Valdez Silvers Anyone?!

Something must be systematically wrong to lose that many consecutively. Especially since I know you can handle a setup.

What hook size and weight were you using?

I use 4/0 and 5/0.  Especially for the hook holding the herring.  Also it's hard to do without a hobie while mooching but when trolling, fight the urge to grab the rod immediately. When you see the rod dip, take a few strong strokes to set the hook with the weight and momentum of the kayak.

The final trick I use is to hang back the second hook when trolling , not mooching, back 12 inches or so. I'm always amazed how many are caught on the back hook.

Great report!! Tempted to go this weekend!!!!!  With silvers you can be doing everything right and still lose your share!!!

Thanks for sharing!!!


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At least you hung onto your sense of humor, like a good sportswoman will.  Valdez is our Plan B for the long weekend. We'll try to connect if we get out your way.




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If you are hooking and fighting fish before loosing them then something is very wrong.
With large barbed hooks hot coho should get anchored to the point it is hard to loose them. They are not soft mouthed feel free to put a lot of pressure on them.

What length rod are you using?

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I'm looking back on it.  I usually catch silvers pretty easy, that's why it was so frustrating. 

Here was my basic set-up:
  #5 hooks, sliding mooching rig
  Blue lable herring (all they had). 
  W&M king drifter w/30lb mono
  6 oz banana weight
  fishing @ approx. 25ft depth

I tried various things, 1)  letting it pull for 2-5 seconds before setting the hook, 2)  immediately setting the hook, 3) replacing the second hook with a treble, 4) trolling different hardware (didn't seem to like, they seem to prefer the drift approach); 5)  tried to let them exhaust themselves before trying to get them close to the boat; 6) trying to muscle them in.......nothing seemed to work.

I think maybe my rod needed more backbone to set the hook properly.  I usually use the rod for kings, so I figured it would work fine here...I guess not.  It is an 7.5-8ft medium action rod w/ alot give in the tip.  What do you guys think?

On a positive note, my new fishfinder (Huminbird 343c w/external transducer arm) set-up worked wonderfully.  As soon as it would mark fish near my rig depth, it wouldn't be a few seconds and boom here we go again.

I will probably head back down over the long weekend and catch the morning and evening floods.  I am determined to figure this out and catch one (or more)!

My experience though I've had others say they are ok is "Never use the sliding rigs."  Also ALWAYS tie your own. I've had too many of the store bought pre tied ones fail.


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Well, the rigs were not "failing".  I basically used the same rig most of the time, with no breakage.  I like the sliding rig because I can vary the bend in the herring to produce the right "roll".   I have made my own before with about the same success as the store bought ones.  At this point, I'll make my self another, if I thought it might help me land those fish.

Also thinking about bringing a net with me next time.  I have one, but I think it is entirely too big.  Gonna see if I can find a smaller/cheaper one.

Its been so long since I swore off the slider rigs.  Do they slip once the fish is on? The only difference I see in the setups run are the slider rigs.  Maybe the hook sets are not sufficient.  I used to have that issue fishing silvers on my ultralight.  Just could not get a hook set using 4 pound line and 3/0 hooks.  I'd play them for a while and the hook would just "fall out"    Switched to much thinner hooks and problem solved...though I still like the larger hooks for herring, especially green and blue packs.

I typically run thirty and forty pound flourocarbon for even for silvers.  Behind a flasher or dodger the thicker line imparts more action and the flourocarbon seems pretty invisible so I'm not worried about it being line shy.  Until last weekend I could say I have never broken off a salmon from my kayak...but a silver ran my line through my rudder and it broke off. 

Hoping to get there this labor day weekend.  Not sure which day but its looking like Sunday night Monday morning.

Well I went out this morning and was able land the 2 that I hooked!  Not many jumpers as last weekend.  Not much action around the docks either.  Most boats are heading to gold creek.  I haven't because Deke is with me.  I gonna give it another shot this afternoon for a couple more.  Saw 3 other kayak fishermen, which was exciting.  Two headed for gold creek, while me and another hung around the docks and that rocky ledge.

Way to go! Did you do anything very differently this week?

Silvers? Check
Berries? Check
Moose/boo?

Have a great long weekend. Thanks for the report.

Nice!!! Way to get them. Was one of the guys in a hobie sport?

I'm hoping to be down Sunday late afternoon. Will be trying from ferry dock out to gold cr until I hit fish.

Thanks for the update!!!


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AkFishergal:  The question is what did I not change.     j used a shorter/stouter rod, a non-slip double hook bait rig, and a 4oz banana weight.  Haven't picked any more berries yet.  Still haven't gotten a moose/bou.  The bou this aren't on the east side in appreciable numbers (not worried, it's a long season).  Moose hunting will continue to improve as the 20th comes, so not too worried about that either (plus I'm taking the entire last week off to go get a moose).

Kardinal:  I was able to make it out to Gold creek, lots of jumpers.  The fish seemed to like a fairly fast cruising speed with a flasher.  I lost a couple because 1) I had too big of weight trying to keep it at depth going that fast; and, 2) my stout rod was a little short for both leaders.  After that, I just stuck with banana weights and herring.  Good luck on Sunday, I may see you out there.  I'm not sure if it was a hobie or not, I just know they all were yellow.  I thought they might be OKs.

Getting prepped. Unless work gets in the way. ETA is hopefully around 3pm. 


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Got here late. fished three hours. 4 takedowns. One landed. Argh.  I know how crv83 felt. Though I never fought any of the ones I lost. Rod would throb, on two the downrigger released. Hmmm....

Hopefully it's better in the morning!!!


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Ok after a one for four day. A little redemption. Went 10 for 10. Kept 6. Wish I had more time. Went all the way to gold creek. 5+ miles one way. But once there, easy limit. Took less than 2 hours once I got out there.  More time dealing with netted fish then fishing. Herring behind a flasher for most. Also caught a few on Blue 6 vibrax. Mainly on downrigger fished 25 to 35 ft down in less than 80 ft of water.  Some of the fish had started to blush. Meat was firm and good the ones I cut.  Three were at 30 inches.






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wow! nice haul Rudy! sounds you guys are hammering them up there pretty good!