Mouth of big white .

[mic4fish]

Just checking to see if anyone has any reports on the mouth of the big white salmon. Fished it last Sunday, my father-in-law, son, and I; with no bites. Did see a few caught by the people jigging. The fish were rolling but just were'nt biting all that well. Does anybody know anything about the jigging? Is that just legal snagging or did those fish actually grab those things? If so, what kind of jiggs color schemes,etc. When I fish up there we like to troll bait wrapped kwik fish or spinners, or olso float along with the currentwith eggs. Haven't been back up since then, just wondering if someone had a report. thanks.


"fish to eat to live to fish."

[David Johnson]

Stick with the tech. you mentioned and you should be in business. They might take a jig but very rarely.

[Krome Brite]

Yes, they do take jigs. Usually in the poopshoot or back, though. [img]images/icons/mad.gif[/img] I believe what they use is called a Nordic Jig. They're basically just a 2 ounce hunk of silver metal, shaped like a minnow.

[boater]

try trolling magnum wiggle warts between 4 and 5 mph, it does work.

[mic4fish]

Thanks David and k.b. thats what I thought about the jigs, we butchered them last year on the same tactics I mentioned.

[mic4fish]

Nobody,has any kind of report on this fishery? With the dam counts going up it could be hot.If somone has been up there please either post or e-mail. Thanks.

[Backlash2]

Gotta agree with Neutron on this one. I have spent some time watching people jig with the Nordics and Crippled Herring, and the fish WILL take these jigs. The best bite that I have observed over the years on the main stem seems to be during lower light(morning and evening) and when the wind has the surface all broke up. You can tell from the individual's technique exactly what they are trying to do. The guys(and gals) that keep there jig near bottom, with a small 1-2 foot jigging motion do hook fish in the mouth, sometimes incredibly quickly.
Don't get me wrong here, I am the first person to jump someone's **** for snagging fish, but jigs can be very effective at luring fish to strike(with their mouth).

[Krome Brite]

Well, there ya have it, mic4fish. Got some reel experts on this board that know their $#!+. [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img]Just kiddin'. I'm sure you guys have seen fish hooked in the mouth and hooked fish in the mouth yourself using those jigs. I have fished the bench for years and like I said, I see more than one boat out there bringing fish in tail first. I had forgotten the name of the jig they used (thought it was Nordic), but Backlash2's post reminded me. Crippled herring, that's it-not Nordic. Crippled herring are the 2 ounce hunks of plain silver lead, aren't they? All I am saying is that I've seen boats out there that take 5+ fall chinook, etc. a day using this "technique."

[NEUTRON]

interesting all these experts weigh in on jigging, never jigged at the mouth of the white. Used this technique for a few years
around trollers and around everyone just jiggin. Somedays, the folks trolling will say "looks like jigging is the way to go".
Nordics imitate a bait fish, they flutter on
the drop. When chinook are moving through on a big stream like the columbia, where is a good place to find them. On the bottom where there is some colder water, it's pretty easy
to keep a jig near the bottom. stick to siwashs and don't raise your rod tip more than 12" as opposed to 12', you should be good to go. I don't advocate abandoning other techniques but don't bash the people who do it the right way and can be successfull. The "rarely" comment is not
true. The fish you saw taken by jiggers, were they snagged? If you try Nordics, use
.060 size. My favorite color is chartruese with a green stripe.