Is anybody out there doing any good on silvers with flies? I had great success in the salt with them, but it time to move to the rivers. Any input would be appreciated.

They are naling flies in the sloughs!

I always have had a tough time getting silvers to hit flies in freshwater. Whats the method? Any top flies or top ten flies? Fish on top or dredging bottom? They seem tough enough with gear. thanks, any help would be appreciated.

Fly fishing for silvers is very much the same as drift fishing, or even spinner fishing. The fish are on the bottom so you have to get your fly down. A sink tip is my latest prefered method. For slow water deeper holes cast across or slightly upstream. Let your line and fly get down, then make quick short strips in. For low clear water, and sunny days use a long leader, 15' or more and small dark flies. For riffles or pocket water you can use a weighted fly and floating line as long as your fly gets down, just like fishing for trout. Most important make sure there are fish where you are fishing.

HB,

This drag the bottom, small strips, with long leaders method of the fly fishing usually lines the fish in fresh water. Want an example go the the Kalama where most of teh fish are lined. Look at the few anglers who don't inch the fly and they usually don't hook any fish in the back either. Active silvers will chase a stripped fly with reckless abandon if they are in the taking mood.

There is one guy who I've watched fish the Kalama with 2-3inch flies and fast stripps. I've sat on the bank as he hooked a number of fish last week I watch two chromers come from the depths and smash his fly

thick

thick

Howdy,
When Silvers are in a frog-water a bead-eye fly (usually yellow,orange or red and combinations there-of) fished on a floating line and counted down, then slowly retrieved will elicit strikes.

Fish holding in runs with some current will chase down marabou's in the same colors when quickly stripped by them. Think how effective a spoon or spinner is on silvers, they are hardwired to chase something thats trying to evade them. Have some fun!

Long flys are supposed to create the illusion of speed when being retreived hence the Comet series of coho flies. Tie up comets in various colors of your own choosing you won't be dissapointed with the results.
As to the method of swing strip etc. it varies and so should yours Iv'e seen coho take waking drys and I've caught them dead drifting and everything in between.
Fly fishing for coho is a part of the year I have long cherished and like all forms of angling you will get out of it what you put into it so stay the course learn from both your mistakes and your success you will enjoy it more and more as time flies by.

Humpy, in answering Skyrises question you nailed it right on, especially with the beadeyes and color. The other thing is to tie those eyes so that they are offset a little and give the fly an erratic action

Thickline,

Didn't say anything about inching a fly. Also in regards to lining fish, how would long strips as opposed to short strips prevent lining. I make about 6-10 inch strips and the silvers I've caught this way are predominantly hooked from the inside of the mouth. If I am lining fish I'm getting really good at hooking them from the inside out. I admit a fish will occasionally be lined, but how can that be prevented with the number of fish in the river right now. Long leaders are a must in the Kalama hole you probably are describing. Watch the fish, they are definitely line shy, they are being bombarded by every color of fly line all day long. A long leader allows them to relax a little once your line is past them and Wham, off to the races. Fishing this hole really reminds me of high cascade lake fishing where long leaders are needed due to the clarity of the water. What day were you at the Kalama? Last week got really good after the rain.

sounds like there are few other guys out there that like to catch coho on the fly, I have to agree with homeboy on the lineing of silvers with a fly, I can't remember foul hooking a fish on a fly. I like to use a stillwater line, that way I can get away with useing a shorter leader. Some of the best days I've had, have been when I was using a plain ole olive and black woolly bugger, go fiqure. Anyway, it's all one heck of alot of fun on a fly rod.