Downriggger Mooching

I thought up a new way (I think) to mooch/troll with the downrigger. Since you mooch or troll with the current, I was thinking. On a good flood hook up a cut plug herring with a Konezone on the downrigger. Deploy the DR with your bow facing into the current, and using the current to turn the flasher, and plug cut herring. Then just paddle enough to to to keep your bow into the current, but not quite enough to hold your place so that you slowly back troll.

Does that Konezone produce much drag? Do you think it could be done without the downrigger? Maybe, using a slip sinker with a 4 or 5 oz cannonball? Might have to try this the next time we head out to Chambers.

Kone Zone has almost no drag at all.  You could incorporate it into this setup http://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php/page,33.html#tp-comment

I thought up a new way (I think) to mooch/troll with the downrigger. Since you mooch or troll with the current, I was thinking. On a good flood hook up a cut plug herring with a Konezone on the downrigger. Deploy the DR with your bow facing into the current, and using the current to turn the flasher, and plug cut herring. Then just paddle enough to to to keep your bow into the current, but not quite enough to hold your place so that you slowly back troll.

We call that TROOCHING!!!   

Konzone without DR ... attach it directly to a diver.

-Allen

Interesting idea Rav. It sounds what you're explaining is more backtrolling than mooching. You've brought up a pretty interesting concept though. The only problem I see is that you're slowly trolling against the current. It's pretty well known in the sound that many more fish are taken trolling with the current than against it. So the odds are kind of against you.

But based on your concept how about this, lower your DR gear while drifting and mooch with the current? You could have really exact depth control plus wouldn't have to fight the drag of the DR and weight. And in the end you'd have a weight free line once the fish takes the bait.

Z

Interesting idea Rav. It sounds what you're explaining is more backtrolling than mooching. You've brought up a pretty interesting concept though. The only problem I see is that you're slowly trolling against the current. It's pretty well known in the sound that many more fish are taken trolling with the current than against it. So the odds are kind of against you.

But based on your concept how about this, lower your DR gear while drifting and mooch with the current? You could have really exact depth control plus wouldn't have to fight the drag of the DR and weight. And in the end you'd have a weight free line once the fish takes the bait.

Z

You would still be going with the current, just have your bow facing into the current. I was thinking paddle/pedal slower than the current so you still go with the flow. maybe like .05 mph in reverse. So yeah, back trolling. Use the DR for depth management, and since salmon will face into the current it would keep the herring in there face longer. Kind of like mooching with a flasher. maybe I'll give it a try this weekend. I was going to give myself another week off from chasing nookie, but the lure is just too great.

I think you get problems with trolling against the current because the lure is moving around too much.  A fish will go after bait a few times, but they don't keep trying if it's using too much energy. 

BUT, trolling "against" the current the way Rav is describing, shouldn't get that problem. 

Essentially, it's just mooching, using the downrigger to obtain the depth you want.

So yeah, back trolling. Use the DR for depth management, and since salmon will face into the current it would keep the herring in there face longer.

Sounds good. But since you're moving very slow you won't be able to cover much water. It would be a good idea to find a place where they're schooled up tight and work them there. Last year I used that strategy (sans DR) and found a bunch of coho in a tight bit of fast moving water near Shelton and they wouldn't take anything. A grinch K-14 pissed 'em of enough and got a very quick limit.



Z

That's kind of what I was thinking for fishing the green can, and maybe Commencement Bay, and Chamber's Creek where fish are pretty thick.