Hood Canal Sea Run Cutthroat Trout

I started working at Gig Harbor Fly Shop in the spring of 2019, and I have been working as a fly fishing guide for cutthroat trout on Puget Sound during the 2020. During this time, Hood Canal has become favorite Sea Run Cutthroat Trout fishery in Washington. I enjoy the quiet peacefulness of the canal, and I find that I catch consistently larger fish on this piece of water than any other I have fished.  On our trip out to the Hood this week, my wife and I found large fish actively feeding on baitfish and sand lance. We were fortunate to have a couple Hobie Outback kayaks so we were able to fish some otherwise unreachable water, but beach fishing can also be very productive in the area. When fishing the Hood Canal, I like to explore the northern beaches. I typically fish the west side of the canal where the highway north of the town of Hoodsport meanders along the water and offers a number of beach access opportunities. While I do fish this area year round, my favorite time to visit the area is late summer and fall. I like to fish with my Sage One 5 weight equipped with a non-weighted baitfish pattern and a slow sinking tip.