Lost fish on BuzzBombs

What Zee said---use the 2" pink or holo, let it slide.   There's so many pinks right now, you can lose 4 out of 5 and still  take a limit home!

Another 2 pinks at Richmond Beach yesterday morning launching as the fog lifted at 9am.  Low tide was at 10:15AM.  If I had boated everything I hooked I would have limited in about 30 minutes casting to jumpers.  At one point I really thought they would jump into the boat.  I caught two and hooked over a dozen using Buzz-Bombs pinned in one way or the other, beads, toothpicks, and split shot.  The ONLY thing they were hitting was the 2-1/2 pink bomb, not the 3L pink bomb, not any size holographic, chartreuse, nor white.  Obviously pinning the bomb made no difference in my catch versus hooked ratio. 

Until about noon when the fog and clouds were completely lifted they were jumping everywhere.  After that and until about 2pm the fish were still there, but not biting, nor jumping often.  I was targeting one side or the other of tide seams in 75 to 600 FOW.  Action must be similar off Shilshole. 

Is this just the nature of barbless single hooks on bombs and salmon?  I never had this problem casting from shore in rivers like the Sno.  I am using 2/0 Gamakatsu Octopus hooks on the 2-1/2 bombs.  Too big?  Too small?  I am using a palomar knot to the hook which is tight and can allow the hook to rotate into a funky angle.  I am going to trying snelling the hook which should hold the hook straight back.  I'll also try a surgeon's knot to create a tiny loop allowing the hook to rotate freely. 

Let me try a different angle on this one.  What type of rod are you using?  And what size line?

-Allen

I am using 2/0 Gamakatsu Octopus hooks on the 2-1/2 bombs.

I'd use a siwash. I've always felt they have a more positive hookset on jigs. Ditto Pole on the pole.

Z

I am using 2/0 Gamakatsu Octopus hooks on the 2-1/2 bombs.

I'd use a siwash. I've always felt they have a more positive hookset on jigs. Ditto Pole on the pole.

Z

I didn't catch that on the octo hooks.  Ditch those ... I don't like the bend on the eye.  Ditto Zee on the Siwash ...

-Allen

Two tidbits of advice. 1. Do NOT set the hook. Pinks have soft mouths and jerking will open up the hook hole and it will be easier for the hook to come out. 2. Keep your drag loose. If the fish wants to run, let it run.

Z

Do NOT set the hook. Pinks have soft mouths and and jerking will open up the hook hole and it will be easier for the hook to come out.

Z

That's really good info.  Wonder why nobody ever mentioned that before.  All you ever hear/read is "Set the hook"

Question, on the part about loose drag and letting the fish run:  Does this put Flouro and Braid lines at a disadvantage because they have no stretch, or is the stretch factor minimal enough that it wouldn't matter?

That's really good info.  Wonder why nobody ever mentioned that before.  All you ever hear/read is "Set the hook"

Question, on the part about loose drag and letting the fish run:  Does this put Flouro and Braid lines at a disadvantage because they have no stretch, or is the stretch factor minimal enough that it wouldn't matter?

So much info to cover it's crazy. One step at a time. Yes, using fluoro or braid does put you at a disadvantage. The more mono line you have out the more stretch there is. Mono is the best. Others will also work but you'll need a noodlier rod.

Z

This is great information, thanks.  I'll switch to siwash hooks on Saturday.  My natural tendency is to use a light drag and let them run, so I'll go back to concentrating on that rather than experimenting. 

I am using 20# PowerPro with about a 3 foot 20# mono leader on an 8' Berkeley AIR IM-7 medium rod.  The rod used to be 8'6" but the tip broke off and I cut it back to the eye so it's now probably a medium+.  I like the action better now than when it was 8'6".  Using a Shimano  Spheros 4000 spinning reel.

This is great information, thanks.  I'll switch to siwash hooks on Saturday.  My natural tendency is to use a light drag and let them run, so I'll go back to concentrating on that rather than experimenting. 

I am using 20# PowerPro with about a 3 foot 20# mono leader on an 8' Berkeley AIR IM-7 medium rod.  The rod used to be 8'6" but the tip broke off and I cut it back to the eye so it's now probably a medium+.  I like the action better now than when it was 8'6".  Using a Shimano  Spheros 4000 spinning reel.

Try going with straight 10-12 pound mono on that rod.  Let the stretch of the mono do its thing.  If you're casting this rod, you'll have less problems with spectra tip wrapping as well.

-Allen

This is great info, thanks guys, I'm making some changes on my gear today...

This would make a great article.  If some of you all want to get some pics of your rigs and fish, I can slap one together.

-Allen

Would a long Loomis pole make up for the stretch lost if you use braid line? 

Try going with straight 10-12 pound mono on that rod.  Let the stretch of the mono do its thing.  If you're casting this rod, you'll have less problems with spectra tip wrapping as well.

Suggestion well taken.  I have an identical reel I can wind tonight with mono.  I'll probably go with 14 lb because I have a bunch of it.  Yes, if one is not careful the spectra can be a pain at the tip.  Until this year I would tip the braid with about 30' of mono joined with a uni-uni splice smoothed with super-glue.  Maybe I'll put the mono on the other reel and again tip the braid reel with mono, but try a surgeon's knot splice instead of the uni-uni.  Use both reels and see what happens.  Guess I need another identical rod

This is great, y'all have jogged my thinking out of the rut.  Thanks.

Would a long Loomis pole make up for the stretch lost if you use braid line? 

Sure.  And it would be a lot of fun too.  Something like a 10.5' float rod?

-Allen