As expected things started a bit late and we’re still enjoying some late spring fishing even though it’s the middle of summer! In July, use surface temperature maps and look for temperature breaks to determine your starting place each day. The cycle of several days of warm weather followed by unseasonably cold weather means that the fish will come in towards river mouths after the cold hits to find baitfish seeking warm water. When this happens look for birds to be working the edge of the river plume and set up with spoons of any color as long as its orange and silver or orange and gold. Lead cores from 1 to 5 colors in length will be your best rigs, but the same baits fished in the top 20 feet on down riggers in darker, stained water will be good producers early in the day. If the day is overcast make sure to have a couple spoons like the Dreamweaver Super Slim or Stinger blue/green Coyote pattern in the water. Hog wild, Goldie Hawn, and the Carmel Dolphin are also excellent choices in these conditions.
After a day of fair weather look for fish to rapidly move offshore. Increase the size of your spread to the maximum legal limit, or at least put out as many rods as your wife allowed you to purchase, and head west. Don’t be shy about setting rods deeper than where you’d expect to find kings. The biggest kings have consistently been showing up at least 30 to 50 feet deeper than where most of the action is. For the higher rods in your spread keep plenty of orange and silver out and toss in some UV and standard Mixed Veggies, Bumble Bee/Mac and Cheese, and brighter dolphin patterns. Standard size blades are typically best, but if you’re seeing larger baitfish in the stomachs of your catch you should add some Stingray sized Stinger blades to your spread. For the deeper rigs, send down an 11″ white paddle and a mirage type fly on bright days or a Pickled Sunshine Fly when the clouds are out. Meat rigs on deep riggers and wire divers will begin to work as waters warm up too.
Late July looks like it’s going to be fun in our area as the salmon are unlikely going to have to head north to find cooler temperatures and easy meals! The large schools of steelhead that were around prior to the latest cold front were dandies with many fish pushing the 10 pound mark. With a couple days of settled weather you should be able to find these throughout this season by continuing west after you find kings. Look for slicks with temperatures from 47 to 52 degrees to hold the greatest number of these powerful fighters. If you are chasing steelhead, push your speed up to at least three mph. I don’t know what’s in the water this year, but I’ve taken more fish, including kings and lake trout, on outside rods during turns while traveling over three mph than I can recall in past seasons. Maybe they’re swimming fast to warm up from the long winter!
Good luck, bundle up like it’s May, and go get ’em!
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