[Wicked_Stix]

Starting to have some strong beliefs about tiny presentations. But then again, I am a complete moron.

You mentioned tiny presentations. Are you talking about the 3.0 dark blade that you alluded to in a previous post? Or what tiny bait presentation were you using to entice these fish to bite?

I am relatively new to salmon trolling. My hottest day fishing out of Chinook Landing was on the evening of 9/4/23. Definitely an unforgettable day on the water with my wife and son. We just wanted to hit the water and was not expecting to hook anything. There were only 2-3 other boats within view. We were marking a lot of fish in one particular spot, so we just trolled in circles around that area. We managed to land 5 chinook salmon in a couple of hours. Released two darker tule-like fish (I didn't know how to tell if a fish was a tule then). I even had a fish bite while holding my rod. Epic....for me and my family .

 

[Wanabee]

9/3 - Davis Bar - 5pm to 7:30pm

2/3. All 3 in the last hour. She just destroyed them tonight. My rod was the miss. And her motto is “let em eat.” She doesn’t even move.

Starting to have some strong beliefs about tiny presentations. But then again, I am a complete moron.
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Your posts have been great. Especially your attractive significant other great fisherperson.

Appreciate you sharing the theory on smaller presentations. Really wish I could have tested that about a week ago when I was using large baits over multiple fish with zero results. A friend of mine uses the minimal spinner (no houchie or tubing) an swears by it.

Good job appreciated your sharing.

 

[reelnice]

9/3 - Davis Bar - 5pm to 7:30pm

2/3. All 3 in the last hour. She just destroyed them tonight. My rod was the miss. And her motto is “let em eat.” She doesn’t even move.

Starting to have some strong beliefs about tiny presentations. But then again, I am a complete moron.
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I was the boat who passed you going downhill and asked how it was going. I thought I saw your net flying again. Well done!

 

[RodneyBenderfield]

Wannabe - Thank you! Appreciate the kind words! She’s a killer. It’s honestly awesome watching her. She just needs to get a handle on backing in the truck. Otherwise, she’s fully trained.

Wicked-Stix Yes, correct.

We both had on spinners tonight. I had a double treble spinner with a tubing body on it and a 3.5.

My wife ran double single hooks with no tubing and a 3.0 blade. She lands more fish with double singles than trebles so she runs that setup.

Her rod got both fish. Hooks SWALLOWED. My rod got a takedown but it didn’t stick.

Something tells the smaller presentation triggered a bigger bite in hard conditions. It seems like they short struck the bigger presentation and missed the double treble. I don’t think they’re going to work hard in hot water. Give them something easy to kill.

 

[DesignatedBonker]

While we're not distracted with piles of fish pictures, just a friendly service announcement I've been meaning to post up:

At Chinook Landing, every morning I've launched this season, I don't think I've seen a single other rig turn their headlights off when launching in the dark. We need to get back in that habit. Though I'm sure most of the guilty parties aren't on here, but was worth a shot.

YES!! Pet peeve of mine. Trying to back your boat & trailer in the dark and the pickup @ the water is blinding you!

 

[Wicked_Stix]

@RodneyBenderfield - Thank you for the info. Looks like my thin wallet just got thinner with the donations to VIP Outdoors in exchange for smaller 3.0 blades. Lol.

 

[DesignatedBonker]

Today, out of Chinook Landing:
1 line in the water 17:00-19:30.
No action.
Did see 2 fish killed 19:00-19:30.
Water started at 73.8 degrees during slack tide, was 73.3 @ quitting time.

 

[RodneyBenderfield]

@Wicked_Stix - Each fish took the respective blade. (Same blade.) We have a few spare but after we filleted the fish, the wife ordered 15 more of the exact same one. Hahaha hopefully she left a few but needless to say, her confidence in that particular one has been and remains very high.

@reelnice - Good seeing ya, brotha! We’ll be out again. Maybe Friday evening.

 

[Stick'em]

Two passes from SI Light 66 to #50 this morning. Less number of boats fishing than yesterday. These critters are on the move. Marked a pile of fish in the middle of the channel in front of Onion Rock. Pulled a spinner through them twice and no bites. On the third time, they were gone. Water temp hadn’t changed from yesterday and I see the dam count crashed. That’s (the water temp) probably what’s holding up the bite. No checker at the ramp. Maybe tomorrow.....

 

[mic4fish]

0530-present. Got our favorite anchor spot, had high hopes but no bites so far very strange. Need to get back to the beach that's where the action is!

 

[Smokinfish]

Thanks for the reminder though. My wife backs me down all the time in the dark and that drives her nuts!

If my lights turn off I'm not sure how they do. Trust me I've tried. Just one of those safety things I guess?

 

[Bobber Downey Jr.]

If my lights turn off I'm not sure how they do. Trust me I've tried. Just one of those safety things I guess?

They do. You probably have it set to auto. There's either a knob or a switch on the left side that changes the mode, depending on your vehicle.

 

[Quiet Riot]

Anybody trying plain cut plug herring or a simple green old school spinner? Both of those used to work trolling in warmer fall water here around St Helens in the fall, yes even at 73 degrees. Before the 360 craze back when everyone wobbler fished and went home when the tide was done. We didn't use much bling, maybe a flasher on one rod but mostly naked. Figured these fish had seen enough flashers in the lower river they didn't chase already and it worked. I'm off to chase Bambi so I won't have a chance to try for awhile but thought it might be worth it for folks not getting any action up here?

 

[Bobber Downey Jr.]

Anybody trying plain cut plug herring or a simple green old school spinner? Both of those used to work trolling in warmer fall water here around St Helens in the fall, yes even at 73 degrees. Before the 360 craze back when everyone wobbler fished and went home when the tide was done. We didn't use much bling, maybe a flasher on one rod but mostly naked. Figured these fish had seen enough flashers in the lower river they didn't chase already and it worked. I'm off to chase Bambi so I won't have a chance to try for awhile but thought it might be worth it for folks not getting any action up here?

At least up here above chinook landing, the issue is more that the fish are just shooting past. There's spots they'd typically slow down and congregate for a bit, but not this year. I don't think presentation is the issue. They're just plain on the move.

 

[MattPark]

After taking a week off to fill the freezer with fish from the salt, I made a few passes this morning, daylight to 0800. My rod folded over for a few seconds and that was it.

 

[mic4fish]

If my lights turn off I'm not sure how they do. Trust me I've tried. Just one of those safety things I guess?

Yes I just got a newer Chevy pickup. I think I might be running into the same problem. Going to Google it see if anything comes up 🙏

 

[JD77]

I want us all to remember this last few weeks when everyone says 360 flashers have changed the river fishery and guys hammer them just like in the estuary and ocean. This has happened before, wads and wads of fish moving up, everyone using a 360 and no one hooking anything.

 

[Something Good]

If my lights turn off I'm not sure how they do. Trust me I've tried. Just one of those safety things I guess?

There's no way to turn them off in some of the newer cars without some modification.

 

[JD77]

There's no way to turn them off in some of the newer cars without some modification.

Fishing is so bad we are arguing headlights. Might be time to sell gear. 🤣

 

[carybaker]

22 lbs of prime URB, I think I need a bigger bucket. Its the biggest fish of the year for our boat, got it on the usual chartreuse blade spinner with a shrimp. I also got a free fish, 23 3/4 inch jack.