NorthWest Kayak Anglers
Regional Discussions => Washington Kayak Fishing => Topic started by: Seattleite on July 12, 2023, 10:35:24 AM
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MA 9 & 10 are opening up for Kings tomorrow. I'm considering mooching and jigging for the first time at Point No Point. Is anyone else going out for the opener? Any advice would be appreciated, I have yet to fish for Kings and I'm going to be trying a lot this year to get my first! Thanks all.
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You can find a ton of info about jigging on this forum -- I won't go out of my way to repeat what I've read here, but here are some notes at the top of my mind when it comes to jigging:
(1) Target bait balls no matter where in the water column they are
(2) Stay on top of your jig
(4) Lighter jigs are more better as long as you can stay on top of them
(5) Keep your hooks sharp -- hook files are well worth the ~8 bucks
(6) Set that hook HARD
(7) Loosy-goosy on the drag
(8 ) Keep reeling even when they're running
(9) High retrieve reels are helpful when the fish shoot to the surface
You can also find a lot of info about jigging on other websites. If you're looking for info on NWKA, the users' posts that I've learned good stuff from are workhard, workhard, and workhard. I'm surely overlooking some other users but those named are easily the top three.
I popped this little buddy a few days ago -- hit a 45g jig that was presented at the bottom of a baitball at 25' in 55 FOW.
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You can find a ton of info about jigging on this forum -- I won't go out of my way to repeat what I've read here, but here are some notes at the top of my mind when it comes to jigging:
(1) Target bait balls no matter where in the water column they are
(2) Stay on top of your jig
(4) Lighter jigs are more better as long as you can stay on top of them
(5) Keep your hooks sharp -- hook files are well worth the ~8 bucks
(6) Set that hook HARD
(7) Loosy-goosy on the drag
(8 ) Keep reeling even when they're running
(9) High retrieve reels are helpful when the fish shoot to the surface
You can also find a lot of info about jigging on other websites. If you're looking for info on NWKA, the users' posts that I've learned good stuff from are workhard, workhard, and workhard. I'm surely overlooking some other users but those named are easily the top three.
I popped this little buddy a few days ago -- hit a 45g jig that was presented at the bottom of a baitball at 25' in 55 FOW.
I appreciate the tips! I have been reading workhard's posts along with any others I can find about jigging. Do you have any favorite colors/patterns? Seems like the glow white PWD is popular, and the herring and sand lance imitations should work too. Also, do you put any scent on your jig?
On a different note, I'm curious what the general consensus is here on jigging vs mooching. Specifically, which one tends to put more fish in the boat? I'd love it if the answer was jigging, then I don't have to mess with bait or dogfish lol
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I appreciate the tips! I have been reading workhard's posts along with any others I can find about jigging. Do you have any favorite colors/patterns? Seems like the glow white PWD is popular, and the herring and sand lance imitations should work too. Also, do you put any scent on your jig?
On a different note, I'm curious what the general consensus is here on jigging vs mooching. Specifically, which one tends to put more fish in the boat? I'd love it if the answer was jigging, then I don't have to mess with bait or dogfish lol
I doubt that color matters -- idk why but most of my jigs are white. As far as jig shape, I like the pencil type (PWD, Puget Pounder, etc) because they get down to depth quicker than the other shapes I've tried. I've put scent on my jig and I haven't put scent on my jig; don't think it matters. It does make a mess though.
Can't speak to jigging v mooching; I've never done the latter.
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If I was on that side I would mooch a LOT more and PnP sets up so well for it. Jigging is tops for me on the A10 Seattle side however - too much dogfish and crap to run through.
Current counts are too low for me to break off of other things just quite yet but looking forward to everyone's reports to get the juice going.
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If I was on that side I would mooch a LOT more and PnP sets up so well for it. Jigging is tops for me on the A10 Seattle side however - too much dogfish and crap to run through.
Current counts are too low for me to break off of other things just quite yet but looking forward to everyone's reports to get the juice going.
I'm on the Seattle side as well, but I'm going to take the ferry over to check it out. Where do you like to jig in Area 10? I was thinking about trying Shilshole in August.
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If you're looking for info on NWKA, the users' posts that I've learned good stuff from are workhard, workhard, and workhard. I'm surely overlooking some other users but those named are easily the top three.
Yeah in addition to those guys I’d add a vote for workhard. Dude has literally mastered the art and is always looking for improvements.
A big part of it is just grinding. Research, test, adjust based on results, test, more research etc. With enough hours and dialing in you will develop your own program. It’s awesome to have salmon jigging sorted because it’s minimal equipment, productive, a lot of fun, and key as a plan b if your plan a is trolling or mooching. Gear breakdowns, seaweed in the water, or getting worn out all lend to switching to jigging for a spell or longer. Kayaks, esp with a pedal drive of some sort are built for jigging, you can totally outperform the PB’s. I deployed my new Outback up on Orcas a few years ago, first time having a pedal drive. Jigging I hooked a 15# bright king in the first hour, totally life-changing. Good luck!
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Jigging I hooked a 15# bright king in the first hour, totally life-changing. Good luck!
I bet it was! My only experience jigging so far is topwater for Pinks, which is a blast, but hooking into a 15# or bigger fish sounds absolutely crazy.
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On that note be prepared for when you catch. Have the (large) net handy and have a plan. Have a bonker, knife, and game clip or beefy stringer handy. Having a big king jumping around in your lap with hooks in, potential boat traffic and waves, there’s a lot going on. And have a katch cooler with ice with the zipper on your side to get that fish iced down.
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I'm on the Seattle side as well, but I'm going to take the ferry over to check it out. Where do you like to jig in Area 10? I was thinking about trying Shilshole in August.
That's where I'll be in August as well.
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...Where do you like to jig in Area 10?...
If you're looking to jig in MA10, frequent areas that are known for bait. I typically jig when I'm on bait and troll when I'm looking for bait. Study up on underwater topography and currents to ID areas that might hold bait. Do some reading; there are some online articles that discuss MA10 areas that are known for bait.
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I am planning to launch from Edmonds early AM. My fishfinder is currently out for repairs so I am going in blind. Bringing a trolling and jigging setup and gonna try and work the oil docks.
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I am planning to launch from Edmonds early AM. My fishfinder is currently out for repairs so I am going in blind. Bringing a trolling and jigging setup and gonna try and work the oil docks.
I've read that's a good spot for both coho and chinook, let us know how it goes! Curious how many chinook are there at this point in the season. I'm guessing there is more in MA 9 but admittedly I'm still a noob lol
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I Hit PNP this morning around 6:30 and jigged for about 4 hours. Tried both a 2oz and 4oz glow white PWD. I rigged both with the mooching/slider double hook setup. Despite hooking into two small-ish salmon, I didn't manage to keep anything on for long. Both fish were hooked in 40 and 60 FOW and they both immediately shot up to the surface, jumped, and I lost them. Not sure if they were chinook, but guessing based on the sprint to the surface they were?
I brought my downrigger with me with the plan to hit the ledges E/SE of PNP after jigging and I'm really glad I did. I put down a cookies and cream kingfisher and quickly got a resident coho in the bag, which was great to get the skunk off.
Not long after, at about ~90ft deep a fish popped the clip and I quickly grabbed the rod and started reeling. It felt heavier than any resident I caught this year but I wasn't sure exactly what I had on at first. That is, until it took a 40ft dive down peeling drag and I knew exactly what I had on! After a couple minutes of fighting the fish including a few more runs, I had my first hatchery chinook in the net.
Only at 24", barely over the minimum size, but I'm so happy to have experienced such an intense fight compared to any other fish I've ever caught. Can't wait to get one jigging someday!
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Not long after, at about ~90ft deep a fish popped the clip and I quickly grabbed the rod and started reeling. It felt heavier than any resident I caught this year but I wasn't sure exactly what I had on at first. That is, until it took a 40ft dive down peeling drag and I knew exactly what I had on! After a couple minutes of fighting the fish including a few more runs, I had my first hatchery chinook in the net.
Right on man! Well done.
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I am planning to launch from Edmonds early AM. My fishfinder is currently out for repairs so I am going in blind. Bringing a trolling and jigging setup and gonna try and work the oil docks.
I've read that's a good spot for both coho and chinook, let us know how it goes! Curious how many chinook are there at this point in the season. I'm guessing there is more in MA 9 but admittedly I'm still a noob lol
Launched a little before 7, had my limit of 2 resident coho by 9am. Released one small king around 15". It was weird, normally for coho I start shallow and work down. Both coho I caught were at 120 ft and 105 ft on the downrigger, and I was trolling at slow king speeds.
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I am planning to launch from Edmonds early AM. My fishfinder is currently out for repairs so I am going in blind. Bringing a trolling and jigging setup and gonna try and work the oil docks.
I've read that's a good spot for both coho and chinook, let us know how it goes! Curious how many chinook are there at this point in the season. I'm guessing there is more in MA 9 but admittedly I'm still a noob lol
Launched a little before 7, had my limit of 2 resident coho by 9am. Released one small king around 15". It was weird, normally for coho I start shallow and work down. Both coho I caught were at 120 ft and 105 ft on the downrigger, and I was trolling at slow king speeds.
Same thing happened to me. I've noticed that the residents seem to be all over the water column at times, they're just more predictably shallow than other salmon. Did you mark many kings deeper?
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Didn't mark anything. My fishfinder is currently in the shop for repair.
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Going to fish PNP and Skunk Bay tomorrow. Will be jigging PNP with PWDs for the first couple hours, then once the tide starts to ebb I'll be trolling in the Bay. Hopefully plenty of bait gets pushed into there and the bite turns on ;D
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Going to fish PNP and Skunk Bay tomorrow...
Hope you kill it. I may head out there Saturday morning. Car should be outta the shop by then...
BTW -- you mentioned jigged fish shooting up to the surface. That's a thing; I think a lot of dedicated jiggers use lightweight low profile levelwind reels w/ high retrieve rates. I think a couple other companies make similar, but I use a Penn Squall Low Profile (SQL300LPHS) that has a 43" retrieve per turn. I got it late 2020, have fished it hard during the summer seasons and generally treated it like shit. Recently had to clean and re-grease the drag washers but beyond that it's been flawless. I spool it w/ metered line so I can ~accurately target suspended marks.
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Going to fish PNP and Skunk Bay tomorrow...
Hope you kill it. I may head out there Saturday morning. Car should be outta the shop by then...
BTW -- you mentioned jigged fish shooting up to the surface. That's a thing; I think a lot of dedicated jiggers use lightweight low profile levelwind reels w/ high retrieve rates. I think a couple other companies make similar, but I use a Penn Squall Low Profile (SQL300LPHS) that has a 43" retrieve per turn. I got it late 2020, have fished it hard during the summer seasons and generally treated it like shit. Recently had to clean and re-grease the drag washers but beyond that it's been flawless. I spool it w/ metered line so I can ~accurately target suspended marks.
I use a 8.5 reel for jigging 100ft+ for this reason. Easier to ruin the gears at the high gear ratios though.
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Going to fish PNP and Skunk Bay tomorrow...
Hope you kill it. I may head out there Saturday morning. Car should be outta the shop by then...
BTW -- you mentioned jigged fish shooting up to the surface. That's a thing; I think a lot of dedicated jiggers use lightweight low profile levelwind reels w/ high retrieve rates. I think a couple other companies make similar, but I use a Penn Squall Low Profile (SQL300LPHS) that has a 43" retrieve per turn. I got it late 2020, have fished it hard during the summer seasons and generally treated it like shit. Recently had to clean and re-grease the drag washers but beyond that it's been flawless. I spool it w/ metered line so I can ~accurately target suspended marks.
I use a 8:5 reel for jigging 100ft+ for this reason. Easier to ruin the gears at the high gear ratios though.
Thanks for the heads up -- I was not aware. Do they just wear out quicker, or are they more easily damaged when winching fish up with the reel?
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Going to fish PNP and Skunk Bay tomorrow...
Hope you kill it. I may head out there Saturday morning. Car should be outta the shop by then...
Appreciate your good luck wishes, must've had an impact! Lol. Got another trolling, and even better yet it's a new PB at 32". So glad I put in the work to modify and install a downrigger over the winter. Wasn't able to get one jigging, but they're definitely still in the area and hungry.
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Going to fish PNP and Skunk Bay tomorrow...
Hope you kill it. I may head out there Saturday morning. Car should be outta the shop by then...
BTW -- you mentioned jigged fish shooting up to the surface. That's a thing; I think a lot of dedicated jiggers use lightweight low profile levelwind reels w/ high retrieve rates. I think a couple other companies make similar, but I use a Penn Squall Low Profile (SQL300LPHS) that has a 43" retrieve per turn. I got it late 2020, have fished it hard during the summer seasons and generally treated it like shit. Recently had to clean and re-grease the drag washers but beyond that it's been flawless. I spool it w/ metered line so I can ~accurately target suspended marks.
I use a 8:5 reel for jigging 100ft+ for this reason. Easier to ruin the gears at the high gear ratios though.
Thanks for the heads up -- I was not aware. Do they just wear out quicker, or are they more easily damaged when winching fish up with the reel?
Both there's just more force on the gear teeth. If you're using a 9.2 ratio reel to 'winch' in chinook in the salt that reel will be toast pretty quickly especially if the reel's gearing is brass.
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Going to fish PNP and Skunk Bay tomorrow...
...I think a lot of dedicated jiggers use lightweight low profile levelwind reels w/ high retrieve rates. I think a couple other companies make similar, but I use a Penn Squall Low Profile (SQL300LPHS) that has a 43" retrieve per turn...
I use a 8:5 reel for jigging 100ft+ for this reason. Easier to ruin the gears at the high gear ratios though.
Thanks for the heads up -- I was not aware. Do they just wear out quicker, or are they more easily damaged when winching fish up with the reel?
Both there's just more force on the gear teeth. If you're using a 9.2 ratio reel to 'winch' in chinook in the salt that reel will be toast pretty quickly especially if the reel's gearing is brass.
Awesome, good to know. Yeah looks like the penn low profile series has brass gears; at least I'm letting the fish run pretty good... don't horse them in any more after pulling quite a few hooks out. Thanks again.
Going to fish PNP and Skunk Bay tomorrow...
Hope you kill it. I may head out there Saturday morning. Car should be outta the shop by then...
Appreciate your good luck wishes, must've had an impact! Lol. Got another trolling, and even better yet it's a new PB at 32"....
Hell yeah, that's awesome. I don't think any of mine have broken the 30" mark this year. Feel free to post up a pic or two -- always fun to see a chinook in a kayak.
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Yea Im usually using a 7:1/8:1 type retrieve reel for jigging (mostly daiwa lexas I co-opted from bass fishing) - need to be able to catch up to fish/reel up quickly to move on with that kind of fishing. Make sure you do some good greasing if you go this route for the salt conditions. The HD model has steel gearing as well if that is important.
Did a test run at shilshole this weekend during the daylight hours, only a small coho for my efforts. Dogs were out thick and made mooching practice pretty pointless. Lots of bait in the water and it sounded like the morning tide was very productive according to the checker.
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Guys, please please please start using all-around lights when fishing dawn patrol. Your headlamp isn't enough. Your fishfinder screen isn't enough. You might mistakenly think it is, but , speaking as a former kayak angler and current powerboater who also loves to get out at zero-dark thirty, and who has recently seen quite a few barely visible, completely unlit kayakers out by the green can at Shilshole, I promise you it's not. You need to be seen from all sides. It's a small investment that might save your life.