I'm going to go down to the Skok quite a bit this year. The Kings last year got me hooked, but my main interest this year is spending some time going after the silvers (before chasing the king for the keeper of course).

Any recommendations for fly choice? I'm just going to use my 5wt, that'll handle most silvers won't it?

Thanks!

Curtis

BBVD, I would be concerned about silvers on a 5 weight in the Skok. These fish will be hot and will take off up or downstream. You will have a major test on a hot fish. I would suggest a 7 weight but would go straight to an 8 with the potential to hook into a king. I am partial to clousers and would have chartruese over white, pink over white and purple over pink just to have some variety. David has me dialed into using more Angel Hair in my salmon flies as it is bright and really lights up the water. You can't go wrong with bright baitfish imitations.
Best of luck, Steve

if you are in the frsh water i like bunny leeches. A purple egg sucking leech is always a good bet. Pink is a good color for cohos and while i have never fished the Skok for silvers i have caught a lot of them on other rivers using a variety of pink or purple flies. Sometimes on a clear river like the Sol Duc i like to use a small webby pink spey fly(size 4) while on other rivers i sometimes like to throw a big pink leech with a weighted head.
good luck.

BBVD -
Of course a 5 wt will handle a silver. The bigger questionsare:
1) are you ready to deal with silver size fish on a 5 wt? If you haven't dealt with many fish of that size before I would recommend that you practice with say a 7 wt until you are comfortable with dealing with such fish.

2)If you are using larger and weighted flies as suggested above are you comfortable in dealing with those bugs with a 5 wt? Large weigth flies or flies with lots of rabbit can be difficult with the smaller rods.

I have consistently done very well on silvers with smaller (4s and 6s) sea-run cutthroat flies in rivers. The best luck has been with sinking lines and spiders for flies. Best colors are typically chartreuse, black and orange. Other things like muddlers, small flash flies, or bait fish patterns have had their moments.

If you are fishing water with both silvers and chinooks it will be just a matter of time before you hook up with a chinook (again I have had excellent luck with small flies for chinook). Another reasons to be a little caution with the 5 wt.

Have fun in your new fishing adventures.

Curt

LOL

I posted this on the other forum and got basically the same answer Smalma. Maybe I should get myself into an 8wt.

Time to start allocating funds! Hopefully I'll have a new rod by Sept.

Thanks guys!

-Curtis

Curtis (BBVD): Take a look at the Temple Fork Outfitters rods. They are high quality and reasonably priced. I fish the TICRx in 6, 8 and 9 weight. I caught a large King on the 9 weight at Weigh West in BC last year. I broke the tip on the 8 weight in Alaska on a bone head maneuver and they replaced it quickly. Patricks Fly Shop in Seattle carrier the entire line. Check them out. Steve

OR... a Redington CPS. Cast side by side the Redington was hands down the better rod.

The silvers are pretty strong right now. get out there and find some.

On the Skok I would go 6 weight minimum. A 5 weight will give you very little control over the brutes. A 7 weight would be better.
Dave is right about Redington rods. The CPS are an extremely good rod for the money.
Neal