Skagit Fishing for King Salmon on the Feather

[TahoeJoe]

I posted a similar question in the Steelhead and Salmon section yesterday and got no response, maybe someone here has some ideas?

I'm considering going down to the Feather River to try swinging flies for Kings with my two handed rod. I've caught them before when steelhead fishing in the past with an indicator rig and glo bugs. I wasn't really targeting Kings at the time. I would like to try swinging intruder type flies and specifically go after the salmon.

I figure I should start by swinging big chartreuse and white intruder type flies in the deeper channels with a heavy/fast sink tip. I guess that the alternative is have an indicator rig and fish glo bugs but that seems foreign to me on a long 2 handed rod. I haven't ever tried indicators on a skagit setup and I'd probably end up untangling birds nests in my leader all day.

Any advice on the best way to start out?

Thanks,
Joe

[John Sv]

Subscribed.
I have done this exact thing and have only gotten one hookup. Contrary to what I thought to use, (big gaudy fly), a guy that fishes there a lot with success insisted that small (4,6 standard length wet fly hook) bright flies are the way to go.

[Idadon]

Comets worked back in the 60's/70's for my Dad. He used a shooting line and a HEAVY shooting head. I remember him even using lead core heads. His theory was that to get a hookup a guy had to dredge the bottom. Anyway, it worked. I think the theory of small flies is good. My Dad's comets looked like a size 6/8 tie on a #2 gold hook. Good luck and hold on. I've only been in danger twice in my life of being spooled. Once by a 29 inch Bow on the Henrys Fork and once by a huge Chinook on the Eel.

[TahoeJoe]

Of course, Comets! I hadn't thought of that yet.

That's definitely an old school Eel river sort of salmon fly and way easier to cast than a half a chicken sort of intruder. Plus it'll get down to the bottom faster.

I'll tie some up in chartreuse and white tonight and go try.

[Fly Right]

Of course, Comets! I hadn't thought of that yet.

That's definitely an old school Eel river sort of salmon fly and way easier to cast than a half a chicken sort of intruder. Plus it'll get down to the bottom faster.

I'll tie some up in chartreuse and white tonight and go try.

I used to fish the Feather for kings every August. The fly selection is not as important as getting the offering close to the bottom. I did however have better luck with a bead chain eyed, chartreuse bugger tied on a size 2 or 4 salmon hook.

[Darian]

Just to add a thought, during the late 70's/early 80's, I fished the Sacramento River below the Red Bluff diversion dam. Current was swift but you could drift a part through several holes/runs down to Los Molinos for Kings. The fly of choice was a heavily weighted, Black Boss (silver rib, brown hackle/tail). Very effective.
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