I believe the success rate has more to do with "presentation" than the colour in your example. There are times when switching up colour can make a difference. But I've found that flies tend to outproduce gear for pink salmon in general. By presentation, I not only mean the colour and size of the fly/lure, but how it behaves in the water. The fly line with the right sink tip can put the fly right in the zone and keep it there. This can be a disadvantage too when the fish get so concentrated that the fly snags fish on every cast. Then I'll adjust by using a lighter tip, and/or starting a retrieve earlier in the drift so the fly cannot sink too fast. I've picked up lots of fish that will chase down the fly this way.
Speaking of "tips" - have you tried flies under a float? This can be deadly for pinks. I would recommend flies that are on the sparser side with a bit of contrast. Pink of course is a great colour choice. Chartreuse is another good colour. Remember, you don't have to be "fly fishing" to be successful with flies. Good luck and have fun!
What you said certainly makes a lot of sense. I do cast and retrieve my lure out of the traveling lane. I have tried float fishing jigs, but not flies, is that the same thing? I find I just have more confidence in casting and retrieve lures so I seem to go back to it a lot.
Maybe that was you beside me yesterday...? I fished pink buggers and muddlers and did not get much at all... switched to Chartreuse and got one on the second cast ... got 4 in a row shortly after.. 4 casts 4 fish on. Guy beside me switched too, and sure enough he was getting one after another. Maybe just just coincidence/timing.... but the same is true for most fishing..if something is not producing, switch it up.
I always find I do so much better fishing Pinks on the fly.... I bring a gear rod too sometimes but mostly it goes unused.
Were you wearing a pale salmon red hat and then fished Furry Creek in front of the Townhomes later in the morning? If so, then yes.
I did mention earier in this post that green generally works best for me on the Squamish river simply because that colour shows better in the silty conditions we get there. I don't know why smaller is better but small flies or spinners do better for me there as well - I really don't know why, maybe the feeding instinct is turned off in rivers so they are less inclined to go for large things.
I always go fishing with a bunch of options. Typically I show up with both fly and gear fishing options and I use both. I also make sure I have flies and spinners available in various sizes and colors. If I am not getting anything I keep switching up until I find something that works. I believe I have tried everything on the Squamish river and I would say it is generally true that green flies either fly fished or under a float work best on that system (..not necessarily true elsewhere - I do better with pink in the salt and I do better with spoons and spinners on the Fraser).
Also, keeping things really really slow seems to be important there too. Keep things moving as slow as possible without actually snagging the bottom gives them more time to see what is put in front of them - the water clarity is always a challenge on that system at this time of year.
I will definite bring some green spoons to try out next weekend. I always used Hot Pink and Red on all the other rivers with success.
Lots of fish rolling at furry, 20 fish between 100 guys, very tight lipped
It was like that yesterday as well. May be it's because of the bright sun light conditions. We need thicker forest fire smoke or dark clouds to turn the bite on. Probably first and last light you'll do well as long as a school is swimming by.
Author
Topic: Pink Run 2017 (Read 302055 times)