Tidal influence on tidewater chinook

[toblerone]

It seems many people have differing suggestions for best opportunites and periods of tidal exchange while targeting fall chinook. What are your experiences and specific technics during different periods of tide?
thanks and think fish!
John
Team Meg Ryan Skin Cream

Oh man, Meg Ryan is looking so dang cute these days that ... what was the question?

Oh ya, tidal influence. First allow me to suggest reading my STS "Reel Truth" column in the latest fall issue. One of the very best at that, Scott Amerman, is my guest this issue and he has excellant tips for both egg curing and tidewater fishing strategies.

The standard strategy for best success mostly involves fishing the deepest holes the last couple hours before low tide, thru low tide, and the first hour of incoming tide (for tide timing up the lower Trask and Wilson rivers add an hour or so to the Garibaldi tide table times). Many good methods work, but the standard is bobber fishing good eggs &/or sandshrimp. Many fishers put their bobber stops such that the bait is around a foot or so off the bottom. Sometimes this works. Often times you will be fishing below the level they are holding; especially in the deepest holes. Have your boat mates try different depths until you get bites. These methods will also work in the same holes at anytime during the tide, but not as consistently. On the upper half of the tide thru flood I suggest you spread out from boat congestion and fish along moderate depth brush sections for fish on the move. Scott has found that the 'nooks will more often stay close to the bottom during the incoming tide. I don't know why this is, but I would venture to say it may be because they are on a navigational move then and like to stay near bottom and often near shore when doing so. And unlike the outgoing tide, they are most often swimming in the same direction as the incoming current when staying near bottom, and that won't put as much silt/mud/sand thru their gills as during the outgoing can. ... Some do well by trolling Kwikfish or spinners long distances thru the upper half of the tide for fish on the move.

Edit: Also see my post in your other thread about trying crawdads in tidewater; for other tech ideas I posted there.

[ 10-04-2001: Message edited by: RT ]