I am getting started trying to flyfish for salmon / stealhead on the Sky and Snohomish and am wondering if there are fisherman on this board who have had some success there. Based on the silvers travelling up the snohomish into the sky, that's what I would be targetting. Any tips? I've thought about trying some of the salmon eggs that I have cured from the fish that I get out of the salt as well on my flyrod... I would presume that scent increases your chances of hooking one quite a bit.

Hey Jeffed, Last year I had really good luck with Lazer flies, pink Charlies and glass minow all were on size 8 hook.
I used a intermediate line.

Flyfishing using eggs?

Actually using a fly rod to free drift egg clusters can work great. Most guys I know who do this use straight mono on the fly reel tied directly to the hook. Then they carefully pull out about 30ft or so of line and coil it loosely at their feet. Then gently lob the egg cluster (no weight) up and across and let it free drift throught the pool\slot. Takes a little practice to get used to lobbing the eggs. you want only enough line coiled to match the distance of your cast. Then keep just enough tension on the line as it drifts to feel a slight take by the fish (sometimes you just notice a slight change in speed). A few split shot can be added too. Works on salmon and steelies.

As for truly fly fishing - forget about the eggs. Flies and technique tend to vary from 'yarn flies' dead drifted, to small dark barbell eyed salmon\steelhead flies fished on a long leader and floating line, to large streamers fished on sink tips stripped in very fast. Some put scent on the flies, but I generally don't. Just make sure your hands are clean and you should do fine.

You never know what the fish will be in the mood for, so just get out there and try a few things.

I think Goose has some secrets around black yarn flies he may be willing to share (or not...).

Also, check out flyfishsteelhead.com for some salmon fishing tips.

-Chad

Last year I caught my first and second coho on the fly (same day) fishing a black egg sucking leach, deep in some frog water using a type III sink tip. they liked a fast/erratic retrieve.