Haines Fishing Report and the “Polar Shrimp” Sockeye/Coho Fly

July 12, 2006 at 5:49 pm

This is the time of year I start trading in my 4 weight for the 8 weight and start swapping prince nymphs and mayflies for Popsicles and Clousers. What I means is that it is Haines fishing season!!!! Looking forward to a few trips this year. For those of you heading out let me know how you are doing and what you are catching them with (including color of Pixee). Send me pictures as usual and I’ll post it.

The following Haines report comes from Official Alaska Department of Fish and Game website for the week of July 3-9, 2006(http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/Region1/weekly/hns.cfm).

The return of sockeye salmon to Chilkoot Lake is currently above average. As of July 9th, 12,919 sockeye had been counted through the weir, which is above the five-year average (8,709) for that date. Anglers are allowed six sockeye per day and in possession in the Chilkoot River drainage. Average daily weir counts of salmon are presented below.

The catch of sockeye salmon in the Chilkat River fish wheels is currently running below average. As of July 9th, 205 sockeye salmon had been caught, which compares with the five-year average of 666. Average daily fish wheel salmon catches are presented below.

It is shaping up to be another good year for pink salmon returning to the area. A total of 240 had been counted through the Chilkoot River weir by July 9th. This is the highest count for this date and is well above the five-year average of 65 pink salmon (see graph below). A total of 129 had been caught in the Chilkat River fish wheels as of July 9th, which compares with the average of 108 for that date. Anglers are allowed to keep six per day and in possession in the Chilkoot River. In the Chilkat River you are allowed six pink salmon per day and twelve in possession.

To get into the spirit I have been tying some Sockeye/Coho Flies. The following are a few variations of the “polar shrimp”.

Recipe

Hooks: Size 1 and 2 Streamer and a Nymph Hook

Body: Chenille

Hackle: Cock Hackle

Thread: Black

Wing: Polar Bear

Tail: Cock Hackle

Rib: Fine Silver Tinsel

I like to weight them with .20 lead.

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