Willl Coho Take On The Swing?

Have done no research but wondering if Coho will take a fly on the typical swing, like Steelhead? Have fished lots of dead water Coho in AK. getting takes mostly with a fast strip. Have been wanting to hang up the gear and try some local Coho on the Fly, staying away from indicator methods. Have tried a little with the Spey Rod and sink tips that I use for Steelhead with no success, and know I'm swinging through fish. Any thoughts to boost my confidence?

Absolutely! As you point out, finding the right water where you can actually swing to them is a big piece of the puzzle.

It's no secret that coho love the frog water but they will often hold close to the head of those pools and on the outer seams where the frog water meets the main flow and if you can use the current above and outside to swing your fly into their preferred holding zone, coho will typically respond quite well assuming they are relatively unpressured and you are swinging something they want, etc.

Another way I target them swinging flies is to find some good swinging water where I know they will be moving through, though they may not be holding there. I have a few spots on local rivers that I know the fish always travel in although they never tend to stack up there. If you can prospect such fish traps and funnels where you know you will be fishing to moving fish in current that offers a reasonable chance of a decent presentation, again you'll be stacking the odds in your favor.

I've caught a fair number of coho swinging flies for trout in water that you would never think a coho would be hanging out it, e.g fast riffles and fairly shallow water, mainly because they were on the move and had to move through the spots somehow.

Like any other salmon fishing, first fish to greater numbers of fish, second figure out a way to get good gear properly presented and you'll get them. I am a firm believer in the notion that when salmon are present in any numbers, you tend to see them.

As for tackle, I've had the best luck (when actually targeting coho) with pink flashy stuff. Bulky marabou and rabbit with plenty of flash seem to do the trick just fine although I've probably caught just as many on the Dolly Lama.

Best of luck!

As Coley said (go figure), it's about finding the right water, but when you do, swinging is very effective for coho. I still lament the loss of my honey hole on the Lower Satsop, where I used to do better than most of the gear guys swinging marabous through the flat. That spot was one in a million. But anyway... You'll have your best success on fresh fish that are just moving into shallow-mid-depth flats, and occasionally in riffles. You definitely want to start out the way you do for steelhead ( get the fly down to the fish), but during the swing, an erratic twitch or 20 doesn't seem to hurt. I get most takes either right as the swing starts or while stripping in on the hang-down.

Another presentation that can be good is to cast up and across, put a downstream mend in your line, and then strip it through a downstream swing. Sometimes, they crush that. Just keep in mind that coho like to chase things. Sometimes, the fastest, spookiest presentation you can muster is what they want (or at least what triggers a striking reflex in their gloriously tiny brains).

Sure they do...especially with the popular fly known as the "Dick Nite" ;-)

Fish on...

Todd

ColeyG and FF2 nailed it.

When fished on the fly rod, it is called "the dirty dick" Todd.

I will remember that...thanks!

Fish on...

Todd

"I'm gonna give the dirty Dick a try this weekend" is NOT what you want to say to your fishing buddies over a beer. Save that for the Spey clave....

You should.







It's a good tip.

Indeed!

Fish on...

Todd

Only fish on the upper Rogue River that's totally defeated me vis a vis a hook up. Lock Jaw time.

they will. results may vary year to year on given runs. ie sometimes some years x river fish are stupid and do it easy. next year maybe not. try twitching the fly as it swings when it gets tough. and always bet on pink. good luck.