Plunking

[Jimmy Carl Black]

I know there have been many threads on this, but I thought I'd start a fresh one since it is almost time. Hope I'll have some available when they get here.

My topic-starting question is this:

Is there one plunking area better than all others? I've done Meldrum, Bonne, and less populated beaches but do not have a representative catch because most of my time was at Bonne. From what I've seen I'd say Bonneville is the place. Can Meldrum be just as productive? I want to focus on one and not skip around too much this year.

[dampainter]

what is the rig and weight size to use at Bonne??

[WHO'S BELLS RINGING?]

IF THE WATER DOSE'NT COME UP BONNE. WILL BE A BUST LAST WEEK THE ONLY CURRENT WAS ON THE WASH. SIDE. WITH ALL THE SNOW HOPFULLY MORE WATER WILL BRING SOME FISH ON THE ORE. SIDE. LAST YR. THE BEST WAS THE OAK TREE AND DEAD LINE ON THE WASH. SIDE. AS FOR GEAR 30 LB LINE A SPIKE OR 8-16 OZ. SINKER DEPENDING ON CURRENT.

[Jimmy Carl Black]

Most people go spin-n-glo with or without sand shrimp up there and usually a pretty big size. The size one down from ridiculous size. I like the idea of floating a herring with a cork though. Anybody ever done that in the Bonneville run?

[dampainter]

Jimmy, what size weight will I need? any particular color on the spin & glo`s?...THANKS!, also what size line? (mono??)

[ 01-29-2004, 11:52 AM: Message edited by: dampainter ]

[Got Fish?]

With the line I know the norm is going with 30 lb mono, but last year I went with 50 pd tuff line and it out produced everyone I fish with. The line does not catch as much current becuase of the thinner diameter so you stay straight out in the current and you won't drift as much. I know there are a lot of people that say only mono is the way to go but if you have some tuff line on a reel or laying around you might want to give it a try...

[rob allen]

size 00 spin glos chome with red, chrome with chartruse, pink, watermelon and red seem to be the most popular colors. Also mylar wings are very popular. don't forget a couple beads between your hook and the spinglo 3/0 and 4/0 gami's work good. I prefer no bait cause I don't want to hook a sturgeon. anyplace where you can find a current seam you can expect chinook to travel up it. Bonneville is productive because the river channel is so narrow and the flow so heavy that it pushes the fish to the edges.

[dampainter]

how much weight do I need? and if anyone goes when the fishing gets good and needs company I would gladly tagalong.....

[will_e_fish]

I move around a little to get a different change of scenery. I tend to go back to the same spots for a while especially if I dont feel like losing as much tackle as up at Bonnevile. Some place the crowd is more friendly than other places. I like kicking back on sandy beaches from time to time and some people I swear show up at 2 to always get their spot Prescott Beach is one of those.The Wash. side of Bonneville is always a friendly place. However, on the OR side bring 10 to 15 of your buddies to get your spot and not let the early mourning drinkers intimidate you.

Weight at Bonneville is usually about a railrod spike. I use a 40lb mono due to the abrasions of rock. I also use 00 and smaller spin glo with out bait as bait will get too many sturgeon on unless that is what you are trying to get.

[Firedog]

I would recomend using 30-40 lb Mono over braids for plunking. The biggest reason is that you end up rubbing on other lines or lines on yours especially while fighting a fish and the braids will cut other lines very easily.

As far as weight goes, can be as light as 6 oz all the way to 16 oz or railroad spikes. Just depends on the water. Bradford Island tends to need more weight but they also catch more fish over there.

I use the size spin glo just below the 00 I think it is a 2, colors vary. Mostly personal preference. Reds, greens, Willamette Special is pretty good, Chartruese and black was real good a couple years agao but didn't do well last year.

[Fshklr]

Be sure if using spin-glos for springers at Bonneville that if you add bait and fish the Wa side to follow these rules if you catch a Sturgeon.

1. You must be using a BARBLESS hook for sturgeon fishing and retention. If you are approached by wdfw and asked "what are you fishing for?" and reply "what ever bites" and then get checked with barbed hooks even though your main quarry is salmon YOU WILL BE TICKETED.

2. Release all sturgeon caught with barbed hooks.

3. Currently the '04' regs DO NOT have a Spring Salmon fishery from 1-5 bridge to Bonneville Dam
Be safe out there and know your regs.

[ 01-30-2004, 04:04 PM: Message edited by: Fshklr ]

[Jimmy Carl Black]

Hopefully 10 or 12 oz will do it. When you start getting up into the 16 ouncers, it's pretty painful to throw with a long leader, bait, etc. I had real trouble a few years ago when I first did this. My reel was wound with dacron and it took so much lead to hold it in the current so thinner diameters are definitely a plus in that respect. I guess the problem with using spectra in some of the more crowded spots is cutting all the mono lines on others' rigs.

About mylar wings: I have heard a theory that it's not choice to use these for springers because they mouth it before taking 'em in and are more likely to spit it if the wings are too stiff.

[dampainter]

16oz.? anyone there launch their rigs with a slingshot?

[rob allen]

8oz's holds at bonnie but it rolls a bit before it stops

[Dinikin]

Originally posted by dampainter:
16oz.? anyone there launch their rigs with a slingshot?

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">Some do, but u don't need to cast far for springers.

[Fshklr]

Dampainter,
slingshots and radio controlled boats were tried for sometime but have been shut down by wdfw and odfw.

Only hand casted lines from the bank is the wording if I remember right in the regs.
I use 8oz lead on 20#mono with 30#mainline.
use a lighter lead leader because it is a rocky rip-rap bottom and lead hangs up easily..also many will hammer finish nails, concrete nails, etc into an 8oz lead to get it to hand up on the bottom. The lighter lead leader will allow it to break off and keep your fish on, or retrieve your gear, and many use the railroad spikes so losing one is no expense. Fished gators there plenty but never Salmon.

[WHO'S BELLS RINGING?]

FUNNY NO ONE MENTIONED SS BEACH SAND AND LITTLE LOST GEAR. MANYY FISH CAUGHT EARLY IN THE SEASON. OF COURSE THE MAIN CREW DIS-LIKE BONNE PLUNKERS. I FISH BOTH AND HAVE HEARD SMACK MOSTLY ON THE ISLAND..

[Lo-Pro16]

Went to Bonneville Dam this morning with my fishing buddie Chico, to do a little plunk fishing up at the deadline by the Washington powerhouse for winter steelhead. Could not believe the amount of trash left on the bank. We spent 45 minutes before we left and loaded up two full bags of garbage. With all the dumpsters up there, why do people throw their trash on the bank? We didn't have any luck fishing but man what a beautiful day. Even the sun came out for a while with hardly any wind. We did see one seal and one Game Warden. His first question was "What are you fishing for?" I'm glad I read Fshklr's post. We both replied STEELHEAD. He said the spring salmon season is not open yet above the I-5 bridge. The commission is suppose to meet February 6th to set the season.

One important note:
The game warden was a super nice guy and I got to ask him his opinion on partial clipped adipose fins. I quoted Oregon's (missing in its entirety) vs Washington's (missing with a healed over scar in place of the missing adipose fin). His response was that it would be a judgement call by the game officer. If you are in doubt, it would be wise of you to release the salmon.

[MasterCaster]

The regs have changed here in Oregon this year. It now reads....Page 11 under Definitions, Adipose fin-clipped fish: A hatchery salmon, steelhead or trout with a clipped adipose fin and having a healed scar at the location of the fin. However I will still be very careful if there is much of the fin there and only keep DEFINATE hatchery fish.

Jon :smile: :grin: :smile: