Springer Questions

Waterfish · 02-12-2004, 05:57 PM

This will be my first springer season. I've gone to a couple of springer clinics (Eric Linde), and I have been closely following the "Springer Techniques" thread (and taking notes!). I still have some questions:

1 - What angle and direction should your rod be in while in rod holders when using Kwikfish?

2 - Divers verses weights? Totally in the dark here, are both methods for anchor fishing, or can you troll with either? When would you use a diver instead of weights?

3 - I bought some Jumbo Jet divers. The factory leader is connected to the top hole on the diver. Should I keep it on that setting?

4 - How many feet (not pulls) should my Kwikfish be behind the boat? Same distance when weights as with divers?

5 - Last summer I got set up for summer Chinook with spinners (thanks, Get Bent!). Would that same set-up (leader length, lead line, water depth) be good for springers too?

6 - At a springer clinic the guide briefly mentioned the use of plastic herring helmits and said they work good. It sounded easier than rigging cut-plug herring. Do they work as well? Are they usually trolled or used at anchor too?

7 - I've heard people complain about the big sardines that are available. Why is that a problem? Wouldn't that just give you that many more bait-wraps per sardine?

8 - Why fillet sardines and wrap Kwikfish the night before? From the demonstration I saw, it looked pretty easy. Wouldn't they be fresher (better) if you filleted and wrapped on the boat?

9 - How do you know what size weight to use with Kwikfish?

10 - Guide Eric Linde says he does not soak his sardine fillets in scent; he just relies on the natural scent of the sardine. Do you think soaking them makes a difference?

11 - Prawn/spinner rigs - are they used at anchor, trolled, or both? Would you have the lead line, leader, etc the same as you would with herring or Kwikfish, or is everything different?

I want to learn every technique I can so I can catch some springers!

Boatdog · 02-12-2004, 06:19 PM

WOW! lots of questions. Here's my answers......what could I win?
1. 45 degrees or less
2. Diver in deep water. Lead is good all the time.
3. Top setting dives the deepest. Adjust as necessary for the water you are in.
4. Hand off to others here. Many varying thoughts, but mine is a long ways back.
5. Yes, in most situations.
6. Dom't know. But I would try them trolling.
7. For fillet'ing it seems good. For whole bait, could be too big.
8. Could save time and keep you in the water fishing longer. I tie up my next rig before I pull out the one workin'.
9. Current speed. Stay on the bottom if anchored in 35' or less [up for discussion still]. Trolling is another story. 45 degree down angle.
10. Personal preference and experience. Try both.
11. Both. Generally the same.

Good Questions. I would much rather talk over a couple

than type! Good luck!

Silver Hilton · 02-12-2004, 06:42 PM

I'll try a couple of them.

I don't care if the sardines are big. They work fine.

I soak my sardines in secret sauce, and use lots of scent. I was outfishing the boats next to me 2 to 1 for a three week period, once I started doing this. Maybe it was my good looks, I don't know. Certainly scent didn't hurt.

I don't think it matters too much how far the lures are behind the boat, as long as you're not fishing straight down. I've caught fish practically under my pump. What IS important is the bottom configuration that your lures are on. If the bottom is level, then position doesn't matter. If the bottom is bumpy, as it is in some of my favorite spots, I want my bait on the top of the bump, or just on the downstream side. If you are in the hole, fish swim right over you.

With divers, you need to have enough line out to get down close to the bottom. How much line that is will depend on how deep the water is. I don't use divers below Hanford, though I guess they use them in the zoo at Bonneville. I don't need that stress.

I like a moderate angle in the holders, about 30 degrees, and pointed close to straight downstream. I want some angle in the rod so the fish has some rod to pull down. But I also want some room to rear back to set the hook, without throwing slack in the line.

I rig my kwickies at night if I'm anxious, or in the morning if I'm lazy. I'm usually lazy. It's all about getting lures wet at dawn when the bite is often good. Another good reason is that if you do it in the kitchen, your hands don't get cold when you wash up afterwards.

You know you've got the right weight when you can bounce back, feeling the bottom with every hit, but also able to walk the bait back easily. It should hold the bottom firmly. 3 to 6 ounces works for me.

Lead line should be 24 to 36 inches in the spring, at least down near Longview. But shorter and longer have both worked. I want 30 inches.

That's my approach. Others will decry this as incompetence and blasphemy. And they'll be right.

[ 02-12-2004, 07:49 PM: Message edited by: Silver Hilton ]

Silver Hilton · 02-12-2004, 06:50 PM

I should add, I started using secret sauce after I got outfished 11 to 2 by a guy right next to me, who was using sauce. He was most annoying about it, too...

PLUGGER · 02-13-2004, 01:56 AM

try too keep all your k-fish the same distance for the wall of death.in the lower river when the waters still cold and dirty i use 10" dropper 45" leader.then when it warms up try 16"-24",and on a sunny day up to 36".
divers need the curent to work so wait till about 2 hours into the tide,a 10" dropper works good for me but use at least a 40', but your jumbos will work.i use a shorter dropper because your diver will surge in the curent.
spinners you should use 12" dropper 5' leader, trolled or anchored,if the river has a lot of garbage try a spining glow or a small spinner blade about half way down above a bead chain.
the plastic helmets are called rotary salmon killers, they work,but you should learn to cut plug.
the problem with big sardines is you have to trim them down to fit your plugs,because your fillet is too thick.try filleting them the night before and put some rock salt on em to harden them up, so they last longer and are easier to wrap.and cut a slit in your little fillets so all you have to do is trim it a little and wrap it on.and if nobody has told you fish atleast a 40lb leader on your plugs,i use 50lb big game.your gonna cry when you loose a hall of famer.
AND IF YOU SEE BOATS GETTING FISH AND YOUR NOT MOVE TO THE SAME DEPTH THEY ARE,UP OR DOWN RIVER.AND KEEP A LOG.AND DONT TOUCH YOUR ROD TILL ITS PEALING LINE..... [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

Waterfish · 02-13-2004, 07:07 PM

Boatdog, Silver Hilton, and Plugger, Thanks for answering my questions. That clears up a lot! It's all starting to make sense and I will be ready for those springers...

When you guys soak your sardines in scent, do you fillet them first (that would be my guess). And if you soak them in scent, do you let them sit on rock salt after that to firm them up?

Boatdog, in answer to your question, your prize is a springer fishing trip on the Waterfish. You name the time, and we can talk more springer fishing on the water over those

which I will bring!

skybuster · 02-13-2004, 07:24 PM

Don't be afraid to use the Jumbo Jet Divers when your anchored up. Typically this method works better for me in low water years, but I always put one out this way just in case. Also if the wind is causing you to swing while on anchor I believe it's better to use the divers because they will swing with the boat.

As for distance I will run my Jumbo divers anywhere from 90 to 135 feet behind the boat.

If you decide to troll I strongly reccomend delta divers. The divers will stay down no matter how fast you troll so you can control your depths much better. Try a delta with a fish flash, and a 5 foot leader to a cut plug. Fish it between 17 and 34 feet of line out and it shouldn't take long if the fish are there.

Boatdog · 02-13-2004, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Waterfish:
Boatdog, in answer to your question, your prize is a springer fishing trip on the Waterfish. You name the time, and we can talk more springer fishing on the water over those which I will bring!

I love your attitude, Waterfish!

Let's do it!!!

Waterfish · 02-13-2004, 09:44 PM

Boatdog, you've got e-mail!

Buster747 · 02-14-2004, 10:22 AM

Just like to add that the plug cut or fishing a whole herring is the way to go.
I also use a scent, but don't have that dialed in yet, any formulas out there would be appreciated. I went to using surgical gloves when handling bait last year and think it made a difference.
We seem to be able to keep up our catch rates with the good guys. (we estimate we boated at least 50 keepers last season)
When fishing plugs, bottom contour and current seem to me to be key.
Don't know if this is a secret or not, but picked up a couple nice fish in the Columbia last year at high slack waiting for the tide to turn, anchored with a whole herring just laying on the bottom in about 15-20 ft. of water, go figure.
Steve