Hootchy Colors and Divers

Hookset · 06-30-2001, 09:55 AM

While looking at salmon tackle yesterday I chatted with another fisherman about divers and hootchy's.

I've always used the deep six divers and over the last couple years switched to delta's. For hoothcy colors I've always liked multi colored greens, like chartreuse/green/silver flake.

Now this fisherman swears the delta's don't release every time (barrel swivel won't slide) and he misses fish because of this. He only uses the deep six. For hoothcy colors, he liked purple/dark blue and landed 24 the other day.

Of course I haven't had any problems with the delta's and should try some different colored hootchy's. Of course silvers seem to hit every color under the sun.

Question, do you have a preference for diver type/brand/size and what is you favorite colored hootchy for silvers and chinook?

Hey, it's salmon season on the coast!! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

hook

[ 06-30-2001: Message edited by: hookset ]

Ramstrong · 06-30-2001, 11:48 PM

For Hoochies here are the colors We used growing up and I still use today. Green/Chart, Army Truck, Green Glow, Dark Purple and Pink/white.

As for divers, I'm a big fan of the Deep Six also.

Pilar · 06-30-2001, 11:48 PM

Green + glow in the dark = fish on.

But like you said, Hook it really doesn't matter. BTW the albacore are really crazy about purple/black jigs. I wonder what bait fish that imitates if salmon like them too.

The Deep 6 has always worked for me. Just make sure to do 2 things. Smash the end of the adjuster screw so it wont fall out and adjust the trip point on the release or you will lose fish when it doesn't release.

Tilla · 07-01-2001, 06:00 PM

I have always liked the white/chartreuse for Silvers and white for Chinook. But the most incredible combo included a Krystal Flash hoochie under the rubber hootchie and a big hammered silver blade in front. Trolled slow!
The fish just hate the setup, it's too obnoxious! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

boater · 07-02-2001, 08:38 AM

i use nothing but ez-divers and you can adjust how deep they dive, green seems to work the best for me.

Oregon Angler Magazine · 07-02-2001, 09:27 AM

Hoochies and flashers. Wanna know a trick ???? Last season in four days I took everyone that had a lic. in my neighborhood out salmon fishing, we put 44 kings in my Trophy. How ? When using a hoochies you want them to preform in an eratic manner. The next time you rig up try making your leaders no longer than 22 inches and instead of using 20 , 30 or even 40 lbs leader material up it to 80. Why ? This will stiffen the area between your flasher & your hoochie which means your hoochie will gain the extra whipping motion of you flasher.
I have always used a Purple Haze Hoochie and they slam um big time. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

WildHawg · 07-02-2001, 09:36 PM

Howdy Hook,
I agree with everything said above, and would add that green and blue are the most visible colors under water. Add a little silver flake and LOOKOUT!!! Back in the day, pink and white was a killer, as was purple--but we didn't have all the pretty colors available nowadays. I have not fished for silvers (other than incidental catch) for a few years now, since there hasn't been much of a season--but remember the color visibility trick underwater (greens and blues), and you'll do well. By the way, I'm available for instruction should you need a deckhand!! You know my e-mail [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]
Talk to ya later, Hawg.

boater · 07-02-2001, 09:54 PM

hook, the swivel that you hook your main line to on the ez-diver has a plastic ring that you can move up or down the thick wire, move it to the top and it dives the max, slide it about half way down and it will dive less.

Hookset · 07-02-2001, 10:15 PM

Boater, just saw the EZ diver tonight and noticed the plastic ring. The places I fish and the stores in my area do not carry the EZ diver, just the Delta's which do not have the ring. Thanks for the feedback though, now I know.

Wildhawg, you've been gone for awhile. I still have your address and when I need a deck hand and the ocean is right, I'll drop you a line.

hook

Hookset · 07-02-2001, 11:36 PM

This is the kind of info I like to read. Thanks Dave, Pilar, Ram, Tilla and boater.

The only way I know to adjust the depth of an easy diver is the amount of line out. Boater, what else are you doing?

Dave, what depth were you fishing for kings? Off a downrigger? And what type/color/size of flasher? I assume your using 2 hooks and 5 inch hootchies. Are these solid purple or the purple dark blue?

I find that very interesting on shortening your leader behind a flasher (not a dodger)to catch kings. I can see the 80 pound line would act more like wire leader and impart an erratic action. Makes a lot of since and I never thought ocean caught trolled fish were leader shy. But everything I've ever read and try to do is slow down the action for kings, lenghten the leaders from 18 to 24 inches to 3 and 4 feet, maybe up to 5 behind flashers. My ocean experience is limited and I've always concentrated on silvers since they are esay to catch. I'll try your advice next time out.

Thanks again everyone,

hook

Whalerman · 07-03-2001, 07:43 AM

We hammered the fish including a nice Chinook at CR. The best bite was a chartruse green hoochie and green flasher off a down rigger at 15 to 20' What a beautiful ocean, 2 days in a row.

Bounty Hunter · 07-03-2001, 02:26 PM

Yea I second brshooter!

I'm going to be a virgin bouy 10 fisherman this year, and I could definately use some tips on what my set-ups should look like. I've been looking to stock up early, but I'm a little confused on all the options. Any advice? Thanks.

Ramstrong · 07-03-2001, 04:52 PM

brshooter and nwwade, If you want to see a graphic representation of the setup I use check here.

For coho I use the size 0 diver with a 0/0 herring dodger. For chinook I'd probablly go with the larger diver and a cut plug herring rather than a dodger and hoochie. I'm sure you'll hear other great opinions on the matter too.

Jeffhead · 07-03-2001, 09:14 PM

For Hootches I'm down to 4 primary ones:
Green/glow spatterback
Black/glow (Cop Car)
Green/Red/Glow (Army Truck)
Black/Green/Purple Stripe down the back

All with glow in the dark beads to adjust to length. Add to this for nooks' the herring grandslam bucktail fly and your set.
As for the silvers I switch to tube flies, no hootches.
For the buoy ten action a diver and a whole herring in a helmet, or a cut plug is all you need.
Good luck and tight lines, Jeff [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

brshooter · 07-03-2001, 11:06 PM

Sorry about the rookie questions, but I gots to know. What size Deep 6 divers are people using? I was at Joes and saw a large size 6 (similar in size to the delta diver) and a smaller size 0. What color and size of flashers are you using? Is this the same setup I will be fishing when bouy 10 opens?