54 replies to this topic

[NADO]

10lb main and 8lb leader should be good enough for the currents. Id suggest a longer rod to help you fight the current but I know alot of bottom bouncers use 10'6 rods. Try again this weekend, maybe you will take a few lessons learned from last weekend and land a beast.

A new toy never hurt anyone either.

[redneckchromer]

Afternoon folks, curious as to what every one uses for their bottom bounce setup when fishing a mighty zone 20 section in deep (20' or so) raging fast water. I have hooked on to several fish on my 10'6" noodle rod in the slower pools at the river bank, but either lost the hookset (tip too slow for strong initial hook set maybe), or lost the fish in the current. As exciting as it is to have a fat trout on the end of the line, obviously a guy needs to seal the deal and land her. So I brought in my 9' mooching rod with a bit more back bone and speed (medium power, medium action) to try for a deeper hookset and fighting power, but I can't seem to get the hookset with a rod that stiff.

So it is a question of what gear are you bouncing with? Do I need a new toy, or do I need to take a new approach at my tactics?

a mighty zone 20 river hahahaha I never new steelhead ran the St. Lawrence !

[jackthefish]

10lb main and 8lb leader should be good enough for the currents. Id suggest a longer rod to help you fight the current but I know alot of bottom bouncers use 10'6 rods. Try again this weekend, maybe you will take a few lessons learned from last weekend and land a beast.

A new toy never hurt anyone either.

Thanks! We will eventually get one in the net!

[jackthefish]

a mighty zone 20 river hahahaha I never new steelhead ran the St. Lawrence !

[Spinninreel]

Twjoe, When you get fish in fast current, what I like to do is walk downstream to try and get them to turn their head downstream to a slower running area where it will be easier to fight the fish. I know what you mean by catching steel is fast water, they stay in one place and getting them to move is a challenge. Let me know how this works out for you.

[grubman]

Hey trout,
Most of the people here have no problem lending a hand to fellow members. How can one learn without being educated? And that's what a lot of us noobs or veterans go on here to do, share and learn. There will always be disagreement amongst people, but hopefully, one can still learn from their disagreements. I mean no disrespect to you, just pointing out that what you are posting are neither helpful or educational.
Even stupidity has it's own rewards.
Steve

Well said. That is why OFF has always been such a great site. Thanks for pointing it out.

Top I don't bottom bounce fast water, never had so if I ever did I'd be using a pool cue of a rod just to get that hook set. What is it you're going after (did I miss it)? Braid, stiffest rod with a slow tip, heavy weights, 3 way swivels that's what I'd be using.

Hope to see what you've been or will be catching.

[jackthefish]

Well said. That is why OFF has always been such a great site. Thanks for pointing it out.

Top I don't bottom bounce fast water, never had so if I ever did I'd be using a pool cue of a rod just to get that hook set. What is it you're going after (did I miss it)? Braid, stiffest rod with a slow tip, heavy weights, 3 way swivels that's what I'd be using.

Hope to see what you've been or will be catching.

Thanks Grubman. I'm targeting steelhead and browns.

[jackthefish]

Twjoe, When you get fish in fast current, what I like to do is walk downstream to try and get them to turn their head downstream to a slower running area where it will be easier to fight the fish. I know what you mean by catching steel is fast water, they stay in one place and getting them to move is a challenge. Let me know how this works out for you.

Thanks SR, I am going to give that a try when I hook on to the next one. Stubborn fish they are!

[NiagaraSteel]

For bottom bouncing my setup is pretty simple:

-Shimano Clarus Salmon & Steelhead rod-medium heavy power, fast action, 9ft long
-10lb sufix mono mainline
-8lb fluro for the leaders from the 3 way swivel

It sounds like you don't have your hooks sharp enough. I have no problem fishing 20"+ deep water with my 9'. I used mooching rods in BC for downrigging for coho and chinnook. You generally need a stiff rod for all types of fishing in very deep water.

[Newtotrout]

U can't go to the tackle shop and ask what they think? Why do people always want handouts? Want me to cast for utoo?

Just my two sense, I was new to the area last year and asked some pertinent questions regarding gear, locations and even proper landing procedure. Everyone was very helpful and maybe you try to get money out of everything in your life but some of us call this friendly advice. Thank you all that have been so nice and I can honestly say I know nothing about this subject so that will be all I can add.

[schnip]

Just my two sense, I was new to the area last year and asked some pertinent questions regarding gear, locations and even proper landing procedure. Everyone was very helpful and maybe you try to get money out of everything in your life but some of us call this friendly advice. Thank you all that have been so nice and I can honestly say I know nothing about this subject so that will be all I can add.

most tackle shops have profit it mind---there are few that dont--they will give you advice and then try and seel you something=is thier job and livelyhood to do so. that said advice is free--and i think all of us in here have taken alot and given as well--troutofmymind---straight up, guys like you make me not wanna be friendly.

[jackthefish]

Newtotrout, Schnip, you two make a solid point about friendly advice. It is a shame that a select few feel angling is an exclusive birthright.

[jackthefish]

I came closer to landing a chrome in the gorge this weekend. Beefed up the tackle (went with my stiffer 9'), spooled low stretch line, sharper hooks, fighting tactics per everybody's suggestion and had an awesome fight with a feisty chrome. Managed to dig it out of the deeper current by turning him around by walking downstream (thanks Spinningreel!) Once I got him out of the shelf he shot out of the water like a bullet. The hookset was solid and I was on the winning side until I realized I was not in a good spot to land him. Made the mistake of moving back upstream. Back to the current he went. Went to try and turn him around down stream again but by then my line was too frayed and snapped.

It was 11:30pm and after inspecting what was left of my mangled line, decided to call it a night. Worth the price of admission. I must have been fighting that fish for at least 15 minutes. To see it shoot out of the water like that got my blood pumping hard.

Some lessons to take home: Don't land upstream! Don't try and drag him up the shelf! Lol. Still 0 for 7, but trying to pluck these magnificent fish out of the deep, fast water from shore is too awesome to give up!

[FishingNoob]

I came closer to landing a chrome in the gorge this weekend. Beefed up the tackle (went with my stiffer 9'), spooled low stretch line, sharper hooks, fighting tactics per everybody's suggestion and had an awesome fight with a feisty chrome. Managed to dig it out of the deeper current by turning him around by walking downstream (thanks Spinningreel!) Once I got him out of the shelf he shot out of the water like a bullet. The hookset was solid and I was on the winning side until I realized I was not in a good spot to land him. Made the mistake of moving back upstream. Back to the current he went. Went to try and turn him around down stream again but by then my line was too frayed and snapped.

It was 11:30pm and after inspecting what was left of my mangled line, decided to call it a night. Worth the price of admission. I must have been fighting that fish for at least 15 minutes. To see it shoot out of the water like that got my blood pumping hard.

Some lessons to take home: Don't land upstream! Don't try and drag him up the shelf! Lol. Still 0 for 7, but trying to pluck these magnificent fish out of the deep, fast water from shore is too awesome to give up!

Well Done! Sounds like a great time! Your definitely on the right track! Keep her up!

[Spinninreel]

I came closer to landing a chrome in the gorge this weekend. Beefed up the tackle (went with my stiffer 9'), spooled low stretch line, sharper hooks, fighting tactics per everybody's suggestion and had an awesome fight with a feisty chrome. Managed to dig it out of the deeper current by turning him around by walking downstream (thanks Spinningreel!) Once I got him out of the shelf he shot out of the water like a bullet. The hookset was solid and I was on the winning side until I realized I was not in a good spot to land him. Made the mistake of moving back upstream. Back to the current he went. Went to try and turn him around down stream again but by then my line was too frayed and snapped.

It was 11:30pm and after inspecting what was left of my mangled line, decided to call it a night. Worth the price of admission. I must have been fighting that fish for at least 15 minutes. To see it shoot out of the water like that got my blood pumping hard.

Some lessons to take home: Don't land upstream! Don't try and drag him up the shelf! Lol. Still 0 for 7, but trying to pluck these magnificent fish out of the deep, fast water from shore is too awesome to give up!

Good report Topwaterjoe. What set up were you using for these fish; ie rod, line, leader?

[jackthefish]

Good report Topwaterjoe. What set up were you using for these fish; ie rod, line, leader?

Thanks!

Setup: 9' medium power/action rated for 8 - 12 lb. Three-way tied to 10 lb Trilene Big Game (low stretch) main line, 24" Maxima Ultra Green 8 lb leader, 6 lb fluoro line for a 1/4 - 3/8 oz pencil sinker depending which part of the backdrift I was at. The river seems calmer at night.

[steelies]

Ummm.... You guys mean.... Troutofmymind right?

[FishingNoob]

Ummm.... You guys mean.... Troutofmymind right?

Binjo!

[Spinninreel]

Thanks!

Setup: 9' medium power/action rated for 8 - 12 lb. Three-way tied to 10 lb Trilene Big Game (low stretch) main line, 24" Maxima Ultra Green 8 lb leader, 6 lb fluoro line for a 1/4 - 3/8 oz pencil sinker depending which part of the backdrift I was at. The river seems calmer at night.

When these fish broke off, did the leader break at the main line or at the hook?

[jackthefish]

When these fish broke off, did the leader break at the main line or at the hook?

The last fish broke off when the main line frayed against bottom structure, but the others broke the leader at the hook. I usually knot the swivel ends with a palmour or trilene knot depending line stifness. At the hook i tend to tie an improved clinch. Theory is if the leader is going to snap, it will happen at the hook end where the weaker knot is. I feel bad when a fish breaks off and has to live with fishing line streaming from its mouth.