Set up for salmon

For what its worth, I went out about 6 or so miles from the Grays Harbor entrance in late August with a friend in his Zodiac a few years back, into about 200 feet of water, and mooched with a herring only 15 feet down with a 3 oz. banana sinker, and we couldn't keep the Coho off the hook. I even brought a 5' Blue Shark alongside the boat. Surface temp was about 60 degrees F.
Then he ran us out of gas , but that's another story.

Hey!@!!  I wanna hear the rest of the story!!

Uhhh, Its rather long and detailed, because my "friend" turned out to be so much more of an idiot than I ever could have imagined, before our misadventure. He was a decent surfer, and worked as a teacher, so I assumed he would know what he was doing and be prepared.
But then again, I failed to dig deeper when that "little voice" said "Hmmmm, boat could be equipped a little better."

"Where's the spare gas can?" I asked. Cean had just pulled up to the ramp, towing his 14'  Zodiac with a new looking Yamaha 40 on it, and I was checking out his setup.

"Its in the box under the seat bench," my friend, Cean, said.

"O.K. Just askin, as I didn't see one." And I remember hoping his 40 hp Yami 2-stroke was running well, as he had no kicker, but I didn't want to be so rude as to ask. Some guys I know might be insulted by such a question.

I should have made Cean open the seat so I could see it. I assumed it was 2.5 gallons, as the box would hold a gas can of that size, and that would be the minimum size for an emergency. His main tank was 6 gallons, and I feel that one should always think of 1/3 of the total fuel supply as "extra" that is not intended to be used except if things go awry. Then it would be less than 2 gallons to get out fishing, no more than 2 gallons to use while fishing, and 2 to get back to port without having to get into the emergency spare supply. Right. Uh-Huh.

It was a hot summer day, with very light variable to SW wind, and the ocean was nearly flat, with 1' -2' short period swells, and the surface water about as warm as it gets, around 60 F. Absolutely balmy conditions. What could go wrong?

There was no marine radio on board. He had his cell phone, which he claimed was "good enough." (Uhhh, who ya gonna call?) We had a flare gun and three flares, beers, sports drinks, water, and lunches. I had a gortex parka along, in case it got breezy. I wore the hot-orange flotation vest he loaned me.
Looked to be a nice sunny day of fishing for Coho, in the gentlest of conditions, and it
started out that way.

Heading out over the bar, we were cruising the flat water in the wake of a charter boat, and then Cean announced that he wanted to be away from the charter fleet. He said he had heard that the fish were running shallow below the surface, but out about 6 miles where it was at least 200' deep. Cean changed course and we headed northwest. Sitting in the bow and facing the stern, I could see Ocean Shores fade and disappear, and we could no longer see the beach or any land below the foothills of the Olympics.

Finally, there were no other boats in sight, and Cean cut the engine and we baited our hooks and started mooching. Rather, at first I baited the hooks.  Cean knew not how to properly rig a herring, be it a cut-plug or whole. He was actually going to run the top hook through the middle of the herring's back and just let it hang under a pyramid sinker while he drifted and mooched.  I loaned him a banana sinker and re-rigged him up properly, with a whole herring, as its less messy than doing a cutplug. (This rigging "red flag" was a little late in coming, and I tried to ignore it).

"to be continued..."

Shopping with bsteves this weekend and picked up (and put down) an Okuma rod that would fit a beginners budget and Zee's criteria for an slammon rod. Two-piece 8.5' soft tip with a very substantial backbone, and it had short butt grip which I find easier to manage while seated. $30.


CHM: so what happend next!?!?!

Finally a story that I can't relate to! (and be wary of teachers)

Shopping with bsteves this weekend and picked up (and put down) an Okuma rod that would fit a beginners budget and Zee's criteria for an slammon rod. Two-piece 8.5' soft tip with a very substantial backbone, and it had short butt grip which I find easier to manage while seated. $30.

Sounds like a good find. Any specifics in case others want to give it a look? Wouldn't happen to be the Classic Pro GLT CPDR862M would it? The great thing about some of Okuma's trolling rods is that they have variable length rear grips.

Z

damn, shoulda followed ya'll to the store. where'd you find that? I may be running into Portland this weekend.

Shopping with bsteves this weekend and picked up (and put down) an Okuma rod that would fit a beginners budget and Zee's criteria for an slammon rod. Two-piece 8.5' soft tip with a very substantial backbone, and it had short butt grip which I find easier to manage while seated. $30.


CHM: so what happend next!?!?!

Finally a story that I can't relate to! (and be wary of teachers)

We went to Joe's and Fishermen's Marine in Delta Park.   I think Wali saw the cheap rods at Joe's, but Fishermen's is having some good deals as well.

As for the model, I think they were the Okuma Classic Pros..
http://www.okumafishing.com/products/rods/classicpro.htm

Online you can find these for about $25-$30 as well.
http://www.miklurchtackle.com/index.php?productID=84

For another reasonably priced Salmon mooching/trolling rod check the Shimano TDR series. They run about $30 retail.

http://fish.shimano.com/publish/content/global_fish/en/us/index/products/rods/trolling/TDR.html

Z

For an unreasonably priced salmon set up you can get what I just treated myself to this past weekend (the result of a trade plus some mad money I've been saving)

Lamiglas XCF864 rod and a Shimano Tekota 500 LC.

By far the most expensive set up I own... at least according to the Lamiglas motto, I'll get to "Fish with confidence".

Lamiglas XCF864 rod and a Shimano Tekota 500 LC.

That is a pimp set up. All you need now is the Tani drag upgrade.
For those who don't know check: www.alantani.com

at least according to the Lamiglas motto, I'll get to "Fish with confidence".

Z

I have a bunch of lamiglass rods and they are great, but the lifetime warranty doesn't cover "damage under normal use"   I have sent rods back that I figured would be fixed for free only to get the call that I get a new section for X amount or a whole new rod for Y.  Granted both X & Y are much cheaper than the new replacement cost but my understanding of "Lifetime Guarantee" and theirs is a little different.  I still buy and love using their products but now just look at their Guarantee  with both eyes open.  I just picked up a heavy bouncer for lings just last week

I have heard that about the Lamiglas guarantee.   I'm not that familiar with the GLoomis' guarantee, are they a bit more generous?

I have heard that about the Lamiglas guarantee.   I'm not that familiar with the GLoomis' guarantee, are they a bit more generous?

I've only returned/ had friends return rods after some kind of tragedy (car doors etc.) but have heard from the boyz @ Outdoor Emporium that they're pretty good about it. Would like to hear from someone else's experience.

Z

cool, thanks for the info.

Bryce, I busted a rod tip on my fairly new Lamiglas Salmon Moocher, sent it to them and they sent me a nice new tip, gratis.

   I have another pricey Lami rod, the Kenai Killer, with a bad tip guide, sending it in this week.