covers a good portion of East-central Vancouver Island. Through using the navigation menus on that site, information on other sections of coastline can be viewed. DENIZENS OF THE DEEP
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While not really “deep” that two to three-foot-deep intertidal zone, which is readily waded, hosts several fish species. The beach fly fisher’s Holy Grail, transient sea-run Cutthroat trout, come and go through the area at will. Bottom-dwelling fish like Staghorn sculpins, Midshipmen, flounders and sole are most active with the ebb and flow of the tides. The real beauty of fishing off the beach is that one never knows what might next take the fly. TACKLE & FLIES My preference in a tenkara rod is to
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opt for length. The 13’6” Amago model or the Ito model zoomed out to 14’7”, both from Tenkara USA, are my rods of choice. While standing in one spot, the extra length allows me to effectively cover a larger radius around me. Only a judicious amount of wading is necessary for two reasons; 1) excess wading spooks the fish away from you. 2) most fish will come and go through your chosen casting zone as the tide ebbs or flows or as they sense an opportunity to feed there. Both of those Tenkara rods have enough delicacy and backbone to handle fish from a three ounce juvenile Ling cod to a three pound sea-run Cutt. Effective fly patterns for bottom fish are often the simplest; a bit of brightly colored lamb’s wool yarn, a red/yellow combo works well, tied in behind a small metal beadhead, all on a number ten hook – the wool sticks like Velcro™
