get a half day in before the jet leaves. The Buskin is filthy with dollies, but most will be in the 12-18 inch range. A small bead pinned to a small hook will result in a fish-a-cast. I fish them with an indicator. I got one nice surprise the last trip, a 5 lb steelhead. On a 4 wt, it was a battle! I was up and down the stream like a mad man trying keep him from breaking me off.
Hyde that sounds like a lot of fun on light fly gear.. You say you fish them with an indicator?
Does anyone know how to tell the differance between a Dolly and Bull?
Post by: ribka on February 27, 2011, 01:59:27 PM
... If fishing them in the river I would try a fly imitating a salmon egg, betcha it would knock em dead.
I usually reserve my last day on Kodiak for dollies. The Buskin river runs near the airport, which makes it easy to get a half day in before the jet leaves. The Buskin is filthy with dollies, but most will be in the 12-18 inch range. A small bead pinned to a small hook will result in a fish-a-cast. I fish them with an indicator. I got one nice surprise the last trip, a 5 lb steelhead. On a 4 wt, it was a battle! I was up and down the stream like a mad man trying keep him from breaking me off.
Hyde that sounds like a lot of fun on light fly gear.. You say you fish them with an indicator?
Does anyone know how to tell the differance between a Dolly and Bull?
Try here http://www.fwp.state.mt.us/bulltroutid/default.htm (http://www.fwp.state.mt.us/bulltroutid/default.htm)
Caught many dollies in the Kenai area. And they loved egg patterns. The crystal meth egg pattern produced the best in orange and pink. Very easy to tie
Post by: time2hunt on February 27, 2011, 02:02:12 PM
Whats with the flagger vest in those pics :dunno:
Brian
Post by: singleshot12 on February 27, 2011, 02:03:38 PM
Post by: Hyde on February 27, 2011, 06:46:34 PM
You say you fish them with an indicator?
Yes. I just fish them nymph style.
I also went to Kodiak one year specifically to fish for pinks in the surf. That is a total hoot, not at all like fishing them in fresh water. They are hot and pissed off, especially on a 4 wt. You wait for the breaker to roll, and you spot the school of fish IN the breaker, before it crashes to the beach, It's like you're looking into a big window. Anyway, once the breaker settles, shoot a short cast in the vicinity and do some quick strips. When they're in, you better hold on. They crush the fly. They leap and thrash, it's big fun on a 4 or 5 wt. I take a 6 wt too just in case the wind is up. That's August, and the big dollies are starting up the streams then. We typically fish the tide for the pinks, then hit one of the many rivers for dollies on the way back to town. Streamers on the swing with a sinking line and a 5-6 wt is the ticket there (anything 2 inches long and brown). I love Kodiak! I wish I could make a living there.
Post by: Gobble Doc on February 27, 2011, 08:41:38 PM
Post by: jordano on February 27, 2011, 08:49:49 PM
JORDANOmy dad is a fisheries Biologist for Chelan County PUD and his buddy we were with, is a fisheries biologist for Seattle City Light. He was doing studies on Steelhead and Bull Trout... it was when the river was closed so we had to wear vests to show we were doing research not just fishing a closed river...
Whats with the flagger vest in those pics :dunno:
Brian
Post by: Phantom Gobbler on February 27, 2011, 08:51:54 PM
JORDANOmy dad is a fisheries Biologist for Chelan County PUD and his buddy we were with, is a fisheries biologist for Seattle City Light. He was doing studies on Steelhead and Bull Trout... it was when the river was closed so we had to wear vests to show we were doing research not just fishing a closed river...
Whats with the flagger vest in those pics :dunno:
Brian
Jordano, Nice looking dolly varden!
Post by: jordano on February 27, 2011, 11:25:30 PM
Jordano, Nice looking dolly varden!
Thanks Phantom! :)