Open water fly fishing

[alwaysfishn]

I am fourtunate to work in a area of the province where the springs and coho feed in the top 20 feet of water I have had a lot of success with bucktails for coho but have not tried casting yet should i start with large paterns for both species or more typical smaller coho flies

[SearunSimpson]

Since you're not casting, I will assume you're trolling the bucktails?
If you're able to get close enough to a feeding school of coho, then casting shouldn't be a problem. If you need some distance, I would use a shooting head system. Makes a world of difference- I just got back from Hawai'i where I was chasing bonefish, and on the calmer days, a WF was fine on a single hand, but on the windier days at Hickam Airforce Base and the flats there, a switch rod was used with a shooting head- HUGE difference.

As for flies, you don't need to go HUGE with patterns for springs and coho. Any standard Buckail or deciever should be fine, a would a clouser (Coho love that chartreuse for somereason). Usually the water is pretty clear that shallow and the fish shouldn't have a problem seeing the fly. Also, try sparser patterns sometimes- really full bodied flies can sometimes spook a fish.
Just some stuff from experience.
Tight lines!

[Steve Zissou]

I am fourtunate to work in a area of the province where the springs and coho feed in the top 20 feet of water I have had a lot of success with bucktails for coho but have not tried casting yet should i start with large paterns for both species or more typical smaller coho flies

Coho and Springs in Kelowna?

:P

[alwaysfishn]

lol Hippa island in the haida gwaii, searunsimpson thanks for the tips. I have only bucktailed for them with clients but this summer i'm hoping to get a chance to cast to them at times the salmon are so thick bare hooks are as good as bet as anything else should be intresting to say the least.

[bryanmitchell04]

Forget it, you'll be too busy bobbin' for Luckys and bucktailin' for housekeepers.

[alwaysfishn]

You may be right pretty good gig when you can combine chasing smilies,tail, and luckies. i wobder what the outlook is like this year fingers crossed