Do springers fight poorly?

[Tinman]

I need a reality check. Do springers fight really, really poorly, or have I just been catching the sluggards?

One 21 pound hen did nothing more than roll around a bit, and make a few 10 foot dashes before surrendering. She was so rotund, she looked like a football with tiny little fins tacked on. A 20 pound buck made a 20 foot run, bulldogged a bit, threw some water at boatside - that was it. Both "fights" were over in three minutes and both fish were fair hooked in the jaw. Water temperature was 49 degrees. I was using 15 pound line, but not pulling very hard at all.

Pound-for-pound, my springers have ranked among the poorest fighting species I have encountered. Tuna, lingcod and ocean coho fight much harder in my experience.

I'm asking an honest question, with no intention of treading on anyone's toes. Do springers fight poorly? What line strength do you use for springers?

[Gizmo Man]

tinman: you fishing from a boat or the bank?

If from a boat and you follow the fish downriver than there is not much of a fight as you are floating with the fish and you are basically pulling him up from the bottom.

If from the bank and you hook one where they can turn against the current and there are tailouts, look out... images/icons/shocked.gif

On Sunday, I hooked an 8# steelhead on a fly. There was a big difference in the fight from the bank where I had to chase after it compared to the 3 nooks I hooked from the boat on Friday.

Good luck. You know when you get your a.. whopped by one that they can fight in the right environment.

The Giz...

[Jennie@ifish]

I have had some really hot fish this year! Hotter than any fish I've ever played!
I mean they zipped 100 yards, pinned their ears back and just kept going!
I dont think so!
Jen

[Firedog]

The majority of the fish we had this year were great fighters. For 12-15lb fish they really put on some good runs and quite a few jumpers. Did have a dud here and there but we also hoooked about 70 fish on the columbia so all are not going to be great. Got three in the sandy yesteray and they all fought real well. Maybe you just got a couple of the duds.

[FISHRUS]

geeeeeeeeeeeeeee, Oakie Drifter lost a springer today. That springer spooled her until the line snapped. images/icons/shocked.gif There was no way to stop that springer, it acted like a freight train on the move. http://harrythecat.com/graphics/k/train2.gif

[HOGTIDE]

I have to agree with Tinman to a certain extent. The springers I have landed this year have not been that impressive, for the most part. They just don't seem to have the tackle busting tenacity that the fall chinooks exhibit. I have boated a couple dozen fish and only about 5 or 6 of them have done the 'smokin' reel' or 'sounding' show. Size might be a factor, since many of these fish were only in the upper teens, pound-wise. Although, I picked up about 4 fish in their mid/upper-20's that just didn't have that 'Chinook Authority' when it came to rumble time.

My exception for the season came this last Saturday, when I hooked a wild fish that was well into the upper 30lb. range.( My partner said #40) That was the good ol' nooky battle I remember and live for.

Maybe, if conditions allow, using steelhead tackle would make these fish more enjoyable.


BEWARE: MEGA-SHAD is coming.
images/icons/shocked.gif

[ 05-08-2001: Message edited by: HOGTIDE ]

[CAGEY]

Tinman, the ones we have had on this year hit hard and died fast. Not really a whole lot of action from them and every one we have hooked were from a anchor position. The biggest a 20 pounder put on the best battle and he did not amount to that much. Dont know what the deal is because they are normally a pretty good fighter. Just lazy i guess. images/icons/smile.gif

[Fish Hunter]

Tinner, I also got a few duds this year. Seem they come to the boat real quik when their mouths are hooked shut or the water is cold. Also had a few extremely hot wild fish in the 20-25lb range. Huge runs with the dorsal slicing though the surface for 30 yards. Then racing back at the boat so fast you can't possibly reel fast enough. Early this season I hooked a fish and quickly handed it off to a new guy in my boat. He fought this fish for an honest 20 minutes. Turned out to be a 34# fish on the scale images/icons/shocked.gif . Dam I love these fish!

[jawbreaker]

The only time I've ever been spooled by a fish (besides oversized stugeon) was a springer. However, last Sunday I caught one that was a dud. It just swam right to the boat then fought a little bit but not much.
It was a native too. I wonder if it had been recently hooked because it just seemed tired.

[willierower]

In my experience Willamette system springers dont fight as well as other springers from other river systems. Now Rogue springers are just plain mean! The last time I fished the Rogue we had 4 fish on and landed 1. 2 fish broke off before we could even toss the anchor bouy and give chase. The other one we lost wrapped himself our anchor rope after we cut loose. He made about a 60 yd upstream run, found our rope and that was that. The one we did get was only about 15lbs but he pulled like he was 30. Oh ea we were using 50lb tuff line for mainline and 30lb Maxima UG for leaders.
I use anywhere from 10 to 20 lb line when springer fishing, Depending on where and how Im fishing.

[Backlash2]

Not on a 1082 with 8lb. Maxima....... images/icons/grin.gif images/icons/grin.gif

[Sand Shrimp]

Springers are excellent fighters.As a matter of fact some of them fight so hard they are just not meant to be landed.The one I hooked yesterday fought very good, we had to chase it down to the next hole in my driftboat.You must have hooked a couple that didn't fight very well which is the exception to the rule.I use 15lb mainline and leader for them.

[ 05-08-2001: Message edited by: Sand Shrimp ]

[Hawgwash]

Hey Tinman:

I've heard that "sluggard" springers don't taste very good either. Next time you land one put it on ice and send it to me for disposal! Always happy to help!! images/icons/grin.gif

P.S. The three natives I've released so far this year tasted bland also....