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Topic: Fish at 82+feet deep, how to catch?  (Read 1298 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

crazyhook

  • Salmon
  • ***
  • Splash splash
  • Date Registered: Oct 2013
  • Posts: 134
during the summer months it was easier to catch fish because fish were near the top between 30feet deep to 3feet, and lakes like O'neill Forebay at less than 30ft I am use to fishing. Drop a minnow or worm or even trolling lures but now that it's been colder and fish are in the 70+feet deep some at 125ft deep. My question is how do you catch them? Or what would you use to catch them? Species are trout, bass, crappies, catfish, king salmon, kokkenee and bluegills.

I've gone out and as fun as it is just kayaking it would be nice to pull up a fish when they are that deep.

Any info or advice would help me out a lot. Thanks in Advance.
I think I know what I’m doing?


johnrice

  • Salmon
  • ***
  • Location: placerville
  • Date Registered: Jul 2014
  • Posts: 322
i have caught my share of browns and ratbows jigging for macks.
try the p line lazer minows, i like the 2 oz , i can still keep on the bottom with 1/2 mph drift.


Great Bass 2

  • Catch And Cook (CNC)
  • Sea Lion
  • ****
  • The Art & Science of Fishing & Cooking
  • Location: Mill City, WA
  • Date Registered: Jul 2006
  • Posts: 5702
Depends on the species but I use 2 techniques for deep suspended freshwater fish:

1. Trolling lures with a spectra downrigger with a 4-6# weight
2. Jigging with metal jigs with a linecounter reel and spectra

« Last Edit: November 22, 2014, 05:16:48 AM by Great Bass 2 »
1st Place 2007 Kayak Connection Father's Day Derby
1st Place 2007 New Melones Trout Derby
1st Place 2011 Lake Berryessa Salmon Slam
1st Place 2011 Pay It Forward Taco Throw Down
1st Place 2011 Albion Open
1st Place 2012 & 2013 Central Coast Custom Lure Contest
1st Place 2013 The Simply Fishing Tournament


Clayman

  • AOTY Committee
  • *
  • Location: Newport, OR (formerly Lake Almanor, CA)
  • Date Registered: Apr 2010
  • Posts: 3346
I can speak for the trout, landlocked Chinook, and kokanee: vertical jigging with metal jigging spoons such as the P-Line Laser Minnow.  If I'm marking suspended fish at 40 feet, I'll put my spinning reel in reverse and will count out reverse cranks on a taught line as the jig descends.  On my trout reels, every full reverse rotation of the reel handle lets out approximately 2 feet of line.  So to get to 40 feet, I'll count out 20 reverse cranks.  If the fish are closer to the bottom and I don't want to count out 50+ cranks, I'll do the opposite: let the jig freefall to the bottom, then count out forward cranks to get to your desired depth.  For example, if I'm in 100 FOW and want to reach 80 FOW, I'll let the jig freefall to the bottom and then do 10 full cranks to reach 80 feet.

Braided line is helpful in maintaining a vertical presentation and for providing solid hooksets at depth.  Highly recommended, but not entirely necessary if the drift is slow and you have a fast-action rod.  The faster the drift, the heavier your jig needs to be to maintain your desired depth.  I've used 1/2 ounce up to 2 ounce jigs in freshwater.

For trout and Chinook, I also like to mooch bait with a second rod.  I'll suspend something like a nightcrawler or anchovy tail about 2 feet below some splitshot, and will do the same reverse cranks as with the jigging spoons to reach my desired depth.

Is it as precise as a downrigger?  No.  But it's easy, and there's minimal need for buying a bunch of extra equipment to get it done (all you really need are the jigs).  Be sure to test your reels at home to see how much line a full reverse rotation lets out so you know what math to employ out there--2 feet per rotation is common for trout-sized spinning reels but is not the rule.  Also, if you're not sure you're at your desired depth, err on the side of being a bit too shallow instead of too deep.  Fish have an easier time spotting what's above them (and potentially swimming up to get it) versus what's below them.  Go get em!
aMayesing Bros.


crazyhook

  • Salmon
  • ***
  • Splash splash
  • Date Registered: Oct 2013
  • Posts: 134
Thank you all, it is very helpful.  Clayman thanks for the details and info I will have to try that out. My worms and minnows were not working at all and I try so many times to catch but result is always none and finding my way back to the marina to do fishing. I will try jigging and the count back method on spinning of the reel.

Thanks you guys!

I will post up fish when I actually hook up a deep diver fish
I think I know what I’m doing?


 

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