Kayak fishing for salmon tips....

Question for Zee or anyone who knows the answer lol. When using a down rigger do you think a flasher attached to the down rigger line would be effective for salmon or any other fish? How much line should you feed away from down rigger? I thought I read 6' somewhere?
Thanks in advance.

Yeah it does work. Some people attach multiple flashers to the DR ball, better known as the "Party Ball". Flashers do put out a lot of drag so spinning flashers work better IMO. There's a setup by Kone Zone that I like called the Daisy Chain. Attached to the back of the DR ball you get all the action you want but once you've got a fish on you'll have a clean line w/ no drag.


How much line to let out before clipping into the release clip, better known as "drop back", really only matters when you have a flasher imparting action on a lure. You can change that length to make the spin tighter or wider. If you're running your gear that way it depends on what kind of lure you're using and what kind of salmon you're fishing for. But more importantly the combination of drop back and leader length is what matters most IMO. For leader lengths (from swivel to the end of bait or lure) for Chinook fishing bait have your leader around 40". If you're fishing with a spoon have your leader 45". For both I like a drop back of 10'. If you're running the flasher off the ball I like to go a little longer to 15'.

Z

Thanks for the link Mooch. Make sure to check this one out too Luke: http://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php/page,32.html

Z

  AWESOME thank you mooch for the link, and ultimately Zee for writing the articles and responding and sharing the info with me! (just got my first down rigger scotty lake troller) I have taken a "test run" already without fishing pole. And read both your articles, thank you again for quality info.

Also remember that the salmon are often much deeper in Mbay than they are up north. I assume Zee is using a rigger to 50ft or so. And that's probably how deep you'd need to go in Ft Bragg, Shelter Cove, Eureka, etc. But the guys trolling w/ 'riggers on boats in Mbay are like 150ft deep. That is a LOT of drag on a kayak. Although, sometimes it pays to choose your own path...buck the trend and catch some fish, and next thing you know, everybody will be copying you and employing the Luke trolling method.   

  lol "the Luke trolling method" love it. I sure hope so. well it is my first time fishing for Salmon so gonna try all of the methods I can. With a little luck maybe I catch one.

Also remember that the salmon are often much deeper in Mbay than they are up north. I assume Zee is using a rigger to 50ft or so. And that's probably how deep you'd need to go in Ft Bragg, Shelter Cove, Eureka, etc. But the guys trolling w/ 'riggers on boats in Mbay are like 150ft deep. That is a LOT of drag on a kayak.

Actually I troll in the range of 90'-120' on average. Drag is always a problem but you can take a few steps to keep drag under control. They're in the article above if interested. Although I've never tried going to 150' I'd venture to guess based on past experience it's doable as well.

Z

SO in the hopeful scenario of catching one, how many of you bleed it right away? and how many of you would you immediately head in or keep fishing for your limit?

I have a soft sided fish cooler with two big frozen gel packs in it that's in my front hatch. When I catch a salmon I bonk it and then pop gills on both sides. I leave it at my feet and splash water over it until the bleeding is done. In the cooler it goes and back to it to round out my limit.

Here's a link to the cooler if anyone's interested. $20
http://www.sportco.com/ProductCart/pc/SILVER-HORDE-KATCHKOOLER-BAG-36-X-16-466p43907.htm

Z

Nice fish bag for a great price there...

Got one on Zee's recommendation. Its great super handy and can fold up when not in use. It you are looking for a fish bag this is the one. just a few hand fulls of ice (or gel packs) does the trick all day.

thanks Zee for the referral!

SO in the hopeful scenario of catching one, how many of you bleed it right away?

I don't bleed them.  Wet burlap in the tankwell keeps it fresh for a few more hours of trolling. 

 

and how many of you would you immediately head in or keep fishing for your limit?

While I was playing my biggest king I "promised the fish gods" I'd head in if I landed it.     5 minutes later I got it in the net and couldn't resist trolling a little more.   

I'm not one to fish for limits, but I'll take a limit of salmon in the ocean. 

Awesome thank you again for the quick and great info.

use a rear rodholder mounted on the centerline for trolling. it is way better than having all your junk dragging on one side.

soo how many from a kayak have caught a salmon this yr yet? I know of one person (not a NCKA member) here in Monterey that caught one in the beginning of May he was trolling squid. 28" salmon.

Bird caught one at Shelter Cove on May 14th - around 15 pounds.

A few others caught shakers there around the same time.

Some of us have been trying alot...