Buzz Ramsey's archive of Tips, Tricks and Advice Threads

[Buzz Ramsey]

Intro to Berkley Gulp! and PowerBait

By: Buzz Ramsey

Prepared baits aren’t new, but thanks to Berkley scientists who performed laboratory tests on real fish there exists an array of prepared PowerBait and Gulp! product that are more convenient to use than real bait, stay fresh without refrigeration, and many believe will attract trout better than even live bait.

The Products:
1) Berkley PowerBait, Dough: a buoyant material designed to be molded around a hook and still fished (also known as plunking or dead sticking) in lakes, reservoirs or slow-moving currents. PowerBait Dough is available in a regular and Turbo (42 percent stronger) formula. Trout Nibbles or Nuggets are the same floating dough material pre-formed into easy-to-use shapes.

2) Berkley PowerBait, Shapes: The same PowerBait fish attractant added to pre-molded plastic shapes that can be still fished, trolled behind a boat, cast and retrieved, or used to tip lures.

3) Berkley Gulp! Although it comes in critter-looking shapes Gulp! is not a plastic; it's instead a water soluble, biodegradable product that contains the strongest fish-attracting scent ever developed and disperses it up to 400 times better than scent filled plastics or live bait. Many anglers consider this unique product "bait-in-a-bag" for its likeness and ability to out fish live bait. Berkley Gulp! can be still-fished, trolled, cast-and-retrieved or used to tip-lures. Gulp!, by its nature does not float. However, Berkley offers a floating Gulp! formula that is currently available in a salmon egg and worm (nightcrawler) shape.
Note: Like live bait, Gulp! can shrivel if left exposed to the air too long. Unlike live bait, Gulp! will re-hydrate – but it takes time. Used baits, at least non-damaged ones, can be returned to their zip-top bag for storage and eventual re-use.
© 2006 Pure Fishing

Learn from Buzz, Select from the following Topics:
Please click on any of the following links:

<font color="blue">1) How to: "Still-Fish" Berkley PowerBait and Gulp! (http://www.ifish.net/forum/showflat.php?Cat=0&amp;Number=1306623&amp;an=0&amp;page=0#1306 623)
2) Bobber Fishing With Berkley PowerBait and/or Gulp! Products (http://www.ifish.net/forum/showflat.php?Cat=0&amp;Number=1306626&amp;an=0&amp;page=0#1306 626)
3) Using the Berkley "Crawl Retrieve Method (http://www.ifish.net/forum/showflat.php?Cat=0&amp;Number=1306628&amp;an=0&amp;page=0#1306 628)
4) "Trolling" with Berkley PowerBait and Gulp! Products (http://www.ifish.net/forum/showflat.php?Cat=0&amp;Number=1306632&amp;an=0&amp;page=0#1306 632)
5) Try "Tipping" to add effectiveness to your lures (http://www.ifish.net/forum/showflat.php?Cat=0&amp;Number=1306634&amp;an=0&amp;page=0#1306 634)
6) Picking the Right Tackle for Young Anglers (http://www.ifish.net/forum/showflat.php?Cat=0&amp;Number=1306636&amp;an=0&amp;page=0#1306 636) </font>

[Buzz Ramsey]

How to: "Still-Fish" Berkley PowerBait and/or Berkley Gulp!
By Buzz Ramsey
"Still-Fishing" (also known as dead-sticking or plunking) Berkley PowerBait and/or Gulp! products for trout has become a mainstay method on many bodies of water – particularly in lakes and reservoirs.

Basic "Still-Fishing" Method: Cast out, allow your outfit to sink to the bottom, wait for a bite, and set the hook when your rod tip dips toward the water. And leave some slack in your line, so trout can swim off with your bait and swallowing it without feeling line resistance.

Important! When using Floating PowerBait Dough you can greatly increase your success by using enough dough Trout Bait to float your hook off the bottom so cruising trout can quickly see/ find it. Start with a "marble" size bait molded around a size 16 treble hook. Before casting, check the bait to make sure it will float your hook!
Likewise, when using Gulp! Floating Salmon Eggs you will need to employ a Size 8 or 10 fly/mosquito-weight single hook or better yet a size 10 or 12 salmon-egg style single hook that will enable your Gulp! Floating Salmon Egg to float off the bottom. If one single Gulp! egg won’t float your hook try using two Gulp! Floating Salmon Eggs.

Rigging Tip: Short leader, 12 to 18 inches when trout are hugging the bottom, which might be during bright, sunny conditions or when surface water temperatures begin to warm past what’s comfortable for trout. Exception: Try a leader as short as 6" during the trout-spawning season when using PowerBait/ Gulp! Salmon Eggs.
Longer leader, 36" to 48", when trout are cruising higher in the water column, which might be early in the season (when water temperatures are cool), early or late in the day, or on overcast days.
You can freshen/ juice-up your baits by dipping them in Berkley PowerBait Trout Dip, available in three flavors: Garlic, Corn and Roe.

Note, review State fishing regulation pamphlet to ensure that the baits and rigging recommendations discussed here comply with local laws, which can vary from area to area.
© 2006 Pure Fishing

Tackle You Will Need for Still Fishing:
Rods: Berkley Cherrywood, Berkley Lightning or Fenwick Eagle GT in
5 to 6 foot light to Medium-light spinning action.
Reels: Abu Cardinal (like Cardinal 100, in the 102 size) or Mitchell (size 308) Spinning.
Line: Berkley XL, or Stren Original in 4 or 6 pound test.
Leader: Berkley Vanish Fluorocarbon in 3 or 4 pound.
Weight: 1/4, 3/8 or 1/2 ounce Oval Egg rigged free-sliding.
Swivel: Size 10 Berkley McMahon
Treble Hooks: size 14, 16 (most popular) and 18.
Single Hooks: size 8 or 10 fly/mosquito or size 10 or 12 salmon-egg style single hook. Try size 4 or 6 single hook for Gulp! Floating Crawler that has been cut into half size (or smaller) sections.
Berkley PowerBait Dough Trout Bait: Best colors: Rainbow, Captain America, Chartreuse, Yellow, Orange Sparkle.
Berkley PowerBait Shapes: Berkley 3" Trout Worm or PowerBait Salmon Egg. Note, the use of a small fly-weight single hook is important when using these PowerBait shapes since your hook needs to be small enough to allow these baits to float.
Berkley Gulp!: 5" Floating Crawler cut in sections. Floating Salmon Egg.
Best egg colors, yellow, white, pink, orange, flo red - it may take two eggs to float your hook.
Berkley Trout Dip: Use to freshen up baits between casts.

[Buzz Ramsey]

Bobber Fishing with Berkley PowerBait/ Gulp! Products
By Buzz Ramsey
Another effective way to "still-fish" trout PowerBait or Gulp! product is to suspend your prepared bait from a plastic, wood or cork bobber/float, which will require you to fish with your eyes rather than by feel. This method may be your ticket to success when trout are cruising near the surface, which is likely early in the season (when water temperatures are cool), early or late in the day, or on overcast days.

Start off with two-to-six feet of distance from your float to bait, depending on the water depth or how far from the surface you suspect surface-cruising trout to be found. Tip; you may find that trout will be nearer the surface early or late in the day and slightly deeper during the middle of the day. To hold your bait down and add casting-weight, try crimping one or more split-shot style weights onto your leader - start at least twelve inches above your hook.
A smaller bait or larger size hook may be required to ensure that your buoyant PowerBait or Gulp! will sink below your float. Tip, check to make sure your bait doesn't float your hook when wanting to suspend it below a float.

Keep in mind that pencil shaped floats, that will tip with the slightest amount of drag will tell you a lot more about what's going on than round ones. In addition, make sure to add enough weight to sink your float two-thirds of the way down. The idea here is for the trout to feel almost no bobber resistance when taking and swimming off with your trout-bait offering – and when he does, set the hook.

Casting a bobber with two-to-six feet of distance from your float to bait may cause you to yearn for a longer fishing rod. Be aware that there are trout rods designed for this fishing method - the most popular measuring seven feet in length. My favorite is the Fenwick HMXS 70M-2 or Fenwick Eagle EGTS 70M-2 spinning rods.

Although monofilament lines work for bobber fishing, they don’t float nearly as well as super-lines. Fireline is the current choice of many anglers fishing bobbers for trout because Fireline offers thin diameter, near zero stretch, floats like no other and handles well on spinning reels. If you try Fireline (4 to 8 pound test is ideal) connect a two to three-foot section of clear monofilament leader (or invisible Vanish fluorocarbon) to its end and attach your split shot and hook to it - three-pound-test Vanish leader is the favorite here. Be aware that Fireline is now available in an all new Crystal finish. Although not totally clear, Fireline Crystal is the first translucent super line and one that may help you land more and bigger fish in clear water.

Note, review State fishing regulation pamphlet to ensure that the baits and rigging recommendations discussed here comply with local laws, which can vary from area to area.
© 2006 Pure Fishing

Tackle You Will Need for Bobber Fishing:
Rods: Berkley Cherrywood, lightning or Fenwick Eagle in 6 to 7 foot light to Medium-light spinning action. (7’ is my favorite length for this method.)
Reels: Abu Cardinal (like Cardinal 100, in the 102 size) or Mitchell (size 308) Spinning.
Line: Berkley XL, Berkley Transition (visible above water/ invisible fluorocarbon below the surface) or Stren Original in 4 or 6 pound test.
If you want the best, try Berkley Fireline (which casts well on a spinning reel and floats better than monofilament) in 4 to 8 pound test. Fireline is now available in smoke, flame green and Crystal – the first translucent superline - any clearer and it would be mono.
Leader: Berkley Vanish Fluorocarbon in 3 or 4 pound.
Bobbers: Pencil style float/ bobber
Swivel: Size 10 Berkley McMahon swivel, use to join Fireline to your leader.
Weight: Size 5 (or smaller) Split Shot
Treble Hook for PowerBait Dough: Size 14 or 12 treble hook best when float fishing.
Berkley PowerBait Dough Trout Bait: Best colors: Rainbow, Captain America, Chartreuse, Yellow, and Orange Sparkle.
Single Hooks for PowerBait or Gulp! shapes: Size 6 (my favorite) or 8 single. Try size 4 or 6 single hook when fishing ¾ inch (or longer) section of Gulp! Extruded or regular Gulp! Nightcrawler.
Berkley PowerBait Shapes: Berkley 3" Trout Worm (my favorite), PowerBait Salmon Egg, PowerBait Trout Craw, Power Nymph, Power Wigglers, Power Honey Worm, or Micro Power Grub.
Berkley Gulp!: Gulp! Nightcrawler, Extruded Gulp! Earthworm or Nightcrawler, Gulp! Floating Salmon Egg (use large enough hook to make your egg sink below your float), or Gulp! Maggot.
Tube/ Jigs: 1" Micro Berkley Power Tube with 1/32 ounce Mini Tube Jig
Note, make sure your Micro Power Tube rides horizontal in the water. You can do this by adjusting your line tie knot so it comes off the top of the jig eyelet.
Berkley Trout Dip: Use to freshen up baits between casts.

[Buzz Ramsey]

Using the Berkley "Crawl-Retrieve" method
By Buzz Ramsey
Certainly the "Crawl-Retrieve" method has been used by many anglers in many situations, however, where this method first became widely used and wildly successful is in the High Sierra lakes of the Southwestern United States. The same rigs employed with the "Crawl-Retrieve" method work when suspended under a float or slow-trolled behind your boat!

Basic "Crawl-Retrieve" Method: Cast out, allow your outfit to sink to the desired depth and s-l-o-w "Crawl-Retrieve" towards you.
Yank! Set the hook, when you feel a fish pulling on the end of your line.

Popular Baits and Rigging: A 3” Berkley Power Trout Worm (my favorite), Micro Trout Craw or Power Nymph threaded on a size 6, 8 or 10 fly-weight single hook with a size 5 split shot attached 20 to 30 inches up the line (for casting weight) is what anglers use for this fishing method. Also popular is a 1” Micro Power Tube weighted (rigged) with a size 1/32 ounce Mini Tube Jig Head.

Important! You can greatly increase you success by fishing your baits slowly and twitching them often. Especially with the "Crawl-Retrieve" method; the lighter line you use the more fish you will catch. The use of light line facilitates longer casts and a more natural presentation of your baits. Many anglers will employ 2 or 4 pound test for this method. I’ve found 3 pound test (available in Trilene XL) to be a great compromise.

Tip: During bright, sunny conditions (or when surface water temperatures begin to warm) you will likely find the best success near bottom - give your outfit time to sink close to the bottom before beginning a slow (crawl); twitch-often, retrieve. When trout are cruising just below the surface, which might be early in the season (when water temperatures are cool), early or late in the day or on overcast days, fish your outfit higher in the water column - perhaps two to six feet from the surface. Like when still fishing, you can freshen/ juice-up your baits by dipping them in PowerBait Trout Dip, available in three scents, Garlic, Corn and Roe.

Note, review State fishing regulation pamphlet to ensure that the baits and rigging recommendations discussed here comply with local laws, which can vary from area to area.
© 2006 Pure Fishing

Tackle You Will Need for the Crawl-Retrieve Method:
Rod: 7' to 7'6" Fenwick Eagle or Fenwick HMX spinning rated for 2 to 8 pound test line. Longer rods (like these) offer more casting leverage than shorter ones.
Reel: A quality drag is important for this fishing method!
Abu Cardinal 300, 500 or 800 series spinning reel (size 2) or Mitchell (size 308) or Mitchell Avocet in the 1000 or 2000 size.
Line: Berkley Trilene XL (now available in 3 pound), Berkley Transition (visible above water/ invisible fluorocarbon below the surface), Berkley Sensation, Berkley Maxx, or Stren Original in 2 to 4 pound test.
Weight: size 5 split shot
Mini Tube Jig Head: 1/32 oz. jig for insertion into 1" Berkley Power Tube.
Single Hooks: sizes 6, 8 or 10 fly/mosquito-weight.
Use smallest size listed for more natural presentation
PowerBait Shapes: Berkley 3" Trout Worm, Power Nymph
PowerBait Mini Tub, PowerBait Trout Craw, PowerBait Honey Worm.
Berkley Gulp!: Gulp! Earthworm, Mini Earthworm, Floating Gulp! Salmon Egg.
Berkley Trout Dip: Use to freshen up baits between casts

[Buzz Ramsey]

"Trolling" with Berkley PowerBait and Gulp! Products
By Buzz Ramsey
"Trolling" PowerBait and Gulp! products is growing in popularity as anglers realize its effectiveness. Trolling produces consistent success because by doing so you can cover a large amount of water in a short amount of time, which will guarantee that your baits will come in contact with hungry trout. While trolling will allow you to do this, don’t troll too fast! Trout are almost always more interested in a bait presented in a slow fashion.

The use of oars or an electric trolling motor is a popular means of propulsion because these devices facilitate slow going. For example, electric trolling motors (like those made by Minn Kota) are designed with a variable-speed control that starts at zero.

While trolling slowly is important, so is trolling in an erratic pattern. Fish that are initially attracted to your gear may loose interest if your bait doesn’t run away or swim erratically when approached. You can duplicate this injured-prey reaction by zigzagging or changing your boat speed, which will often tease predator fish into striking. Tip: while zigzagging is important, keep the emphasis on going slow.

Trout are naturally curious and interested in quickly investigating what may be an "easy" meal before other fish beat them to it. For this reason trolling your PowerBait or Gulp! baits in combination with a lake troll or other style attractor may call-in more and bigger trout than not using one.

You don’t need to rig a troll on every line to be effective. One option is to rig one or two trolls to “call” fish into your baits and allow you to fish other lines “clean” with one of the PowerBait or Gulp critter-looking shapes threaded on a hook with a split shot weight attached 20 to 30 inches above to help it get down.

The distance your lure or bait is rigged behind your troll can be a deciding factor in your success. Leader lengths ranging from 20 to 30 inches are considered standard. However, fish that might be initially attracted to the flash and vibration of your troll might be too shy to get real close. This is especially true when water conditions are clear, a time when leaders ranging from three to six feet in length might make all the difference.

When waters are clear as gin, or if you’re concerned about educated fish seeing your line, you should consider the use of fluorocarbon leader material. Leader material, when made from fluorocarbon (like Berkley Vanish) are less visible in water than even clear monofilament because, unlike mono, they refract light to almost the same degree as water and therefore become nearly invisible. For example, a 3-pound Vanish leader is less visible than a 2-pound monofilament leader.

Berkley makes a whole host of critter-looking shapes and colors in both PowerBait and Gulp! that trout will respond to when trolled. When trolling (like in all fishing) try different shapes and colors until you hit on the right combination. If provided with options, the trout will quickly tell you which they like.

Tip: When water temperatures are cool, like in the spring or fall, trout may be found close to the surface. Be aware, however, that when surface water temperatures warm you may have to go deeper to find concentrations of trout. This is when deep-trolling or jigging may out fish all other methods.

Note, review State fishing regulation pamphlet to ensure that the baits and rigging recommendations discussed here comply with local laws, which can vary from area to area.
© 2006 Pure Fishing

Tackle You Will Need for Trout Trolling:
Baitcasting Style Rod and Reel: Note, many anglers prefer this type outfit for trout trolling. I use 7' Fenwick Eagle GT or Fenwick HMX or HMG medium casting rod rated for 8 to 20 pound line test combined Ambassadeur 5500 LC (Line Counter), 4600 or 5500 Ambassadeur C-3.
Spinning Rod and Reel: 6’ to 7' Fenwick Eagle GT or Fenwick HMX spinning rod rated for 4 to 12 pound test combined with Abu Cardinal 300 or 500 series (size 2) or Mitchell 308 or Mitchell Avocet spinning reel in the 2000 size.
Line: Berkley Trilene XT, Berkley Transition (visible above water/ invisible fluorocarbon below the surface), Berkley Maxx or Stren Original in 4 to 10 pound test. When trolling, I use 4 or 6-pound test Berkley mono on my spinning reels and 8 or 10 pound on my casting outfits.
Weight: size 5 split shot. Larger weights can be used to go deeper.
Swivel: Size 10 Berkley McMahon swivel.
Single Hooks: sizes 4, 6 (my favorite) or 8.
PowerBait Shapes: Berkley 3" Trout Worm (my favorite, which should be rigged to hang straight on size 6 single hook), Power Nymph, PowerBait Mini Tub, PowerBait Trout Craw, and Honey Worm.
Berkley Gulp!: For trolling try pulling a Gulp! Single Salmon Egg or ¾ inch or longer section of the Gulp! Earthworm, Gulp! Mini Earthworm or Gulp Night Crawler.
Berkley Trout Dip: Use to freshen up baits.

[Buzz Ramsey]

Try "Tipping" to add effectiveness to your lures
By Buzz Ramsey
When it comes to trout, you can enhance the effectiveness of any lure; casting, trolling or jigging style by "tipping" it with Berkley PowerBait or Gulp! Keep in mind that almost all plugs, jigs and casting or trolling spinners can be tipped without interfering with their action - as long as you don't get overly enthusiastic with the size of your tip. However, "tipping" can interrupt (change) the action of most casting and trolling spoons unless you keep the size of your Gulp! or PowerBait tip small in size. Realize that "tipping" lures can sometimes double your success rate. In addition to "Tipping," you can add PowerBait Trout Attractant to lures and bait or dip them in Berkley Trout Dip, which will add the strongest fish attractant known to man - the one trout devour.

Gulp! Corn, Worms, Maggots, Extruded Nightcrawler, Earthworms, and Salmon Eggs can be used whole or cut into pieces, depending on lure size, for tipping.

Note, review State fishing regulation pamphlet to ensure that the baits and rigging recommendations discussed here comply with local laws, which can vary from area to area.
© 2006 Pure Fishing

[Buzz Ramsey]

Picking the Right Tackle for Young Anglers
By Buzz Ramsey
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/medium/bzMaggie.jpg
Maggie and our boys (Blake and Wade) along with a friend’s son with a limit of Trout.

The ease of use and high success rate enjoyed when using PowerBait and Gulp! products make their use perfect for those wanting to introduce young anglers to fishing. After all, a positive "first" experience may lead to a lifetime of angling enjoyment and love of the out-of-doors. To a youngster, a positive experience will likely be a hassle-free one that offers a successful-but-short fishing experience and includes warm weather, plenty of food and other (besides fishing) fun-to-do things.

If you're wanting to outfit one of our future anglers (under age six) with a rod-and-reel outfit for trout, your best option would be a spin cast (push button) or closed-faced spinning reel-and-rod combination. Both reel designs feature a housing that encloses the reel spool, which helps keep line under control. For a quality outfit at an affordable price you should consider an Abu Garcia Abumatic rod-and-reel combo. Purchasing a rod-and-reel as a combo will save you money and time- since combination outfits normally come assembled with the line already spooled on the reel.
© 2006 Pure Fishing

[Buzz Ramsey]

May 2006

New Trout Methods From High Sierra Trip

By Buzz Ramsey


The action was hot, two trout on at once, almost continuously – some big, and with broad shoulders. Our day hadn’t started out this way; in fact, we’d experienced little success until we discovered what the fish wanted.

My companions included Pat McDonell - the editor for Western Outdoor News, and John McCoy - outdoor writer for the Los Angeles Daily News. Avid anglers both, they’d accepted my fishing invitation, despite the fact that I’d never seen Lake Crowley before – let alone fished it.

A desert lake with a stunning snow-capped-mountain back drop, Lake Crowley is located four hours south of Reno and not far from Bishop California where trout-filled lakes, streams and the annual opening of trout season draw more than 100,000 anglers.

Lake Crowley is actually a reservoir, fed by the Owens River that continues to supply angling adventures as it journeys toward Los Angeles where it’s ultimately consumed prior to reaching the Pacific.

We’d started our day trolling small Flatfish/Kwikfish but began experimenting with other gear after finding little success while trolling my home water favorites.

With morning mist rising off the mirror-like lake surface, the three of us experimented with different lures, leader length, trolling depth and baits until the fish communicated their approval with bent-rod messaging. What finally produced nonstop strikes was a three-quarter inch section of a Berkley Gulp! Night Crawler threaded on a size 6 single hook trailing 5-foot behind a Cowbell Lake Troll.

When we’d first tried the Gulp!, which is available in different worm colors, we placed the natural brown worm on one hook and black on the other. The trout smashed the black colored crawler while I was still letting line out, but surprisingly wouldn’t touch an identical outfit rigged with a brown-colored worm.

With two rods producing non-stop action, we continued to experiment with the third. And although we never did hit on a better producing bait or lure; Pat McDonell landed the largest trout of our morning, a three plus pound rainbow, soon after pitching a 3-inch Powerbait Trout Worm behind the boat.

The trout action continued nonstop for three full days as I hosted different writers including Ed Zieralski, who writes for the San Diego Union Tribune, and local trout fishing legend and seminar speaker Marlon Meade, who is credited with pioneering the crawl-retrieved method popular for catching High Sierra trout.

According to Marlon, the crawl-retrieve method employs small critter looking Powerbait plastic shapes infused with the same fish attractant as the dough formula. The idea is to cast out, allow your outfit to sink into the water column and begin a slow, twitch often retrieve.

High Sierra anglers specializing in this technique report outstanding success, which can be further enhanced by employing long rods (7 foot or longer, which provide long-cast leverage), quality spinning reels (like a Cardinal 300 that feature a quality drag system), and premium monofilament lines (like Berkley XL in 2, 3 or 4-pound test that is limp enough to cast far).

Some of the more popular critter-looking shapes include the Powerbait 3-inch Trout Worm, Power Nymph and 1-inch Power Tube. All, except the Power Tube, can be threaded on a size 6, 8 or 10 single hook with a size 5 split shot located 20 to 30 inches up the line. The Power Tube should be fitted with a one thirty-second ounce jig head, which is all the casting weight you’ll need if you employ a long rod and light/limp monofilament.

While using this method, Marlon Meade caught the largest reported 5-fish stringer taken during the High Sierra opener, which totaled 24.4 pounds. According to Marlon, all were caught using a 1-inch Power Tube with trailing Trout Worm.

Soon after my return (the same day) I couldn’t wait to try these newly discovered fishing methods at the lake near our home. What my wife, boy and I found was that the black colored Gulp! night-crawler trolled in combination with a lake troll produced as well as my best producing lure from years’ past.

In addition, the crawl retrieve method out fished all others. With our boat drifting slowly, we cast and slow retrieved and twitched often the 3-inch Powerbait Trout Worm and by doing so set a new personal record for the number of trout hooked and landed during one hour-long fishing adventure.

Although I treasure the memories from my trip to the High Sierra Trout Opener along with the many newly made friends, what I value most are the new fishing methods and ideas that I’ve added to my trout fishing arsenal; and now shared with you.

[StrikeFighter]

Good report. I love that area the June Lake Loop and have fished the opener a couple times. I always use the Berkley chartreuse glitter power bait with a quick release hook and a TadPole snagless weight. I bet they are getting setup for the opener now. I'm going to experiment with the power bait with salmon fishing this year. If it works out I will let you folks know about. Our salmon season opens here on the 7th April.........Can't wait.

Enthusiasm is NOT the same as just being excited. One gets excited about going salmon fishing. One becomes enthusiastic about thinking about going salmon fishing. If you want plenty of experience in dealing with difficult fish, then have a salmon trip.

[Buzz Ramsey]

There are several salmon anglers in Puget Sound stuffing Berkley PowerBait Dough into their squids and trolling them for salmon. Also, Gary Krien, a Puget Sound charter captain, adds sections of Gulp! Cut Bait to his salmon squids when trolling. He report good success and claims he doesn't use herring any longer.
Buzz Ramsey

[StrikeFighter]

I'm changing the FBR to a built in bait holding system and added bigger holes up front to bleed stuffed power bait, and other things such as canned tuna fish, bait scents and etc. I'm also going to experiment with power bait on the wings for scent as well as color changes to the rig. Example make a watermelon head from red and chartreuse power bait.

There is no such thing as a failed experiment, only experiments with unexpected outcomes or lack of fish......:yay:

[elklaker]

I like the squid idea. I appreciate the report and added info. I think I'll try the Power Bait squid idea on the Macs and maybe the Bull trout. I'll let you know how it works.

[flyingd]

I use to live up in the Bishop area. You should try some of the high country lakes above Bishop like North Lake, South Lake and Sabrina. Nice size rainbows (3 to 10 lbs) and good size browns. I have met Marlon up there before. What a great guy.