June 8, Deception Pass with The Riddler

Thanks Guys. That works out great. I look forward to this trip and it will be the highlight. 

Just thought you would like to see what a 5kt ebb current looks like in the Pass so I'll put one up on my web site that I took today at 11:02 AM.  I'll also post some pictures of both launch sites and maybe a map of the area.

I talked to a park ranger today and the Open at 6:30AM sign for Bowman is bogus.  They leave it unlocked 7X24, but just close one half to discourage folks that have no business going down there after hours.  Some State Parks really enforce the hours of operation, but aparently not at Bowman.  Looks like we have a choice no matter what time you want to launch.

The long term forcast for Oak Harbor on the 8th is partly cloudy with a high of 63 and low of 51.  Can't really rely on anything that far off, but it sure sounds decent anyway.

Here is a link to my web site:  http://216.168.128.150/

One of these days I'll break down and bind a domain name to it, but it's free this way and I only use it for my pics.....  I should have them posted sometime tonight.  They will be on the Kayak Fishing page and just click on the thumbnail to get a larger picture with explanations etc... 

Gary

Thanks for the pictures Gary. What an outstanding area! Beautiful and I am sure full of rocky structure. You sure you don't have Striped Bass up there yet? 

It is really rocky and with the currents you tend to lose a few rigs.  I think there are stripers somewhere in the state, but I've never seen any caught.  Pretty cold water.  I have caught a few in the Sacramento River and they fish the heck out of them in the San Francisco Bay area.

Here is a link to a Topo map of where we are going:  http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?z=10&n=5361578.00019035&e=525971&datum=nad83

Just need to select "Large Map" and "Update" and you'll see where we're going to be launching and fishing.

Gary

Gary,

Can you tell us a little about what your terminal rigging will be to fish this area?

-Allen

Allen & Jeff,

Terminal rig kind of depends on where I'm fishing (depth) and what I'm fishing out of.  In deep water and out of a "normal" fishing boat, I'll use a spreader rig with a 3' leader and double hook herring rig.  I've used wire leaders in deep water cause Ling are pretty toothy critters and will wear out mono when you're pulling up a 40 pounder from 200' .  They'll also wear you out    The best bait I've found is a 5 lb. quillback rockfish.  I can't tell you how many times I've hooked a rockfish and had my line just stop coming in about 20 feet off the bottom.  You just nurse a dead weight up and find your 5 lb. rockfish crosswise in a big lings jaws.  I've probabley netted 20 or so this way without even putting a hook in them.  They hang on like bulldogs and go nuts when you put them in the net cause all they have been doing is taking an elevator to the surface    Sometimes they even bring along a friend and I've netted two fish (3 if you count the quillback)  They get confused up on the surface and just seem to hang there for awhile sometimes.  Ya snooze, Ya loose!  Fishing won't be this good on the 8th, but we can dream can't we?

I've tried to go lighter when fishing out of the Prowler.  I'll be using a double hook herring rig tied as a dropper with a two foot leader and between 1 & two ounces of weight.  In deeper water I'll use 3 or 4 oz crecent sinkers and a 4" double hook herring rig.  I tie the leaders myself and usually will go against logic and make the leader heavier than my 17 lb test line.  Did I say these are toothy critters    I know you have plenty of experience catching lingcod Allen and I'm looking forward to learning all I can from you.  If I hook a greenling I do tend to pull him up a few feet off the bottom and let him send out fishy distress signals just in case there is a bigger toothier guy in the area.....

This might be my first trip out if that truck bed rig doesn't get here till the last minute.  I'll start getting stuff together next week and tie up some rigs this weekend just in case though.

Gary

I know you have plenty of experience catching lingcod Allen and I'm looking forward to learning all I can from you.  If I hook a greenling I do tend to pull him up a few feet off the bottom and let him send out fishy distress signals just in case there is a bigger toothier guy in the area.....

Gary, you are too modest.  Since you posted that link to your pictures site, I see all the lingzillas you've caught.  Nice job!!

Anyway, here's a pic of what's currently at the top of my tackle "bucket". 

Top ... Salas 6X in scrambled egg color and a 2" B2 Squid in glow as a dressing.
Middle ... motor oil curly tail worm, skirted.
Bottom .... big ol' pearl swimbait.

All of these caught nice lings at Sombrio a few weeks back.  I'll usually reach for the middle one first.  Unless I have a live greenling, then that takes top honors.  Color preferences are motor oil, black, whites, dark green, and sometimes lime green (usually on a suspended school).  Everything gets tipped with a strip of bait, squid being the preference.

-Allen

Looks like 9" Slug-go's will work there jigged off the bottom. I bring Kalins Jig heads 1oz-3oz and 7 1/2"-9" Sluggos. The ling will tear em apart but it's all good. Do you use wire for the lings teeth or do you use heavier mono or flouro?

I've used a rig just like the one in the middle of your picture Allen.  Got my rack in and installed today and we're ready to rock & roll.  I might get a chance to test fish the area early next week.  It'll give me a chance to catch all the big ones before the pros get here Thurs. morning   

Hey Riddler...  I'm just palnning on using heavier mono for the leader.  I hate messing with wire unless I'm bringing them up from 200' or so.  Just visited a buddy who went out the week after lingcod opened and only lost one big fish.  I'ts been kinda slow around the Pass, but maybe you'll bring us some luck.  There are a couple of rock-piles over by Ft. Casey that have been producing, but you are too exposed to the wind, and tides are too strong for us to get out there and fish.  Even if conditions were right, it's a much longer drive back to the airport in Bellingham.

Gary 

I have some short leader wires or flouro. Looks like the depths in front of the bridge are not very deep. I love that drop off on the other side!

Ya, that dropoff probabley has a very high lead & steel content from all of us that have sacrificed terminal rigs to the fish god    You could use a metal detector to find it instead of a fish finder....  Lingcod will usually make one or two hard runs for the bottom when first hooked and if you survive those, he'll make a few more at the boat.  If you can get them up the first 10' or so, you stand a much better chance at landing them.

Gary 

Gary,

I am also looking for something to do or see during the late afternoon hours into the night on Tuesday and Wed. Looking to stay within the Bellingham/Ferndale area. I have no objection to wetting a line in the freshwater area's for LMB etc. or watching a Minor League Baseball team play. Any ideas?

Thanks

Jeff

Wish I could help you Jeff, but I haven't ever fished that neck of the woods.  I have spent plenty of time up near Mt. Baker climbing and hiking into high lakes for trout, but have done nothing in the lowlands.  The Mariners farm team used to be based there and I've attended games in Bellingham, but they have moved down to Everett.  I'm not even sure if they have a team up there now.  Both my kids graduated from Western Washington University in Bellingham and we spent plenty of time up there, but never fishing.  Maybe you can lean on the folks at OK to give you some local tips.  Gotta be some fishermen in that group.

LMB?

Gary

Well, I went to WWU, too many years ago, and know some of those waters.

Assuming LMB are the goal, and bankfishing is the method, I would recommend Wiser Lake. It's NE of Ferndale and due N of Bellingham, on State Highway 539. In fact, the highway crosses/splits the lake on a causeway. I would carefully walk out on the mats of reeds to get near the water. A float tube would be great out here.

If you have access to a boat, Lake Terrell is closer to Ferndale (just due west). A bigger lake, I didn't fish it much cause as a starving college student I didn't have a boat. It does have a reputation for jumbo fish, so I would be very tempted by it.

Here's an Acme Mapper showing the area, and the lakes- http://mapper.acme.com/?lat=48.33902&long=-124.669&scale=14&theme=Topo&width=4&height=3&dot=Yes


Good Luck!

Thanks Pisco. I just found I am fishing Wed. so I will just sight see on Tuesday.

Gary and Allen, where can we meet on Thursday? I will have my cell with me: 617-448-5653 I can also buzz you guys. I am staying at the Hampton Inn 3985 Bennett Ave Bellingham 360-676-7700. Just ask for me, Jeffrey Lopez and they will connect to room. I can score a map for a local meeting place.