Over 30 years ago his famous Miyawaki Beach Popper became a staple fly for fishing Puget Sound beaches for sea-run cutthroat and coho salmon. The fly is a slider style foam head with trailing hook. Made from sheep hair, grizzle hackle, and peacock herl which gives the fly a very fishy look as it skitters across the path of a feeding SeaRun which are always on the move, searching out prey along the beaches. Sometimes they’re here and sometimes they’re there. If you’re looking to count numbers caught, go poach a hatchery but if you’re looking to spend a few hours on pristine, clear waters, with spectacular scenery, and catch and release (mandatory) a few beautifully marked wild trout, then this fishery is for you.
Leland suggests a 9-foot, 6-weight fast-action rod, floating line, anodized saltwater-ready reel, and 9-foot 0X leaders and at the action end of your rig try his poppers since they love surface feeding or a Chartreuse Clouser, Olive and White Lefty’s Deceivers or a Gold Rolled Muddler.
Be sure to attend your club’s November meeting with notebook in hand, you will learn life cycles, food, timing and tides, techniques, and methods.
