Fly Fishing for Albacore Tuna in Washington: An Ilwaco Guide

Albacore is right up there with sea-run cutthroat as one of my favorite fisheries in the Pacific Northwest. For me, it's a bucket-list fish for every serious fly angler, but expect a serious experience. The ocean isn't always nice, the fishing is intense, and the dedication it takes can be real. When it all lines up, though, it's truly a Blue Planet experience.

There are dolphins, whales, sharks, and birds, and then there are tuna tearing through anchovies alongside the boat. A good bait stop is something I can't get enough of. This guide walks through how we approach the fishery out of Ilwaco, from finding the right water to getting a fly in front of feeding fish, with the gear, adjustments, and lessons that have worked for me.

In this guide:

• Finding Albacore: Start with the Water
• Finding Fish on the Troll
• Fishing the Slide
• The Bait Stop
• My Albacore Fly Fishing Setup
• Albacore Flies
• Setting the Hook, Fighting, and Landing
• When to Go and What to Expect
• Booking a Fly Fishing Albacore Trip
• Albacore Fly Fishing FAQ

Finding Albacore: Start with the Water

An albacore trip out of Ilwaco starts with finding the right water. Leaving the Columbia River mouth behind, the search moves offshore toward clearer, blue Pacific water. Around 59–64°F is a useful surface-temperature range to begin looking. It's not a guarantee of fish or a hard cutoff. Pay attention to temperature breaks and the transition between greener coastal water and clearer offshore water.

You can research those conditions before leaving home. RipCharts offers satellite temperature and water-color imagery, and the team behind PNW Fly Fishing has PNW Tuna Map, with temperature, chlorophyll, and depth layers. Check when the imagery was captured. Clouds can leave gaps, and combined images can contain observations from different times.

Unlike a remote trout stream where secrecy can be part of the culture, I haven't found that to be the case with albacore. Many captains and fishermen are willing to share GPS coordinates from the previous day. Those numbers aren't a guarantee, since the fish and water move, but paired with the charts, they help narrow down where to start.

Watch for Jumpers

Keep your eyes on the water while heading offshore and while trolling. "Jumpers" are albacore breaking the surface. Every time we see them, we head that direction. Whether we're already working an area or still running toward one, seeing fish come out of the water gets our attention immediately.

Finding Fish on the Troll

Even though we're there to fly fish, we generally start by trolling conventional gear once we reach promising water. A cedar plug has been a favorite over the years. Plenty of other things work, but it's hard not to appreciate a fish that's willing to eat what is essentially a stick.

At this stage, we're trying to locate fish so we can stop and cast to them.

Trolling Flies

We've also trolled flies and had a ton of success doing it. I just don't find it as fun as casting and retrieving a fly during a bait stop. When we do troll flies, we use bright, bulky billfish-style patterns about 6–8 inches long and a much heavier leader: 80-pound on our trolling rod.

That's a separate setup from the smaller baitfish flies and straight 20–30-pound fluorocarbon leader I use when casting. Both approaches have caught plenty of fish for us; my preference is getting the boat stopped and fishing the fly myself.

Want to tie an albacore trolling fly? Here's our step-by-step tying tutorial:

Fishing the Slide

Once we hook a fish on the troll, we bring the boat to a stop and start throwing bait into the water. That transition is also one of our favorite opportunities to get a fly out.

We've had a ton of success casting while the boat is still sliding to a stop, then letting its remaining momentum pull fly line out behind us. With the reel's drag backed off enough to let line feed out, you can get the fly well behind the boat. Once it's the distance you want, immediately return the drag to your fighting setting.

Let the fly sink for a bit before you start stripping. While the boat is still moving, tension on the line keeps the fly from getting particularly deep. Be ready anyway. We frequently get hit during that slide, before making a single strip. Your fly is already fishing.

The Bait Stop: When Everything Comes Together

When the boat stops and we continue putting bait into the water, we call that a "bait stop." A good bait stop is a fly fisherman's dream come true. We keep feeding live anchovies to hold the tuna up and around the boat.

Do your best to keep that first troll fish hooked during the transition. Old-timers have told me that when a hooked tuna gets loose, it swims away and can take other fish with it. I can't see what's happening underwater to confirm that explanation, but their advice has stuck with me. We want those fish staying around the boat.

Watch for "boils," tuna crushing bait at the surface in a feeding frenzy. If you haven't hooked up already, get your fly in the water.

You realistically don't need to cast very far. This isn't a particularly technical casting fishery. When tuna are feeding like that, I don't worry about a sloppy cast spooking them. Get the fly out, feed a little more line if you need to let it sink and work farther behind the boat, then start your retrieve.

Strip Fast and Fish It All the Way In

Strip fast, as fast as you can, and don't slow down as the fly approaches the boat. I've had plenty of albacore eat right behind the boat, so keep fishing that retrieve all the way in.

I've never needed a two-handed retrieve. Fast, consistent strips with one hand have done the job for me.

When They're Eating Bait but Not the Fly

If the fish are eating anchovies but ignoring the fly, I usually make one of two changes: switch to a smaller pattern or pinch a split shot onto the leader to help get the fly a little deeper. I place that shot about 12–18 inches above the fly. It's a familiar adjustment in live-bait fishing, too, where weight helps get an anchovy down and away from the boat.

My mindset is that if they're actively eating, I can get one to eat the fly. I just need to get it in front of them. Try a smaller offering or a little more depth before giving up on a productive stop.

One lesson from last season: I pinched a split shot on too tightly and broke the leader at that spot. The weight that helps get your fly down can also create a weak point if you damage the fluorocarbon attaching it.

My Albacore Fly Fishing Setup

These are my preferences based on the gear I've fished. There are other workable setups, but this is what I reach for.

Rod	Douglas Sky G 12-weight
Reel	Waterworks-Lamson Litespeed M12
Backing	About 250 yards of 100-pound gel-spun; my preference is backing rated above 50 pounds
Fly line	RIO Leviathan, 500-grain or 400-grain
Leader	Just under 9 feet of straight 20–30-pound fluorocarbon, no taper
Leader connection	Loop-to-loop, or an improved clinch tied through the fly line's welded loop
Fly connection	Improved clinch
Hooks	Generally 1/0 or 2/0, depending on the actual hook model
Line management	Ahrex Flexi Stripper

That's my casting setup. For trolling flies, we use an 80-pound leader and bright 6–8-inch billfish-style patterns.

Why I Fish a 12-Weight

In previous years, we've caught plenty of smaller albacore in the 10–15-pound range that could be handled on a lighter rod. But trust me, even on a 12-weight, you're going to have a battle. These fish can head a long way below the boat, and the lifting power matters when you need to bring them back up.

If you're shopping for one, the Douglas Sky G, Sage R8 Salt, and Echo Boost Blue all come in a 12-weight.

Reels and Backing

My reel is a Waterworks-Lamson Litespeed M12. I recommend investing in a good reel for this fishery. Hatch, Tibor, Sage, Nautilus, and Lamson all have big-game options that I've personally used and would recommend. Other brands may do the job well, but I haven't fished them myself.

I generally match reel size to the rod, but I've also used a 10-weight reel with a 12-weight line on a 12-weight rod without an issue. In my experience, most 10-weight big-game reels have plenty of room for the backing you need. Check capacity with the actual line and backing you plan to use rather than relying only on the size printed on the reel.

I carry about 250 yards of 100-pound gel-spun backing. You don't need to match that strength exactly, but my preference is something rated above 50 pounds.

Fly Line, Leader, and Knots

Over the last few years, I've become partial to RIO's Leviathan line. I fish the 500-grain and have also used the 400-grain. Both have fished fantastic for us. Their core strength and durability are a big part of why I keep using them. We've snapped other fly lines on hard albacore strikes while trolling, so this is something I pay attention to.

For the leader, I use just under 9 feet of straight 20–30-pound fluorocarbon. No taper, no complicated formula, just a single length.

I don't use any special knots. I either connect the leader loop-to-loop or tie the fluorocarbon directly through the fly line's welded loop with an improved clinch. Some people question that second approach, but it has worked for me without an issue. I also usually use an improved clinch at the fly. Take the time to tie and check your knots properly. I didn't lose a single fish to knot failure last season.

Albacore Flies: Keep the Profile Reasonable

I generally like a 1/0 or 2/0 hook, depending on the model. I don't want anything overly large. Hook sizing varies so much between brands and styles that you need to look at the actual hook rather than just the number on the package.

I've tied on Owner Gorilla Light hooks and Gamakatsu short-shank, 1X-strong baitfish hooks. I like a short shank with materials that can move freely off the back.

For colors, I lean toward silver and white underneath with a darker back to resemble an anchovy. I've also had success with articulated, changer-style flies, but I still keep the profile restrained.

There are several albacore patterns on our YouTube channel if you want to tie your own. My approach has changed a little: I've moved away from many of the jig-style versions and now tie those patterns unweighted on strong, standard saltwater hooks. The reason is simple: I prefer how unweighted flies cast on these lines.

If you'd rather buy your flies, the Solitude Herring Psychedelic is one of my favorites.

Line Management Can Make or Break the Hookup

I use an Ahrex Flexi Stripper, and this is a big one. Line management is truly key to success. Keeping stripped line organized and off the deck helps me avoid tangles, retrieve properly, and keep loose line out of other anglers' way.

When a tuna eats and takes off, your loose fly line needs to clear cleanly. If it's wrapped around something or tangled at your feet, that's where you can lose fish. During a busy bait stop, it's easy to focus entirely on the tuna, but keeping your line under control is part of being ready for the next eat.

Setting the Hook, Fighting, and Landing

When an albacore eats, strip set and hold on. You don't need to lift the rod like you're setting on a trout with a dry fly. Strip into the eat, get connected, and be ready.

In my experience, these fish usually head down. They rarely run a crazy distance away from the boat, but they can go a long way beneath it. This is where the 12-weight pays dividends.

As the fish gets close, maintain pressure without lifting your rod tip too high, and let your buddy get into position to gaff it. Once the fish is securely gaffed, immediately feed slack so it can be lifted aboard without loading up your rod or breaking your connection to the fly.

Through all of this, someone needs to keep bait going into the water. If the bite shuts down and we can't keep the fish with us, it's back on the troll to find them again.

Once your fish is aboard and you've unhooked the fly, get it right back in the water. This isn't really the time for celebration. A quick high five, then back at it. A good bait stop is go, go, go. You can catch a lot of fish in a short window if you keep them around the boat and keep your fly fishing.

When I Like to Go and What to Expect

People usually start catching albacore in July and wrap up fishing for them in early October, depending on the year and conditions. Historically, the middle of September has been my favorite time to go out of Ilwaco. Those are fishing-season observations, not regulatory opening and closing dates, so check the current WDFW fishing regulations before you go. WDFW also has a good overview of albacore tuna in Washington.

Before you book, understand that this isn't the quintessential "keep 'em wet" style of fly fishing. We're catching fish to eat. Those fish are gaffed and brought aboard, and there will be blood. During a good bait stop, it can get everywhere: on your rod, reel, hands, and clothes.

It's a busy, messy deck. Wear something you're comfortable getting bloody and come prepared for that part of the experience. The ocean isn't always nice, either, and this fishery asks more of you than a casual afternoon casting from shore.

Booking a Fly Fishing Albacore Trip

There are a handful of people I personally know and recommend. Shawn with Legendz and Mike at Shake N Bake can put you on fish out of Ilwaco. Nick Clayton out of Westport is another person I recommend.

Obviously, we'd love for you to come to Ilwaco. That's where Spawn is, and you can stop by the shop while you're here. But I'm happy to point you toward people I know and trust, even when they leave from another port.

When you book, explicitly tell the captain you want to fly fish for albacore. Don't assume that booking a tuna trip means fly fishing is part of the plan. Most anglers are fishing conventional gear, and the boat likely won't have a fly setup for you to borrow. Discuss it beforehand and plan to bring your own equipment unless the captain confirms otherwise.

Albacore Fly Fishing FAQ

What weight fly rod do you need for albacore?

I fish a 12-weight. Smaller albacore in the 10–15-pound range can be handled on a lighter rod, but these fish head a long way below the boat, and the lifting power of a 12-weight matters when you need to bring them back up. Mine is a Douglas Sky G 12-weight.

What are the best flies for albacore?

For casting, baitfish patterns on a 1/0 or 2/0 hook with a reasonable profile: silver and white underneath with a darker back to resemble an anchovy, tied unweighted. The Solitude Herring Psychedelic is one of my favorites. For trolling, we use bright, bulky billfish-style patterns about 6–8 inches long.

When is albacore season in Washington?

People usually start catching albacore in July and wrap up in early October, depending on the year and conditions. Historically, the middle of September has been my favorite time to go out of Ilwaco. Check the current WDFW fishing regulations before you go.

What water temperature do albacore like?

Around 59–64°F is a useful surface-temperature range to start looking, especially along temperature breaks where greener coastal water meets clearer blue offshore water. It’s a starting point, not a guarantee of fish.

What leader should I use for albacore on the fly?

For casting, just under 9 feet of straight 20–30-pound fluorocarbon with no taper. When we troll flies, we use an 80-pound leader.

Can you fly fish for albacore on a charter?

Yes, but tell the captain when you book that you want to fly fish. Most anglers on tuna trips fish conventional gear, and the boat likely won’t have a fly setup for you to borrow, so plan to bring your own.

Do you need to cast far for albacore?

No. During a good bait stop the tuna are feeding around the boat, so a long or pretty cast isn’t needed. Get the fly out, let it sink, and strip fast all the way to the boat.

The Experience Stays with You

Fly fishing for albacore is an experience like no other. The open ocean is incredible, and there's life everywhere: dolphins, whales, sharks, and birds. As much as I love catching these fish, it's the entire experience that I can't get enough of.

And it doesn't end when you get back to the dock. Every tuna melt for lunch or seared albacore dinner takes you right back to that day on the water. You'll want to do it every single year.

Chasing sea-run cutthroat when you're not offshore? Check out our guide to fly fishing Puget Sound for sea-run cutthroat.

Written by Josh Phillips