February Blackmouth tips

[Fish catching kid]

I was planning to go fishing for blackmouth in the Strait of Juan de Fuca in February and I was wondering if anyone had any usefull tip that I may be able to use. I went to the sportsman show on Friday an I picked up some Kone Zone flashers and some trolling spoons by Luhr Jenson and Silver Horde. Has anybody had any sucess with these? how did you use them? and is there anybody that has other useful techniques :whazzup:

Kid

[Uglygreen]

Troll some version of a spinning herring. [img]graemlins/idea.gif[/img]

UG

[Fish4Fun]

For Blackmouth I would stick to the methods that most of the guys pull. 11" HotSpot Flashers and either Coyote Spoons or Coho Killers spoons. You can't go wrong with a green HotSpot and a #188
3 1/2" Coyote spoon. Tie the spoon 32" behind the flasher on 40 or 50 pound mono. Stay within 10 feet of the bottom and that should have you in the zone for Blackmouth. This is the only set up that I pull and it consistantly puts fish in the box.

[Fish catching kid]

Fish4Fun, do you use a downrigger? I also heard about buckflies, has anyone used those? What about scents?

[Knucklebuster]

Here's the tip that all will give but must be understood. Blackmouth are in the Sound and Strait for one reason... to feed. If the bait is not in the area, don't fish it.
I have learned too search hard for the bait fish and fish close to the bottom. I fish with downriggers. Usually use Gibbs "Farr Better Flasher". Flasher slides up and down the line freely after the fish hits and runs. Great product! I usually fish glow in the dark hoochies because the depth. If they aren't hitting it, I try whole herring or the spoons mentioned above.
Good luck. Hope the weather cooperates for at least a weekend or two in Feb.
KB

[jaydee]

Fish4fun pretty much said it.
Very productive, especially the 188.
Although another confidence lure for me would be the yamashita green spatterback hoochie, or a grand slam buck tail behind that 11" hotspot.
For chinook I like a 37-42" leader behind the flasher.
Masking scent never hurts either.

J.D.

[Birdnest]

A poster above mentioned using 40-50lb test for spoons. I have a differing opinion. For spoons you want lighter 20lb test, to let the spoon's own swimming action do the work. For hootchies 40-50 lb test is what you are looking for. The hootchie has no action of it's own, so you want the action of the flasher transmitted through the stiffer 50 lb test.

Also, green, green, or glow green is all you need to know for color. Have fun.

Joe

[DJFISHS2XS]

Green glow hotchies....also coho killers...the blackmouth love candle fish...near the bottom..DJ

[ICHTHYDEMON]

The biggest thing to remember about fishing for B-mouth is to stay close to the bottom. If your using downriggers,make sure the ball bounces off the bottom on occasion. Its like ringing the dinner bell for those little stinkers.

[Fish catching kid]

Has anybody fished the Strait out of Port Townsend? what are some ways to fish that area?

[Fish4Fun]

Birdnest,

My fishing buddy uses the lighter leader with the spoons as you recommend. Last Summer in Elliot Bay and over in Hood Canal, the 50 pound leader set up was out fishing the light leader 9 to 1 on Kings. I pull the same set up Winter and Summer. The set up of the Green HotSpot and #188 Coyote on 50# seldom fails to catch fish.

[Knucklebuster]

Fish Catching Kid:
There is a little honeypot hole right outside of Port Townsend that few know about. Actually, everyone knows about it. Midchannel Bank is right off of Port Townsend. You don't even have to go out in the Strait. I have had some good days there, but if the baitfish aren't there move around until you find 'em. Look on a chart and you will see the bank. If you do want to go out into the Strait, head north out of Port Townsend towards San Juan Island and there is a couple of banks out there, one being middle bank, and the other being coyote bank. Both are a little difficult to find but if you have a chart or GPS you should be able to do it on a nice day.

KB