Conflicting Info on Trolling for Puget Sound Coho

Going to be spending a couple days in the sound pounding the bottom for weird flatfish and perch to bolster the big fishing year species count but thought I might also try and target some Coho. Never trolled for coho in the sound but it sounds like they run deeper than they do off the OR/WA coast. Recommendations I have seen are conflicting though.

One school of thought seems to be to start at 35-60' and troll at 3-3.5 mph with a dodger/hoochie. The other seems to be a slower troll with a flash and cut plug bait at 1-20'. I'd love to hear some thoughts on whats worked for you. I am also going to bring some small pink iron jigs and try horizontal jigging as well purely for its simplicity.

What works is fishing in the ocean and NOT the Puget Sound right now. Coho will hit almost anything. I've caught them on trout Apex lures, spinners, spoons and just about everything. Herring in almost any form is a favorite but the most important thing is to put it in front of them and since the majority are no in the PS yet that makes catching them very difficult. I'd say you're a week or a month early for the Coho run they are out in the ocean gorging on the herring supply out there. They have no reason to come into the PS where the bait is sparse at best.

Silvers now in MA 9, heading toward 10.

Dude I'll tell you first hand without motor or pedal,  trolling for these suckers is hard. 3mph on the hootchie setups. Is brute on the arms if paddled.  I make it for less then 1 1/2 hours.  Plugs are a little different less speed and they still have solid action.  Early am is best bet for us yakers,  make sure you have a light though,  no ones looking for a Guy fishing in a kayak even in the day. I just vertical jig and cast and jig. Not as effective. But if you find some suuspended bait you willhook up.. give it another two weeks.  And it will be alot easier.

And if you get bored enough,  break out the light action and fish flounder and cutthroat. Its a hell of a lott of fun.

Coho are not the primary target and I wouldn't drive to Puget Sound just for coho. I was just looking for something new to try. I do have a pile of pink and holographic iron jigs and buzz bombs to try too.

What works is fishing in the ocean and NOT the Puget Sound right now. Coho will hit almost anything. I've caught them on trout Apex lures, spinners, spoons and just about everything. Herring in almost any form is a favorite but the most important thing is to put it in front of them and since the majority are no in the PS yet that makes catching them very difficult. I'd say you're a week or a month early for the Coho run they are out in the ocean gorging on the herring supply out there. They have no reason to come into the PS where the bait is sparse at best.

Guess it's strange that I saw you at Shilshole today with fish in your boat that are not supposed to be here.

Caught 5 so far this week. But 4 came from miles north of Shilshole. This one today on a trout Apex no flasher no weight. They are tough to find you need to cover ground or get lucky and be in the right place when they come up to feed.

Thanks for the update Yaktrap - went out there earlier today launching at the public beach by the lodge and it was very windy and choppy. Did mark some fish on the finder. After seeing a sailboat tip over and surveying the boat with no one around we called it in, luckily the sailor got some help and they were able to tow and right the sailboat back.

Perseverance pays off. See you all out there tomorrow.

Mooching for coho can be effective and is a good alternative to trolling. Esp when you are outta gas.

David and I went 3/6 out of shilshole today. 2 clipped 1 nate. Irish Creme kingfisher, rainbow hoochie spinner, & cut plug herring all produced fish. Troll speed 1.5 to 3 mph depending on head or tail wind. Fish were scattered and between 20' and 45'.

Got a salmon on my birthday...life is good.

Also if you don't like the drag or the weights you could troll an Ace Hi-Fly across the top of the water. Paddle fast enough to make it skip once in a while (probably between 3-4 mph). I think doing this in a kayak works better than a boat because our speed can be sporadic, which drives the fish crazy. It can be a lot of fun with a trout rod too!