I just want to pass along a big thank you to the folks at Kalama River Bait and Tackle. I was there with a friend last Thursday morning. Sandra met us with a quick smile and few good tips on where to get some coho. That's more than I could expect at 5:30am, particularly from someone I'd never met. We didn't land anything that morning but it was nice to know where to get fresh bait and good information.

If anyone is on the Kalama this year, be sure to stop by and say hi. They're located 2.5 miles upriver from I-5 on Kalama River Road. You might pick up some valuable information, along with your fresh sandshrimp... <@)(((><

Thank you cohoangler.
Im very pleased to know you were happy with our service...
The Silvers are arriving stronger everyday, and as of Sept. 1st they raised the limit to 6.
Please come back and see us again!

Sandra
Kalama River Bait & Tackle


Also as of Sept. 1st, the river from the natural gas pipeline up to the hatchery is fly water only.

Willierower and/or NW_rvrbank_Babe and/or anyone else in the know:

In re: fishing for the silvers with flies on the Kalama, what flies and sizes are reliable and are they normally fished with a floating line/long leader, or on sink tips with shorter leaders?

I have an 8 wt. and a line system with a floating tip and 3 sink tips of increasing density.

How should I set up to have an average chance at the silvers with fly gear?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Sandra is it fly only up to the lower or upper hatchery? I will be up at my place this weekend for a party so will try and stop in and say hello to you and Willierower again if I get a chance. I try and stop everytime I go up and at least get a Coke or something. Take it easy.

Firedog,
its closed to the intake at the lower hatchery.
Look forward to you stoppin in.

T Dodge,
Im not able to answer your question at this time. Im not too familiar with fly fishing for those silvers yet. When I get some good info on it I will let you know.

Firedog,
The flywater is from the pipeline to just above the lower hatchery. Im not sure where the upper boundry is yet. I will check it on sunday when Im back up there.
If you see a blue and white full sized Blazer with a black Willie drift boat behind it parked at the store, make sure to stop and say hi.

cohoangler,
Im glad your visit to the store was a good one. Sandra is doing a great job. Make sure to come back and say hi sometime.

As I understand it, the "flies only" section is from the gas pipeline behind Kalama River Bait and Tackle upstream to the confluence of Hatchery Creek. That's just upstream of the parking lot near Beginners Hole.

An 8 weight fly rod with a sink tip is just about perfect for coho. But if you tie into a fall Chinook, forget it. You'll need a 12-weight to stop them. But there aren't many Chinooks since the WDFW traps them downstream and trucks them to the upper hatchery. I use my 9 weight with sinking line and a 7 foot tapered leader (10lb). Yarn flies in orange, red, green or blue seem to work, particularly early in the morning.

The best place to cast is at Beginner's Hole from the opposite side from Kalama River Road. With chest waders you can acess from either upstream or downstream. The coho stack up in Beginners Hole thicker than I have ever seen anywhere outside of Alaska. But be aware, the hole is very deep (over 10 feet) and the fish are flat on the bottom. It's not easy getting a fly down. Good luck.

can someone please tell me where the natural gas pipeline is exactlly?thank you.


FISH ON!!!

Curt, the pipeline is right behind Kalama river Bait and tackle

Willie, I will try and stop. I usually do if nothing else to get some ice. Stopped in lst mon for a couple cokes then headed on up river. Sure were a lot of people fishing that day. Went up and did my chores, sure glad I get to fish weekdays insted of weekends. Dont know if I would fight those crowds. To easy to find someplace to catch fish without the Zoo. Take it easy and see you sometime when I come in.

[ 09-05-2001: Message edited by: Firedog ]