Sunday Salmon opener in Richmond Beach 7/1/07

Well I've got almost everything ready for my first Salmon outing! Very very stoked!! So first, anyone who's down to join me, please feel free to come on down.

I'm going out tomorrow to Sabiki for Herring. They were jumping all day on Wed. so thought why buy when they're right there? I plan to be Mooching/Trooching with cut plug herring. I've done some research on mooching but it will be the first time for me so any pointers/advice is appreciated. Again, if can join it'd be great and afterward come by the abode for a beer! (Pole2 we need some more emoticons.. especially ones w/ beer... pleeeease 

Z

Good luck out there, Zeelander! Matching the hatch sounds like a good idea. Where are you going to launch at? Wish I was on that side of the mountains; I would join you.

Good luck out there, Zeelander! Matching the hatch sounds like a good idea. Where are you going to launch at? Wish I was on that side of the mountains; I would join you.

Thanks Pisco! I'm going to launch @ Richmond Beach which is in the Shoreline area. We'll hook up sometime soon Pisco, no worries.

I did get out today (Sat 6/30) and Sabiki'd up about 15 herring and they're in the brine now suggested by the boyz @ Salmon University. http://www.salmonuniversity.com/ol_brining_herring.html What a trippy concoction!! Not sure if it will help for tomorrow at all but I went to the Chittenden Locks today and watched the salmon. Looked mostly like medium size Red and Silvers. Even if it doesn't help, man it's pretty fun. The wife and I zoned out for about 30 min just watchin' all the action.

Lookin' like I'll get a late launch tomorrow because of the tide so I guess I'll be on the water about 5PM or so. By then the drift shouldn't be so fast. I'll be postin tomorrow whether I succeed or fail for the  day... let's hope for the former.

Z

Hey Z,

That launch at Richmond beach is a fairly easy put in. Its getting back up that ramp that will wear you out.  I usually put in at Picnic point (MA-9). Still has a ramp but it is much easier on your constitution.
You stand a good chance at hooking up with a humpie by mooching. Other species can be caught this way too but mostly trolling is the preferred method.
The salmon at the locks are most likely sockeye. The last count I saw was on the 26th and they were coming in at a rate of around 2 to 3 thousand/day. The count hasn't been updated since the 26th (as far as I can tell) and the expectation was pretty gloomy for a return large enough to have a season for fishing. Not sure of this, but I think they want 125,000 minimum to start a season.
Still, I can only hope they (WDFW) don't have a clear grasp on the fishery and the fish will prevail.

After the 16th I'll be trolling around MA-9. If there's no action close in I usually run a long paddle out to possession bank (75min). This is a much easier paddle if current is there to help. Usually the prevailing wind will push you all the way back. It's about the same length paddle from Richmond beach to Jefferson Head.

Kurt

Thanks for the info fishbyte. Plenty of good stuff I'm sure I'll use!

Went out yesterday and dragged plug cut herring for..... nada . Unfortunate but I wasn't expecting anything being the noob @ mooching. I did have a few take downs but it looks like my bait hooking could use some work, I reeled in bare hooks... Anyway it was a lot of fun and I was totally buzzing when I got my first takedown. Can't wait to hook, fight, and land one! I will be out many a time again!!! Beware Salmon!!!! 

Z

Hey Zee,
 a take down beats a long uneventful paddle 8 days a week! 

Here's a link to the Northwest standard hooking technique

http://www.pro-cure.com/technique.html#herring

And here's a Great Lakes approach:

http://www.lakemichiganangler.com/tips/bait_cutplug.htm

Never seen nor tried the Lake Michigan method, but it looks interesting.



Just a bit south of Marysville huh? Hmmm, I have some in-laws up that way that I may have to visit soon.

a take down beats a long uneventful paddle 8 days a week! 

Very true FFTW! It was a great time and I'm absolutely beat from all the paddling! Thanks for the links. Pretty interesting to see that the hook placement effects the roll too. And since the roll is most important of all aspects of plug cut mooching I'm gonna be studying!

Give us a post when you're in the woods and let's hit it up!

Z