A Terrible Trifecta

Yesterday we finally had some good weather, which change my plans from staying home to tie flies, to heading out to a local beach to try my luck instead. When I arrived at the beach the tide was low and just starting to move in, but there was no sign of fish. I began at a point that typically holds a fair number of Cutthroat, but all I found was seaweed on every cast. From here I headed down to a little Eel Grass cove where I finally spotted some fish down the beach. When I got the area where I saw the fish all that I found were a few schools of Chum fry and covered a few hundred yards of beach with only one bump before moving on to another point.

Low tide at the Eel Grass cove

Upon arriving at the point a school of 4" long Sand Lance shot past me and a 3-4lb fish broke the water scattering another big bait ball. This definitely looked like the right spot. I started out using a baitfish imitation and was getting a lot of shot strikes but no solid hook ups, so I switched to a Sea-run Bugger. On the first cast with this fly it got hammered and a minute or so later I brought a healthy 18" Coho to hand. After this I got one more really good tug before I started to only get a few short strikes here or there again prompting me switch to a Marabou Clouser Minnow. Sure enough this change up got the attention of the fish and on the first cast I caught another slightly smaller Coho (see below).

Species #1: Coho salmon

The cast after getting the Coho, my fly got crushed again but this time the fish shook itself loose. After a few fishless minutes I hooked up with another fish, which ended up being a small Coastal Cutthroat. At about this point I was surprised to see Clint and Jake show up in Clint's boat and when they pulled up it was like somebody flipped a light switch and the Coho and Cutthroat vanished.

Species #2: Coastal Cutthroat Trout

However, with the Cutthroat and Coho gone some roving Chinook decided to move in and not long before deciding to call it quits I managed to complete a task that I have only done a handful of times and got the Puget Sound Trifecta: a Coastal Cutthroat Trout, Coho Salmon, and Chinook Salmon. Clint and Jake were kind enough to give me a lift back to my car, but it seems that a good day can turn bad in a heart beat.

Species #3: Chinook Salmon

When I got back to my car I was in for a rude awakening as the first thing that caught my eye was a shattered front driver's side window. It was clear that somebody had riffled through my car even though I had nothing of value in sight. Unfortunately they also went through my trunk where they made off like bandits, stealing some spare waders, a gear bag, the tube for my new Scott rod a fly box full my lake patterns, which had over 200 flies in it. I had spent countless hours at the vise tying these flies and this was a sickening loss. To add insult to injury whoever broke into my car also siphoned over half of my gas while they were at it. The fishing may have been good on this outing, but it is one time that I really wish I would have just stayed home to tie flies instead.