WSB Fishing

Ive got the fever bad now. I've got some basic questions about fishing for WSB that I'd like to ask before I get after them. Thanks in advance for your help fellas!

When "Fly Lining" squid, do you just drop the squid right over the side of the yak then start pulling out line? Or do you actually cast it? My Penn 501 isn't easy (for me at least) to cast.

I think I've read about people using size 6/0 or 8/0 black hooks, is that correct? Barb or no barb?

If you go with a dropper loop set up, what size weight do you use? If you are fishing with a weight on your line, does that mean your fishing on or near the bottom? Or are you still fishing from a certain number of pulls?

Do you guys have your fishing pole in a Flush Mount rod holder while the bait is soaking, or can it be in a Baitcaster type rod holder, or will the WSB just yank that whole thing out and over the side?

What is setting the hook like?

Ok, I'm gonna stop there, I'm sure that may be a little overwhelming, thanks again for taking the time to help me out. I figure I'll try to learn as much as I can now, rather than when we are  getting our gear together in the parking lot. It's better to annoy you old salts now, than on gameday.

Thanks,

Jeff


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I don't cast it because when you are fly lining the bait stay on top for a few seconds and the birds will go after it.  I just drop it over the side and watch it drop and give it several feet of line depending on where you think they are at.  Usually they seem to feed at 15-40ft. 

Make sure you clip your rod to something secure even when it's in a rod holder if you are fishing with another pole.

You can use barbed hooks.  6-0 Circle and a treble stinger.  I lost 3 last year I think because I was not using a stinger.

You don't need live squid.  Frozen squid from safeway worked for me.  But if you can jig for them easily why not.  It gives you something to play with while you are waiting for that bite.

I never mix circle hooks with a J or treble hooks on the same rig. Circle hooks you don't need to set and when you have a fish on you don't know which hook. I use the owner 8/0 Aki twist hook because it was designed for fishing whole squid for WSB. It's long shank puts the hook point about 1/3 of the way from the mantle so you don't need a stinger. Stingers are necessary for halibut but not necessarily for WSB and a stinger adds another source of potential failure. If there are a lot of jellies I use a 4/0-6/0 light circle hook. Ken and I have experimented with all kinds of rigs including double treble hooks. When I called him last week and told him about my cbass, the first thing he said was what hook did I use. After 2 years it is still an evolving art and science   Just my 2 cents.

When's ur next day off Jeff?

A few more thoughts about fishing wsb:

A fluorocarbon leader about four feet long is a good idea, maybe 30 lb test.

WSB are strong enough for two or three long runs, so let them do that, as long as there is nothing they can tangle with. Patience is better than putting the wood to these fish, because you may rip the hook out of you work em too hard. Seems like the successful anglers will use a medium action, longer rod, and they take their time.

You don't have to cast, but you should use a reel with a clicker. Get your bait out away from your boat, place the reel in free spool, and wait a bit when the clicker goes off,
like a ten count. Wait for the rod to load up, then set the hook.

Good luck!

Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I get off Thursday at 8am though. I've been dying to get out there. I've finally finished hanging all the pictures and mirrors and curtains in the new apartment, and I've got the garage squared away, I'm ready to get out there and get after it. WSB, Salmon, whatever! Hit me up!


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Thanks again for all the replies fellas, I really appreciate you helping a rookie like me out.


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Jeff, here's my 2$. The one I caught last year was hooked on my stinger treble. Now it probably would have worked also with a two single hooks rig but for me the treble was what worked. Double 2x strong treble. Five foot 40lb flouro leader. A lot of the time I let out the squid to fly-line it will not go down without a little bit 1/8, 1/4, 3/8oz of weight to help it. I'm still experimenting with the exact amount needed to fly-line with for conditions. To get the squid down a little more to 20-40ft then try 1/2, 3/4, 1-2oz again it all depends on your drift speed which you can change with a drift sock to slow you down. If there is no drift at all, rare but it happens, you could try to paddle very slowly to keep your squid moving a little bit. All rods leashed to the boat. Good luck Jeff. I hope you score soon bro! jim

Do you guys have your fishing pole in a Flush Mount rod holder while the bait is soaking, or can it be in a Baitcaster type rod holder, or will the WSB just yank that whole thing out and over the side?

I haven't had much experience with these fish, but I have had a couple of veterans tell me of "strong strike" issues with the rocket launcher-style rod holders getting yanked over, even when cranked down, and I think Otobepelagic had one fish actually break the ball off of the mount last year. I added a scotty mount with a big backing plate for this application.