Salmon mooching leader ??

[Troller]

I am going to tye up some leaders this weekend and wanted to get your input. I just purchased 100 yards of seagur leader. A box of 50 4/0 and 5/0 stainless owner hooks barbs soon to be pinched. A bag of berkley #2 swivels. I am getting ready for a trip to port hardy in august. How long do you usually make your leaders I am thinking 55 inches. How much space do you put between your hooks I was thinking 6 inches. 5/0 on top and the trailer being a 4/0. What length do you make yours. Anything else you do when you make them up.

[Miss B Haven]

Tough question a lot depends on what you're fishing for and how you are rigging (flasher, clips, diver, plug cut or whole, Ho's or Nooks, River or Salt).
The easy part is that leaders can always be cut down, tie 'em long. The hook spacing really depends on how you run your Herring and how big of herring you're using. I like the end result to be that the back hook is right at the tail of the bait but the spacing depends on size and if you are wrapping the herring or running the leader straight (as I do with plug cuts or when using a clip).
Sounds like you are planning on doing fixed hooks since your asking about spacing. That's good (I think) but limits how you can rig somewhat.
This is SOOOOO...subjective. Ask 10 people and you will get at least 20 best ways to rig a herring (I'll give you 3 or 4 at least). Play around if you're not getting hit and see what they want.

[Bluefinn]

On leaders over 5 ft I tie in a bead chain swivel in the middle works real well at keeping your line from twisting.I like fixed hooks when chinook fishing. check the size of the bait you are using and tie them so that the back hook is just behind the tail.Brine your bait up a week befor you go and plug cut your bait as you need it.Never plug cut your bait and then brine it.Good Luck RR

[ChinookSlayer]

Troller,

I agree with Miss B Haven on tie 'em long, and cut 'em down if you need to. I tie my leaders around 6', then if I need something shorter, I clip and retie the swivel closer. 6" spacing is kind of large for between hooks. Try 5" or even 4". Given blue labels are around 6", and you cut off the head :shocked: , then you have a 4" bait. Off course there is also a whole theory about what to do with the trailing hook... I like mine stuck in the top of the fish, right in front of the tail.

Go kill 'em, and tell us what worked for you.

[Troller]

Thanks guys, I am going to be fishing for kings up in canada and wanted to get them pre tied. I suppose I could tie the bottom hook on then would only have to tie the top hook when I get their to match the bait. I like to use whole herring with the herring heads for spin. I have had good success around here using this method. What do you think of tying a bead chaing at 4 feet then using a short leader between their and the flasher to adjust length.

[Miss B Haven]

troller- don't know where in Canada you're going, but there are places you can't use bait. Not illegal, jsut that you can't put a bait in the water without getting an immediate hook up from a dogfish (sand shark..whatever). The Port Macneil/Echo bay area is one of those. I think the more open water areas are not as bad. Might want to take some hardware/flys to troll just in case and/or call the area and ask.

[Troller]

I am headed to Port Hardy for a week of fishing. I have been loading up my tackle boxes. Hootchies, Chubby tyees, Spoons, Bucktail's, flashers, Dodgers, scents, leader, swivels, Hooks and the list goes on. I am not much of a moocher so the downriggers will be the main type of fishing. Also taking all the halibut gear and bottom fish stuff I have.

[Miss B Haven]

troller- I took a couple of CASES of herring up there and only opened a few packages. YOu couldn't get decent bait up there and VERY expensive too. We didn't use hardley any cause of those dang little sharks. Might be different out of Hardy, open water right?

[Pilar]

Skein, great info as usual. Local Motion as they say.

I love you man ...... :grin:

Troller, I use 40 mono, usually crystal Maxima and the 4/0 - 5/0 combo as you have stated. The hook distance for fix tied leaders is the width of my hand across the knuckles .. about 4 inches. All leaders are 6' because leader is cheap and you can cut them off to fit any situation.

What makes my rigs different is the chartruese, 5mm bead I put between the hooks. This encourages a bait shredder to return for the cleanup or final kill. Just free spool after a driveby and Mr. Salmon (being greedy and stupid) will come back one more time for the chartreuse bead.

Leader lengths (typical) are in open water ... 24" for coho behind a dodger and using a hootchie, 30" to 36" for Kings, same setup ... 36" to 48" for a plugged or whole herring for either species.

Leader length really matters for action behind a flasher or dodger. You can always cut some off so start long and shorten it untill you get the action you are looking for.

You may need the whole 6' in tidewater like T bay fall nooks. They are somewhat shyer once they get a whiff of the river and in shallow water.

[ 07-16-2003, 03:57 PM: Message edited by: Pilar ]

[skein]

Troller,

If you aren't having any luck at Hardy, come down to Port McNeil and head around the north (west actually) tip of Malcolm Island. Go down to Baer Point on the Mainland side of Malcolm (draw a line through the island from the light house at Pultney Point). Find the 100 ft line and just follow it with your downriggers set at about 80 ft.

Herring works well, but so do black and white coyote spoons. Troll from above Baer Pt down to the "slide" and make your turn to the outside. Lots of chinook in that area without having to take a long boat ride.

Coho congregate off Malcolm Point straight out toward Numas Island, but I don't think they are open to retention. Chartreuse or "army truck" hoochies down about 30 to 60 ft usually work well.

Check with Pete at Timberline Sports Centre in McNeil. He's a good guy with good information.

I can email you a picture of a map if you want it. I've also got some GPS numbers for that area.

Skein

[ 07-16-2003, 12:14 PM: Message edited by: skein ]

[Troller]

Thanks Guys It has been about 20 years since the last time I was up their. I was to young to pay attention So all this info is great. Skien thanks for the info that would be great if you could email that info to me. I will send you a private message.

[Rodbender]

I know Port Hardy well-never any problem using bait-no worries.

The advice about cutting down longer leaders is good but be advised that for whatever reason Spring Salmon are being caught on longer and longer leaders these days-up to and including 8 feet-trolling speeds are faster than years past too

Be sure you're using Flashers not the old-fashioned Dodgers which are considered at best quaint/old fashioned/ineffective by Canadian Salmon fishermen-something Dad used to use.

Flashers are the ticket and the hottest colours are Red/Green or Purple-that's right that strip of plastic on the edge can make a helluva difference.

Whole brined Herring is a great bait-brined Anchovy in a glo/green Teaser head fished behind a glo/silver purple Flasher even better.

Coho and some big Pinks will be thick-any Coyote-like spoon with a bit of blue will be deadly-or any baitfish plug fished right on top where the bubbles from the motor run out.

Have you checked out the lastest report from http://www.duvalpointlodge.com some decent info at times.

Good Luck!

[ 07-18-2003, 12:16 AM: Message edited by: Rodbender ]

I space my hooks to fit the bait I'm using, I usualy tie them on the water. I also like to make them long and then cut them to length as needed.

[monoman]

I'm with Pilar on spacing and length. I do us 50lb ultragreen and I always use the double line between the hooks method of tying them. Takes a little time, but that's a very small length of line if a big fish grabs that back hook!