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Picture Of The Month



SD2OR with a trophy fall walleye
 

Topic: Marine Area 7 Salmon(?)  (Read 10009 times)

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Rory

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Now that Salmon is open here in the San Juans, I'm bent on catching some.  I've only targeted them twice thus far this year, and so far they have eluded me.  Hours pass by when I'm trolling a coho killer or mooching herring and I'm thinking about how much more fun I'd be having if I was fishing for cabezon, or greenling even. I do get the dogfish, which is better than NOfish but I want a damn salmon!  But I'm GOING to crack this...it's a matter of pride at this point.

I was out at Pt Whitehorn yesterday evening and I saw a few salmon jumping and tried to cast towards them with a buzz bomb, and also mooch thru there, but the area is so vast it seems very needle-in-a-haystack.  

I have primarily been dragging a banana sinker with flasher/coho killer combo or banana sinker with cut-plugged orange and red label herring, then casting a buzz bomb when I see the silvers jump (a la Mark's article in the recent NW Sportsman and also suggested by HBH).  I do have a downrigger setup that I need to get going, but it does add an extra layer of complexity to fishing.  I'd love to be able to mooch or troll effectively without it, if possible. If anyone has any other tackle ideas, let me know.

Let me know of any other places within range that I can try (Marine areas 7 and 8-1, and the east side of 6 are all do-able for day fishing from bham) that you know of.    I do realize we're fairly early in the season and things might pick up in August.  But I'd really love to dine on flesh of Salmon!  Might try Pt. Migley this weekend and hit up Clark Is. as well for cabs.

Any help appreciated!

PS check out my new ride.  I'm going mobile!  Unfortunately I will be on the east coast for the latter half of July so I won't get to try it out til August, but Oregonians will be seeing alot more of me!
« Last Edit: July 09, 2010, 11:53:34 AM by the_tall_man »
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ZeeHawk

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That is a sweet rig!

When mooching go straight with a green label cut plug herring. Also take out that  banana sinker and use a 2-4 oz weight on a slider. Pretty much the same setup as Spot's trolling rig but no dropper line.. and use a herring instead of me as bait. ;)



The sliding sinker will let the salmon pick up the bait w/o feeling it and hopefully will munch harder and set the hook for you. If you pull a few feet of line off the reel when salmon initially hits your bait that will also allow the salmon to munch some more. Most importantly remember to not set the hook but only reel in until your line is taught.  

And lastly, catching salmon is a tough game and nothing like rockfishing. ;D
P.S. we need to go fish.

Z
« Last Edit: July 09, 2010, 03:02:27 PM by Zee »
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kiawanda jr

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That is a sweet rig!

When mooching go straight with a green label cut plug herring. Also take out that  banana sinker and use a 2-4 oz weight on a slider. Pretty much the same setup as Spot's trolling rig but no dropper line.. and use a herring instead of me as bait. ;)



The sliding sinker will let the salmon pick up the bait w/o feeling it and hopefully will munch harder and set the hook for you. If you pull a few feet of line off the reel when salmon initially hits your bait that will also allow the salmon to munch some more. Most importantly remember to not set the hook but only reel in until your line is taught.  

And lastly, catching salmon is a tough game and nothing like rockfishing. ;D
P.S. we need to go fish.

Z

   zee   

     I have done alot trolling but never in a kayak. is there a reason for not using a dropper on your cannon ball?  seems to be effective for keeping your herring off the bottom.


Rory

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And lastly, catching salmon is a tough game and nothing like rockfishing. ;D

Yeah, you're not kidding.

OK, thanks for the diagram.  Very helpful!  Headed to the tackle store now.  Approximately what are the lengths on the dropper line and on the main line between the bead chain and bait?
"When you get into one of these groups, there's only a couple ways you can get out. One, is death. The other...mental institutions"



kallitype

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Also look at the Metzler sliding sinkers, there's a plastic tube that your line goes thru, then you tie on your Sampo (best) swivel. The sinkers have wire clips that clip onto the tube, very neat and simple.Less involved that the dropper, which in my hands always gets tangled.   They come in many sizes, I buy 4,5 6 and 8 oz.
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ZeeHawk

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is there a reason for not using a dropper on your cannon ball?  seems to be effective for keeping your herring off the bottom.
In the sound we usually mooch in the realm of 80'-200'+ FOW. When you drop your gear you let it hit bottom and then come straight back up. Your herring is trailing behind the weight and never has a chance to hit bottom. Since hanging up is rarely a problem a dropper is just one more thing to go wrong.

Approximately what are the lengths on the dropper line and on the main line between the bead chain and bait?
Like posted earlier, no dropper but most people like to mooch with leaders in the realm of 6'.

Here's a good article explaining the basics: http://www.sschapterpsa.com/ramblings/mooching_for_salmon.htm

Z
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ZeeHawk

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Also look at the Metzler sliding sinkers, there's a plastic tube that your line goes thru, then you tie on your Sampo (best) swivel. The sinkers have wire clips that clip onto the tube, very neat and simple.Less involved that the dropper, which in my hands always gets tangled.   They come in many sizes, I buy 4,5 6 and 8 oz.
Those are very cool. :thumbsup:

Z
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kiawanda jr

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   oh copy. were not running that deep around here, 10-40ft in the rivers. i like to back bounce my weight when trolling to stay down amungst-em. cant wait to try that in a yak.


Rory

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Ah - I see that now, NO dropper line.  I just learned to read.  That simplifies things.  Do you brine your herring or use them straight out of the package?
"When you get into one of these groups, there's only a couple ways you can get out. One, is death. The other...mental institutions"



ZeeHawk

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Ah - I see that now, NO dropper line.  I just learned to read.  That simplifies things.  Do you brine your herring or use them straight out of the package?
You must brine your herring. There's a bunch of recipes out there but the simple Salmon U one has done me well: http://www.salmonuniversity.com/ol_brining_herring.html

Z
« Last Edit: July 09, 2010, 03:22:28 PM by Zee »
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Lee

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We're not running deeper than 120' of water either   :angel:


I wonder if an Ace Hi-Fly would work as well as a herring.
 


ZeeHawk

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I wonder if an Ace Hi-Fly would work as well as a herring.
The High Fly really doesn't have enough action IMO. Dodgers or flashers are needed w/ a lure like that. A Brads Cut Plug is a good backup lure and a spoon might work in a pinch but the main thing about mooching is it's a slow presentation. Around a mile per hour or so. The salmon plenty of time to get a good look at the bait so if it doesn't look right they'll pass it over.

Z
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Yarjammer

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Did you replace the Scion Rory or is this a dedicated fishing transport?  Looks like Dana rubbed off on you  ;D  That should be an awesome rig for a nomadic angler.


Rory

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Did you replace the Scion Rory or is this a dedicated fishing transport?  Looks like Dana rubbed off on you  ;D  That should be an awesome rig for a nomadic angler.

I gotta admit I had camper envy when I saw dana's VW. I've been looking casually anyway because i really am not a fan of tent camping. Call me soft but i just hate waking up in the rain! I'll prolly hold on to the scion for a while.
« Last Edit: July 09, 2010, 04:55:03 PM by the_tall_man »
"When you get into one of these groups, there's only a couple ways you can get out. One, is death. The other...mental institutions"



Yarjammer

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That is one downside of camping in the NW  :-\  I don't mind too much if it rains while I'm camping however, I'm not a big fan of breaking camp in it. 


 

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