Fly-Fish West Seattle's Waters
West Seattle Herald
April 13, 2003
by Lori Hinton

Outside. Close to home. Surrounded by fish. What could be better than waking the beach, wading in the waves and maybe even catching a few finned creatures right off West Seattle?

Not much says local fly-fishing guide Mark Freda.

Freda grew up fly-fishing, so it's in his blood. He guided in Colorado for four years and has hooked as many fish as he has logged hours on the Sound guiding in West Seattle's waters since he moved here just three years ago.

The "West Seattle Guy" guides for a fly-fishing outfitter called Emerald Water Anglers, Freda does numerous trips throughout the Northwest as well as worldwide guiding. In Fact, Freda and his guide buddies spend so much time on the water, they may grow fins themselves.

Fathom this: Most of the guides at Emerald Water Anglers fish and average of 200 days a year on local rivers, lakes and saltwater estuaries, according to owner and head guide Dave McCoy. Not a bad gig, if you're into fishin'.

"I mainly do walk and wade trips in West Seattle," says Freda. These trips are close by and simple, providing more time with your line in the water and less time traveling. Freda takes clients to Lincoln Park, Lowman Beach or near the Southworth Ferry Dock.

"Even when we go to Southworth from Fauntleroy, we just hop on the ferry and hop off on either side of the Southworth dock," explains Freda. "No need for driving. You can just walk on the ferry in your waders and gear and walk right off onto the beach."

Upon a prompt arrival at your destination of choice, the next order of business is tying on the right fly for the right species during the right time of year. But don't worry, Mark will help you. He'll even hold your stuff and take a photo of you and your first fish if you ask him.

So what type of fish are we talking here?

"We go for sea-run Cutthroats, silver salmon, pinks and chum," says Freda "and none of that needs a boat. Just walking and wading."

Summertime is primetime for most of these species. From August through October you'll find coho or silver salmon ranging in size from 18 inches to 15 pounds. Chum arrive late summer, and every other year (on the odd numbered year), pinks come in around August and September, so this year we're in lucky 2003. Bring on them pinks!

The good thing about sea-run Cutthroat, or "cutts," is that you can fish for them all year long and maybe even catch a few come November or March--enough to at least satisfy your yearnings to fish until the prime season kicks in. But according to Freda, your best bet is, yes, in August as the "cutts" are getting ready to spawn and congregate in large groups near the banks and close to the rivers. Given our geography, and a little West Seattle karma, we're literally set up perfectly for thie species.

West Seattle features miles of saltwater shorelines, much of which are public beaches and parks accessible to all. Small streams and creeks flow into the Sound from our peininsula providing freshwater resources that are vertiable spawning grounds for Cutthroat trout.

During incoming and outgoing tides, many cutts will hang out in or near beach formations, such as points, big rocks, logs and kelp beds giving them protection from the current, a suitable resting spot and good place to watch for a meal as the baitfish pass by.

Anglers will want to do the same--keep an eye on the baifish--as they'll tell you your cutts are very close behind. When buying or tying flies, small baitfish patterns in sizes 6-10 with olive, black, gray or other dark colors are recommend. As you try to simulate the baitfish with your choice of fly patterns, you'll also want to try and act like one, twitching and jumping about, in order to convince a cutty to bite. This takes a little practice, but you have fun trying and the cutts will get a good laugh in the process.

Averaging about 10-12 inches, these wild trout abound in the Sound. Some anglers have even been known to hook a 20 inch trout or bigger with a little luck.

The Emerald Water Anglers Puget Sound mid-March report reads: "As spring comes around, the fishing is steadily getting better. Sea-run cutts, resident silvers and black mouth are becoming more active all around the Sound."

So, for all you fly-fisher types or aspriring anglers, it's time to get out there and practice up before the summertime runs roll into the neighborhood!

For the small area we live in, the option are huge. Three prime locations, four fantastic species of fish--all under 15 minutes from most parts of West Seattle.

Not a bad deal for fly-fishing your own home waters.

Beyond West Seattle
Freda, McCoy and the rest of the Emerald Water Anglers gang also offer river trips to the Yakima, the Snoqualmie, a handful of other local rivers as well as international fly-fishing destinations. So once you've got West Seattle down, consider Outer Mongolia where salmonids can get up to 75 pounds!

"Dave McCoy (owner) and I have been all over creation fishing and living," reflects Freda. "So we have a sort of 'extended family' of fly-fishingguides all over the world."

Feel like daydreaming, check out there website and see where else they'll take you: www.emeraldwateranglers.com.