Fly Fishing Insider Podcast
Oregon sea-run cutthroat trout migrate on rain and overcast skies, so Garrett Lesko fishes early morning from a float tube in deep, slow-moving water. Lesko recommends a 5-weight medium-fast rod with intermediate line and a sinking leader, paired with buoyant deer hair flies that entice strikes from migrating cutthroat.
Garrett Lesko is a fly tier known for his deer hair work and an active competitive angler.
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When do sea-run cutthroat run in Oregon?
Sea-run cutthroat migrate when rain arrives and skies go overcast, and those are the conditions Garrett Lesko watches for. Early morning is the window Lesko fishes. Wet, gray weather beats bright settled days for sea-run cutthroat.
Where should you fish for sea-run cutthroat?
Garrett Lesko fishes deep, slow-moving water for sea-run cutthroat and covers that water from a float tube. A float tube keeps an angler off the bank and in position over the slow water where migrating cutthroat hold.
What rod and line setup works for sea-run cutthroat?
Garrett Lesko recommends a 5-weight rod with a medium-fast action for sea-run cutthroat. Lesko pairs that rod with an intermediate line and a sinking leader, then fishes buoyant flies such as deer hair patterns to draw strikes.
Why has Oregon's sea-run cutthroat fishery declined?
Oregon's sea-run cutthroat fishery has fallen off, and Garrett Lesko ties that decline to changes in stocking programs. Lesko also walks through the fish's migration patterns, size and diet, which together explain what the fishery looks like now.
Key takeaways
- Rain and overcast skies trigger sea-run cutthroat migration in Oregon.
- Fish early morning from a float tube in deep, slow-moving water.
- A 5-weight medium-fast rod with intermediate line and a sinking leader covers the water.
- Buoyant deer hair patterns entice strikes from sea-run cutthroat.
- Changes in stocking programs are tied to the fishery's decline.
