Fly Fish Puget Sound Before You Die

Puget Sound is one of the locations featured in the best-selling novel Fifty Places to Fly Fish Before You Die by Chris Santella. You can win a copy of the book by entering the 50 Books for Fifty Places Giveaway.

Puget Sound, located on the northern coast of the State of Washington, was once a vastly populated estuary with many species of birds, fish, sea lions and more. However, since the 1960s the human population in the area has grown from 1.8 million to over 4.4 million, increasing the amount of pollutants being dumped into The Sound. This negatively impacted the wildlife living there and caused species that were once abundant to become endangered. Even though Puget Sound is in ecological trouble, the beautiful scenery and sea-run cutthroat trout hiding on the outskirts makes the area a "must fish" for fly anglers.

According to author and fly fisherman Les Johnson, anglers will want to use a 9-foot rod for a 7-weight line that can throw bulky flies. Pair this with a reel capable of holding 90-foot fly line and at least 150 yards of 18-20 pound test backing. He also recommends WF7F floating fly line, 5-10 feet leaders and flies that imitate common food for the fish such as crustaceans, squid, sand lance and herring.

Host Conway Bowman visits Puget Sound in Episode Six of Fifty Places to Fly Fish Before You Die.