Cutthroat Fishing Haida Gwaii's sea runs
Anglers fly fishing the tides at the mouth of streams and in the brackish calm water of the high tide zone should focus on fly patterns which resemble shrimp or small baitfish. Salmon fry, alevin, and smolt patterns fall into this category and resemble baitfish. Even after the tide has gone out, fish holding in this lower zone of the river are still in a "saltwater food supply" frame of mind until they begin to move to permanent freshwater. They may remain in this intertidal zone for some time, working a "double-edge" food supply, feeding on what the high tide brings into the river mouth and then what the river supplies as the stream current is re-established at low tide.
Let's really get down to some unknown details when it comes to successfully fishing Cutties in the tidal zone. I mentioned Cutthroat feed on shrimp and grill which are the two major components of their diet in saltwater. grill are available throughout the day in the ocean....but shrimp only migrate up from the bottom depths around sundown to feed in the surface plankton zone. Cutthroat cruising the bays are wired into this cycle like clockwork. Each evening as the sun nears setting, shrimp become the main course of feeding fish, and this pattern continues until first light in the morning when these shellfish head to the safety of the bottom again...and grill become the primary prey. When an angler is fishing early morning or late afternoon/evening tidewater, consider shrimp like patterns...and fish the baitfish imitations during the main part of the day. It just might "turn the tide" for the angler .
Cutthroat eventually move out of the intertidal zone and into the runs, riffles and holes of the stream. The longer they remain, the more adjusted to a freshwater food supply they become. They have entered the river, behind the sockeye, or pink salmon run and expect those salmon to provide an abundance of loose eggs to feed on, and eventually the salmon's flesh as it breaks apart from decaying carcasses. So the angler fishing this zone, and later into August will want to chose fly patterns such as single and small egg cluster patterns.
These fish, as they become more and more adjusted to a freshwater lifestyle become opportunists in their feeding habits. Its at this late summer, early fall time period when dry flies, wet flies, nymphs, and flesh flies will be readily taken by these fish. They will continue to be feeding on resident salmon fry in the stream so baitfish patterns will continue to produce.
The cutthroat fishing on Haida Gwaii is pristine and untouched. You can have any beach or river mouth all to yourself. Our guided trips give you a huge advantage as we use a boat to move quickly from spot to spot and our knowledge of where to find the fish at different tides, and times of year will ensure you have some great fishing during your visit. Whether you want to catch cutthroat in the ocean or river, Copper Bay Lodge will put you on the fish.
