Targeting Sockeye from kayak in Columbia

Has anyone had success doing this? I've caught them plunking, but never from a kayak. It seems one could anchor up and run a plunking setup or use a dodger, hoochie/coon shrimp with short leader like they do far upriver. I'd appreciate any help on this.


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Hmmm, 66 views and not one response. I guess nobody has caught sockeye this way. Sort of makes me feel better.


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I tried it once.  I landed and ate one and lost one at the boat. I hooked both after I gave up on fishing for sockeye and started fishing for walleye. So, that is the key...that and a walleye worm harness.    The second was caught (and lost at the net) on a deep diving walleye crank bait about 4 inches long. Go figure. 

Last year I was wondering the same thing. I looked into it a little on ifish.it seemed to me from what i read the fishing seemed to be hit/miss or incidental catch more than anything while chasing Chinook or steelhead. That being said sounded like a few have kinda figured it out. 

OK, I'm going for walleye next! Thanks Craig.


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I caught a sockeye in 2014 trolling inJDF. It was incidental as I was after Chinook spinning an anchovie. Is the run you're speaking of known as biters cause some socks are and some aren't.
T2

Some appear to bite since plunkers get them.


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I read an article somewhere last year (I think) where some young guys had it dialed in on the Columbia in the Tri-Cities area. For the life of me, I can't remember what they used.

I havn't had luck trolling for sockeye yet but I have caught them while anchored for steelhead just off the bank. I ran a double setup with the weight on the bottom 8" dropper like plunking. Anchor just off a shelf & cast to shore setting the pyramid weights & allowing the double setup to work in the current. As with all anchoring, location location location.

We get them plunking on the Lower Columbia with spin n glos.  I put some sand shrimp scent on the yarn.  We are targeting the June Kings but on some days the little sockeye are thick.  We never keep them.  I would say the gear is running about 12-15 feet deep.

SR1

Try anchoring in about 8ft of water. depending on the current use anywhere from a 1-4oz cannonball (10" dropper), with about an 18" leader to a colorado spinner blade and your shrimp. Just walk your setup back and rinse and repeat. Right now we aren't using a dodger, and still catching fish in our area. 

good luck!