8 Hour Coastal Cutthroat Fly Fishing
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Full day walk and wade fly fishing for Coastal Cutthroat TroutPrivate guided trip accommodates up to 2 anglers maximumIncludes personalized instruction and light snacks provided
There's something special about walking the shorelines of Central and Southern Puget Sound with a fly rod in hand, watching for the telltale rise of a sea-run cutthroat. This full-day adventure puts you right in the heart of some of Washington's most productive coastal waters, where these native beauties cruise the shallows looking for their next meal. Captain Kyle knows these beaches like the back of his hand, and he'll have you casting to fish that most anglers never even know exist. Whether you're picking up a fly rod for the first time or you've been chasing trout for decades, this walk-and-wade experience delivers the kind of personalized instruction and prime fishing spots that keep our guests coming back season after season.
This isn't your typical charter boat experience – we're talking about a genuine walk-and-wade adventure along some of the Sound's most carefully guarded shorelines. You'll spend eight full hours exploring different beaches, each one handpicked for its consistent fish-holding structure and feeding opportunities. Captain Kyle limits this trip to just two anglers, which means you're getting the kind of one-on-one attention that can turn a good day into a great one. The pace is relaxed but purposeful – we'll move between spots based on tides, weather, and where the fish are showing. You'll learn to read the water, spot feeding lanes, and understand how these coastal cutthroat behave in the unique environment where saltwater meets fresh. The scenery alone is worth the trip, but when you add in the chance to target a species that most people have never even heard of, you've got something really special. Don't worry about bringing much – just your valid Washington fishing license, some bottled water, polarized sunglasses, and non-spray sunscreen. Captain Kyle provides drinks and light snacks to keep you fueled throughout the day.
Walk-and-wade fly fishing along Puget Sound requires a completely different approach than what most anglers are used to. We're working shallow water structure – rocky points, kelp beds, sandy flats, and tidal creeks where cutthroat ambush small baitfish and emerging insects. The casting isn't about distance; it's about accuracy and presentation. Captain Kyle will show you how to approach each spot quietly, how to read the subtle signs that fish are feeding, and how to present your fly in a way that triggers strikes. We'll be using intermediate and floating lines depending on conditions, with patterns that imitate the sculpins, sand lance, and small salmon fry that make up the bulk of these fish's diet. The beauty of this fishery is that it's productive year-round, though each season brings its own opportunities and challenges. Spring means fish that are fresh from their spawning runs and actively feeding. Summer fishing focuses on deeper drop-offs during warmer weather. Fall brings some of the most consistent action as fish bulk up before winter. Even beginners can expect to get into fish with proper instruction, while experienced fly anglers will appreciate the technical aspects of sight fishing to selective coastal trout.
Coastal Cutthroat Trout are the main attraction here, and for good reason. These are truly unique fish – sea-run trout that spend part of their lives in saltwater but never venture far from shore like their steelhead cousins. Most of the cutthroat you'll encounter range from 12 to 18 inches, though fish over 20 inches are caught regularly by anglers who know where to look. What makes them special is their opportunistic feeding behavior and willingness to eat a wide variety of flies. They're aggressive when feeding but can also be surprisingly selective, especially in clear, shallow water. Unlike many saltwater species, cutthroat are available year-round in Puget Sound, with peak fishing typically occurring from March through October. These fish fight with surprising strength for their size, and they're absolutely beautiful – bright silver sides with the characteristic red slash under their jaw that gives them their name. Captain Kyle has spent years learning the seasonal movements and feeding patterns of local cutthroat populations, knowledge that directly translates to more fish in the net.
While Coho Salmon aren't the primary target on this trip, they do show up as a bonus species, especially during their juvenile stages when they're feeding along the same shorelines as the cutthroat. These smaller coho, often called "blackmouth" by local anglers, provide exciting action on lighter fly tackle and give you a taste of what these fish will become when they return as adults. They typically run 8 to 14 inches in the areas we fish, but they make up for their size with pure energy and acrobatic fights that will test your fish-fighting skills. The chance to hook both species in the same day adds an extra element of excitement to every cast, since you never know what's going to grab your fly next.
This top-rated fly fishing experience represents the best of what Puget Sound has to offer – native fish, stunning scenery, and the kind of personalized instruction that can take your angling to the next level. Captain Kyle's intimate knowledge of these waters, combined with his commitment to keeping group sizes small, creates the perfect environment for both learning and catching fish. Whether you're looking to try something completely new or you want to dial in your saltwater fly fishing skills, this eight-hour adventure delivers the goods. The coastal cutthroat fishery is one of the Pacific Northwest's best-kept secrets, and there's no better way to experience it than with a guide who lives and breathes these waters. Don't wait – spots fill up quickly, especially during peak season, and the fish are biting right now.
Oncorhynchus KisutchCoho salmon, also called silvers, are absolutely explosive fighters that'll jump clean out of the water when hooked. These chrome-bright fish typically run 8-12 pounds and pack serious attitude. You'll find them cruising near creek mouths and shallow bays throughout Puget Sound, especially during their fall runs from August through October. They love structure like fallen logs and kelp beds where they hunt for small fish and squid. What makes cohos special is their acrobatic nature - they'll leap, twist, and make blazing runs that test your gear. The meat is fantastic too, with that bright orange color. My local trick: when the tide's moving, cast your fly just uptide of any visible structure and strip it back with short, erratic pulls. Cohos can't resist that wounded baitfish action.
Oncorhynchus ClarkiiOur sea-run coastal cutthroat are truly unique fish that move between salt and fresh water, making them one of the Pacific Northwest's hidden gems. These beauties typically range 12-16 inches with those distinctive red slashes under their jaws. You'll find them along sandy beaches, near creek mouths, and around rocky points where they ambush small fish and crustaceans in just 2-6 feet of water. Spring through fall offers the best action, particularly on incoming tides when baitfish get pushed shallow. Cutthroat fight differently than other trout - they're scrappy and unpredictable, making long runs then suddenly changing direction. What guests love is how technical yet rewarding they are to catch. Here's my go-to tip: match your fly to the sand lance or juvenile salmon in the area, and fish it slow with subtle twitches.
undefined, undefined