Gear? Techniques? Both?? Can't get a nibble even from pinks...

I know that one giant factor is having time spent with butt on the water, but even so, it'd be nice to try the 'catching' part rather than just the 'fishing' part with all these millions of pinks allegedly in the Sound...  So, since I have yet to get so much as a nibble, even when sitting in the middle of a leaping school of baitfish at the river mouth right near tide change, I am asking you expert types about my gear and techniques...

Gear:  I've got 3 rigs I have tried:

(1) an old (30+yr?) Shimano trolling rod, an equally old Daiwa saltwater level wind reel w/ 20-lb mono.  Terminal gear has been mostly the inline weight + flasher + various lures

(2) an old Shakespeare trout rod and spinning reel (from my long-departed high school days), 10-lb mono.  Terminal gear has been jigs, hoochies, buzz bombs, Dog only knows what else

(3) an old Shakespeare kids rod (4 1/2 ft Sturdy Stick) with a new $15 Zebco spincast reel on it, 8-lb mono and using it to cast jigs

Boat is a 12' Elie, paddled, no fish finder or GPS, with Scotty rod holder.

When trolling, I have to guess at my speed over the water, I try to keep it at a moderate pace (3 sec or so for the boat to pass an object), but without line counter I'm also estimating the depth and distance for the lure (and badly, I suspect).  I've tried going along and across the 'mixing' line in front of the Puyallup River, along the waterfront, both out in deeper waters and in close to shore.  Tried an assortment of lures on the terminal end, the squid hoochie shown, the spoon, and some others.

I have also used the kids rod and the old trout rod and tried casting lures of various sorts.  The kids rod I have used only to toss the small jig - mostly in shallow water, in the middle of a school of leaping baitfish, along the mix line, in and around pilings where others were catching, etc.

The trout rod, I've also done the casting jigs, buzz bombs, hoochies with enough sliding sinker weight to get a cast, etc.  I have also tried slow trolling with a bit of weight and the hoochie shown as I was going from place to place. 

I have sat and cast various pink and purple and shiny and herring-scented lures at the fish, tossed them right in front of leaping pinks, and never gotten even a nibble, let alone a strike or actually hooking something. 

So, someone said on another thread that they had heard "If you can't catch pinks you shouldn't bother fishing" (or something similar).  I'm feeling like that's me.  I have gotten out on the water as much as I can, and it's pretty darn discouraging to spend 5-6 hrs out there and have your only catch of the day be a frickin' PCB-laden flounder that has 13 eyes and probably glows at night...

Should I start buying herring and use that instead of lures?  This whole "they bite pink stuff" ain't been happening, and I know the fish are down there just laughing at me.

Jim

I'm by far no expert but found that two years of fishing with a friend that is VERY good at putting salmon on his boat. Mooching rig high a plug cut herring ( if your not good at or don't have a plug cutting board) use a dicks sure spin helmet, coat in procure bring different flavors, five feet behind a flasher, 3-4 ft shock leader ( pending pole length), sliding weight dropper, 12-18 inch drop loop with what ever size weight keeps you at 45* angle at the speed your trolling....... Start the troll drop the rig carefully to prevent tangle till it bumps bottom wait a few seconds till it " catches" the troll speed then drop till it bumps and crank it up two turns and troll..... If the rod bends over the paddle fast let the fish hook him self, once line is pealing off grab on hold tight enjoy the ride and try to tire the thing without loosing it and net........ It sounds easy but it's not
JUST DON'T GIVE UP ON IT.

Without a fish finder, how do you know that your tackle is in the zone for fish-catching?  I'm just asking because I have never fished for pinks in the sound, so I don't know how to do it.  Seems a little like kokanee fishing to me -- first you need to find the fish and then make sure your tackle gets right in front of them....that's just to even get a shot at enticing one to bite.  Estimating your lure position is probably fine if you do the math on the scope angle of line and count pulls.  Trolling speed can definitely play a part between bite or no bite.  Sometimes fish like erratic speeds, some species like consistent speeds and a very narrow range.  Perhaps your rods are inducing or dampening the action of the lure -- I don't know what pinks like.

Knowing what the fish will bite is always a guess -- you can have the same exact gear as another guy and not get bit.  Don't let that discourage you, find out what someone else has used and copy it.  If I knew someone that was catching, i would ask to physically borrow their entire setup.   I get desperate.  Then, it will come down to time and technique...

It's getting a little late in the season to regularly pick them up in that area. The jig you pictured would be my choice of the three. Target water 2-20' deep. I like to sit in 10-15 FOW and cast towards the shore line off Browns or Dash Point. If you see schools or jumpers cast about 15' in front of the direction you think they are traveling. Maintain a slow steady retrieve with a slight twitch. A little shrimp stank is good too, but only apply it to the head of jigs tied with natural materials. Otherwise it'll stop them from flaring and kinda slick it down. Here are a few jigs I tied for pinks this year, and my son and I caught on all of them. That's a 3/8oz head. I wish you luck, but if it doesn't happen for you, remember this info in 2017 [emoji6]

Thanks Polyangler for spoiling the fun with sound fishing advice.  For a moment there I really thought this topic was for Oregonians who wanted to give advice on catching pink salmon.  I had a few great ideas almost written up, but now what's the point?   

If anyone from Alaska wants to know how to catch sablefish, just let me know.  I've got some good ideas.

Thanks Polyangler for spoiling the fun with sound fishing advice.  For a moment there I really thought this topic was for Oregonians who wanted to give advice on catching pink salmon.  I had a few great ideas almost written up, but now what's the point?   

If anyone from Alaska wants to know how to catch sablefish, just let me know.  I've got some good ideas.

Hey I resemble that remark!
I seen herring mentioned and that's how I roll!
Come down here and grabs some chinook.

Damn...Sorry Brian! What I meant to say was troll blue label herring at 3.5mph against the current, and tipping your hooks with jellyfish tenicals will give you an unfair advantage over most!

Yeah yeah, so I shoulda kept that flounder and cut him up into glow in the dark bait strips... 

I did figure it was running out as far as pinks go, but I am lucky to get out once a week, so I take what trips I can get.  Same results since the Humpy Classic. 

More seriously, I will look at getting set up for herrings and do some more reading up as I can make time. 

Jim

Yeah yeah, so I shoulda kept that flounder and cut him up into glow in the dark bait strips... 

I did figure it was running out as far as pinks go, but I am lucky to get out once a week, so I take what trips I can get.  Same results since the Humpy Classic. 

More seriously, I will look at getting set up for herrings and do some more reading up as I can make time. 

Jim

don't use herring if you want to catch pinks. listen to polyangler's advice. it's as good as it gets.

  I also think BB2fish hit it on the head bout location...

  You can't catch fish if they aren't where you're fishin'.

  After you work an area over and have no results--- go try someplace else.
  Thousands of fish might be just a hundred yards away. Seek and destroy...

  All of the tackle you listed will work for pinks. Make sure your line is fresh .
  Don't want to use 10 year old mono.

  If you can't catch any pinks up there------ come down to the Willapa River.
  This fishery is just turning on in the upper stretches and will be improving as time and a little rain bring fish in. Liberal limits down here and "higher" quality fish. At least better than nasty ol'e pinks. Lots of water to learn if you have never fished here.

  Mark

Yeah yeah, so I shoulda kept that flounder and cut him up into glow in the dark bait strips... 

I did figure it was running out as far as pinks go, but I am lucky to get out once a week, so I take what trips I can get.  Same results since the Humpy Classic. 

More seriously, I will look at getting set up for herrings and do some more reading up as I can make time. 

Jim

don't use herring if you want to catch pinks. listen to polyangler's advice. it's as good as it gets.

Yep, I will be.  The herring would be for after pink season.  😊

Mark, I do change locations.  Evidently not to the right ones though 😏 Would love to come down there, just have to carve out some time from that dang job thing.

Jim

I can't argue with what Mark is saying about the Willapa. There are TONS of fish near Washaway Beach right now. Picked up this bit of sexy chrome yesterday. Would have caught more for certain if it weren't so weedy. Marked a bunch, but my gear was fouled with in the first 10' each time I deployed it...

  Weeds are the main reason I don't spend much time fishing Willapa Bay . Too many weeds. Hell, I'd rather drive 46 miles and fish the Colombia than fight the weeds in Willapa Bay.
   Up-river but still in tidewater is a different story............... some leaves to deal with...... but manageable. And I will be putting in at Ward Creek with my buddy from California on Friday. Picked up a few new spinners at Englunds in Astoria today and I am ready to rock.
   As I mentioned in an earlier post--- this rain will be binging a lot of fish up all coastal rivers. If you are wanting some salmon--- be there-- whatever creek that might be. The salmon will be running up-river. Pick a river and make it happen. Take your pick of tackle-- most anything will work.... But be on the water.

  Couple of side notes :
   Seiners are working below the Astoria bridge
   Gill nets will be coming in a lot of coastal rivers
   Gill nets are in the Chehalis now.
   
 Go fishing for salmon this weekend. Get some quality fish in the coastal streams. Pink salmon are not quality fish unless you get them in the salt.

  Another creek that has great potential is the Copalis River. It can be lights out-- with no pressure at all. Just sayin'/...........