Deleted User
10-10-2000, 06:36 PM
I will reprint my answer to an e-mail today because it is timely for the present river conditions:
For the low clear water in the smaller and medium rivers with a lot of cohos (and 'Nooks and later on steelhead) that are reluctant biters, here are some suggestions. If these fish are away from fishing pressure that is a big plus! Slowly sneak up on the hole in drab clothing and first try drifting small egg clusters on a size 1 super sharp hook and 30" 8 lb. Maxima UG leader. If the smallest snagless slinky type weights get hung up then try drifting them w/o any weight. They will still get near bottom, unless the hole is narrow with a strong current. Also, try fishing them under a stealthy looking float, such as the Thill simulated wood versions. Also try 1/4 oz. pink and white steelhead jigs under the float too (several good colors of these; try black and chartruse next). Also try live pinched off sandshrimp tails by themselves or wired up onto the hookshank of the jigs. If they don't take bait or jigs, then try shrimpoil scented size 3 or 4 silver spinners with a bit of red or chartruse colors on them. If they don't take any of those things give the hole a brief rest and come in after those things with shrimpoil scented Hot Shots or Wee Warts, or even a size K-11 Kwikfish. The size 50 & 30 Hot Shots in silver with a chartruse or red bill or the silver with metalic blue upper half are a couple good colors for cohos (dark green metalic is great for steelhead). Slowly & quietly work your way out well above the fish and work the plugs slowly down into the holding water. Let it hover a bit in the best places. If the current is too slow for a good action this way then cast or let them slowly float down to the lower end of the hole and slowly reel them up thru the fish. They will definitely take them trolled upstream like that. If they still don't bite then give them a long rest and come back later and start out with the plugs first. Good luck and I hope they bite on those things for you. BTW, these techs also work on 'Nooks, using 12 to 17 lb. UG leader and super sharp 3/0 hooks. In tidewater you will be better off with 25 lb. line and 5/0 hooks, around the snaggy areas, and they aren't too leader shy in the deeper holes there. Tight lines. - RT
[This message has been edited by RT (edited 10-10-2000).]
For the low clear water in the smaller and medium rivers with a lot of cohos (and 'Nooks and later on steelhead) that are reluctant biters, here are some suggestions. If these fish are away from fishing pressure that is a big plus! Slowly sneak up on the hole in drab clothing and first try drifting small egg clusters on a size 1 super sharp hook and 30" 8 lb. Maxima UG leader. If the smallest snagless slinky type weights get hung up then try drifting them w/o any weight. They will still get near bottom, unless the hole is narrow with a strong current. Also, try fishing them under a stealthy looking float, such as the Thill simulated wood versions. Also try 1/4 oz. pink and white steelhead jigs under the float too (several good colors of these; try black and chartruse next). Also try live pinched off sandshrimp tails by themselves or wired up onto the hookshank of the jigs. If they don't take bait or jigs, then try shrimpoil scented size 3 or 4 silver spinners with a bit of red or chartruse colors on them. If they don't take any of those things give the hole a brief rest and come in after those things with shrimpoil scented Hot Shots or Wee Warts, or even a size K-11 Kwikfish. The size 50 & 30 Hot Shots in silver with a chartruse or red bill or the silver with metalic blue upper half are a couple good colors for cohos (dark green metalic is great for steelhead). Slowly & quietly work your way out well above the fish and work the plugs slowly down into the holding water. Let it hover a bit in the best places. If the current is too slow for a good action this way then cast or let them slowly float down to the lower end of the hole and slowly reel them up thru the fish. They will definitely take them trolled upstream like that. If they still don't bite then give them a long rest and come back later and start out with the plugs first. Good luck and I hope they bite on those things for you. BTW, these techs also work on 'Nooks, using 12 to 17 lb. UG leader and super sharp 3/0 hooks. In tidewater you will be better off with 25 lb. line and 5/0 hooks, around the snaggy areas, and they aren't too leader shy in the deeper holes there. Tight lines. - RT
[This message has been edited by RT (edited 10-10-2000).]