Saltwater fly fishing on the Oregon Coast has been really hot this week. My brother (new Caddis Fly employee Nate Stansberry) took us out in his Boston Whaler skiff on Coos Bay.
We hooked up with dozens of groundfish, including black rockfish, blue rockfish and kelp greenling.
We fished rocky drop-offs in around 40 feet of water with sinking tips and shooting head lines. Chris fished a tungsten shooting head, using various clouser minnow patterns. I used a type six shooting head and it worked as well. Most of the fish were on or near the bottom, but as the tide started to change, many of them moved up into the water column and actively fed in the 10-14-foot depth.
Somehow, I managed to be high-hook on starfish. -MS
Howdy:
I will be going fly fishing Nov. 7 for Rockfish here in the bay at Charleston near North Bend, where you went and wrote about on your website.
I understand you used shooting heads and sink-tip line and various Clouser minnow patterns. Could you tell me what weight rods you used. The heaviest I have is a 6 weight. Will that be enough rod?
I enjoyed your article and really like your website. I keep it bookmarked as a favorite and order my fly tying stuf from you exclusively these days. Thanks for the free shipping and the prompt service. You guys really go above and beyond to keep us customers happy.
Best Regards,
John Soper
Member,
Lower Umpqua Fly Casters Club in Reedsport
Thanks John! A six-weight is a little small, but you should be able to handle the fish. We use 8-10 weights to bulldog them out of the rock piles. Hope a ling cod doesn’t come up and bust your rod though!
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Would an inexpensive 8wt. full sinking line work okay? How long do you count, for the line to sink deep enough to reach the fish? Would the fish come off if i used barbless?
You have a great website. Enjoyable! The rock fish is truly one of the best to catch with fly tackle and gear.