Bonneville Springers 101 / Bankies TTT

[Fshklr]

With the Bonne area now Open for Springers (Sun/Mon/Tues) and many wanting to cash in on the limited fishery I thought I'd bring this info back up for those of you wishing to bank Bonneville this yr.
Here is a drawing of terminal tackle rigging, which is also in the tech tips page.


Side Note,
This is not a bank fishery for small gear.
LARGE, HEAVY 11 to 15 foot rods and reels that hold 30# mono, and can cast 10oz'z EFFORTLESSLY is the only gear to use.
The GEAR is needed to fish the HEAVY CURRENT not to land fish and to survive the ROCKS!!
Gear recommended as follows:
11 to 15 foot rods.
Reels: large Diawa,s etc like the Diawa 40H or 50H, Penns, Shimano's (level winds or openfaced) as you need to get distance out of your cast!
30# mono mainline to fish the rocks
40# mono leader to fight your fish in the rocks
20# mono leadline dropper to break in the rocks so you don't lose your fish when snagged in the rocks.
(ROCKS ARE THE KEY ISSUE HERE)
8oz - 10oz minimum pyramids..teardrops just won't hold in the flows right now, and suggest no less than 10oz's to stay in the zone, sometimes hammering a couple small nails into the lead will act as cleats to help the lead hang up in the rocks.
keep weight on a slider so if it does hang up, (and it will) it won't pull the hook out of the fish .
Cast upstream at 45 degree angle and let it free drift rolling until the lead bites..usually at a 45 degree angle downstream but I prefer straight out, and depending on current this may take several casts to finally hold in a desired location.

My bait of choice is eggs and spin-glos if you got'em.
If you don't have eggs here's another little tip..Fillet sardines and cut into 3/8" wide by 1" long strips and wrap the shank of a 1/0 treble flesh side out!! and then rig with spin-glos.

Tight lines

[Nail Knot]

Fshklr:

Thanks for the info. I am going to do some bank fishing at Prescott Beach (by Trojan) this year. Your info will come in handy. Good thing about that beach is no rocks.

Questions: What is the purpose of the swivel on the dropper line just below the slider? I have a new Diawa Whisker Tournament Series SS2600 spinning. Very high quality reel. My pole is a Daiwa SL-SA 1102HRS 11' H. Do you think I will be OK with this setup? What about using braided line (Tuf Line 50#)? Remember, I will be using this down at Prescott, not Bonneville.

Thanks for the help. Hope you have a good year. :smile:

[quackersnacker]

Always nice to hear the voice of experience!
Thanks Fshklr!

[Fshklr]

Nailknot,
your gear will work fine..braid will also work, but very challenging for a beginner to cast and fish in the rocks.(I know you said sand)(be sure to use some sort of leather glove or finger or that 50lb braid will fillet your finger on the first cast!!)
The key is to get it put on the reel(levelwind) VERY TIGHT!! I use a leather glove and thread it through the fingers and pulling it tight as I load the reel, also another key is getting the speed adjusted properly so it doesn't over run creating backlash..it takes some getting used to but very effective casting braid.
I use mono up at Bonneville because the ROCKS are hard on the braid as well as mono but hey..mono is cheaper and I'm only going to be using that area 3 or 4 weeks best, so the cost difference works for me and save the heavy abuse on my braided lines. I use toughline plus when banking sandy areas because it is mono friendly when the mono is 30# or heavier.

As for the purpose of the barrel / snapswivels below the slider, it lets you change out lead quickly, but more importantly if you tie directly to the brass eye on your pyramid the knot takes all the abuse and breaks off either on the recast or trying to dislodge the weight from the rocks(remember the weight is constantly rolling and sliding banging rocks)and it helps to eliminate line twist resulting in leader failure..Try fishing 1 day no swivel then the next with...you catch on really quick why the swivel is needed. It helps keep your cost of new lead down considerably!
Be sure to take plenty of lead with you..I have had days where I won't loose any, but most often can go through as many as 10, it depends on the structure your fishing and the current flow etc. I usually go with 2 dozen each of 8's and 10's

[FisherJack]

Thanks for all of the info, Fshklr. I have never done any bank sturgeon fishing, but am thinking about getting some equipment and giving it a try. Do you have any specific suggestions regarding rods? Send a PM if you like. Thanks again.

[Firedog]

AS far as using braid up at Bonneville, make sure the people around you are using the same. You get a lot of lines rubbing on each other up there and when fish come down through the crowd lines rub and Braids will cut mono very easily. Most guys up there use mono becaue of the rocks and also becaus elines do end up touching a fair amount.

[Fshklr]

Fisherjack,
If indestructable is what your after then the uglysticks in 11 or 12 foot heavy casting work fine, but a little to heavy for my likeing and casting in my 40's lol but the price around $89 is a very good choice.

I think G.I.Joes sells Lamiglass F5 1 piece 13'6" rods with very colorful rope handles to protect the blank from rock abuse etc and they are premo..just storing them and hauling them can be difficult. Around $199.00

There is a new brand of 13' footer which surfaced last yr are are the new bankie choice for off the shelf rods. They are 2 piece rods and made by W.W.Griggs (label says Columbia Special) or something like that. I've seen 'em retail $64 to $89 and they cast a dream, and are lightweight as well!!

[FastAction]

For those who have never seen... IT can be quite a site at bonnie from the bank... 2001 was quite the blood bath... I mean blooddy.. that little Island by tanner ck was a pool of blood!

[FisherJack]

Thanks, Fshklr, for giving me several options to check out. I appreciate it.

[fishing is life]

I wonder if the banking will be all that good this year with another low water ? a few years back i remember the bankies slaying them when the fish were going behind ives. i suppose thats why you need the long cast. thanks for posting.

[Fshklr]

Bonne has tapered sides full of large boulder rip rap. springers run along the bottom edge and the tapered edge, thus the need for a GOOD cast. About 40 - 50yrd cast is usually enough for Springers..Bonne always has current do to Dam release/flow..with the upcomming rains(march-April) it will be pretty swift and plenty of water!!

[The Overfishin Condition]

Dear Mr. Bank God- My favorite color is pink. Will pink line work at Bonneville? Thanks, Clingy.

Lol, I'm stoked, I really like fishing up there, ya gotta come at least a couple days!

[Fshklr]

Erik..you and tour pink line!! With the water clarity issues and depth at that time I'm sure pink is safe .

See you there.

[AlseaAssassin]

Thanks for the tips

[Navigator]

Ahhhh! I am beginning to understand oh great one!

Hope to see you up there.

Thanks.