Favorite gear/method for Puget Sound area Pinks

Wouldn't a 2/0 hook be too big?  Somebody posted that you can only have a 1/2" hook gap, or did I read that wrong?

The only hook gap rules I'm aware of show up in the anti-snagging rules in some rivers - and then its 3/4".  Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but in Puget Sound, fishing for salmon, you can use as big a hook as you want, up to two single, barbless hooks.

It's an area-specific rule. I pulled the text directly from the pamphlet. Here's the link to the previous posts in the events section.

http://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=11363.30

elliot and commencement have two different rules and the anti snagging rule does not apply while trolling from a vessel.

So 2/0 no, but you did go 0/2,

IMO, a buzz bomb and a hoochie is too much junk.  I've found pinks to favor the simpler lures, plain small buzz bombs, sparse pink flies, and the pink jigs/hoochies.  I haven't had much success with pink spinners, some, but not much.  And I don't over work the gear, either a steady retrieve or a subtle twitch, but never full on jigging (I think you snag more this way).

-Allen

I knew a guy that swore by white marabou crappie jigs for pinks, but I think he was casting on a river.

For those of you that want to troll ... standard Puget Sound gear is an 8" white dodger, with a small pink hoochie 18-24" behind it, trolled slow (like 1.5 mph), run 0-60 feet deep, maybe as much as 80 depending on where the schools are. Shallow earlier in the day, progressing deeper as the day goes on.

-Allen

Pinks on the fly are so much more fun than gear! give it a go. Floating line, long leader and a pink weighted fly- slow twitches and strips- hold on,
Ben

Pinks on the fly are so much more fun than gear! give it a go. Floating line, long leader and a pink weighted fly- slow twitches and strips- hold on,
Ben

I have tried pinks on the fly, and in my opinion, using a light action trout rod with 10lb. test is much more fun. Reeling a little 1:1 gear ratio reel is annoying

Wouldn't a 2/0 hook be too big?  Somebody posted that you can only have a 1/2" hook gap, or did I read that wrong?

The only hook gap rules I'm aware of show up in the anti-snagging rules in some rivers - and then its 3/4".  Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but in Puget Sound, fishing for salmon, you can use as big a hook as you want, up to two single, barbless hooks.

I just got this e-mail from WDFW in response to an e-mail I sent them last week. Looks like all hooks regardless of fishing method have to meet the 1/2" rule during that time in Elliot Bay.

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Hopefully I can answer your question regarding the hook rules within the waters in Elliot Bay during August.  The rules state that only one hook with a size measuring ½ inches or less from point to shank, are barbless, and no bait may be used.  Thus, it is not permitted to fish any method, including trolling, with hooks larger than ½ inches; in addition only one hook may be used.  Starting September 1, regulations within Elliot Bay follow those of Marine Area 10 and hook size is not regulated.  Hope this clears things up.  Feel free to call or email me if you have more questions.

Ryan Lothrop
Puget Sound Recreational Salmon Fishery Manager
Fish Program\Fish Management Division
Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife
[email protected]
Work: 360.902.2808