Spoon Chuckin' the East

[instapump416]

I like using the albright knot to connect two lines together.

 

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This guy's 15lb braid catches boats and doesn't let go!!!

Too funny man. Lets go tonight!

haha....imma switch out my braid for a 5000lb winch, start landing those boats! we coulda jumped on that one tonight it came in so close, ignorant people!

 

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Is a fluoro leader a good idea off a braid mainline? I have 15lb powerpro braid as well. I'm thinking something like a 12lb fluoro leader might work well. Might try some fancy braid to fluoro knot if that exists, or maybe a swivel. How long do you guys like to make your leaders? Obviously when using a swivel, seeing as you want to avoid the tip-top with your swivel, leader length will effect casting.

albright or surgeons knot for line to line connections, if your rod is soft enough, you can run a lighter leader, i use a 9ft light action rod, 15lb braid, 10lb fluoro leader to a 3 inch steel lead to protect against teeth, those cleos aren't cheap! 18" leader is a good place to start

 

[openfire]

If you're casting at night with glow in the dark lures like cleos, moonshine spoons, etc.. then straight braid is the ticket, no need for a flouro leader.

When dawn hits, I would go to either A ) a second rod loaded with mono line (6lb Trilene XT, 8 lb XL... etc..) or B ) use braid with a flouro leader using an albright knot... the trick to keep maximum cast-ability is by keeping the flouro leader short enough so the knot doesn't go through the guides. So 18 - 24 " maximum on a 11' rod will work.

I've done both separately, but I prefer to bring two rods, one with straight braid for night spoon chucking and another with light mono for sun-up. Hope this helps.

 

[myspacedave]

I haven't had any success yet but are people around you hooking up? If they are maybe observe what they're doing and ask questions.

I can't wait to get my first spoon salmon

I hooked up almost immediately. Few guys around me got some, then it slowed down and died off for the rest of the weekend, as far as i know. Looks like you just gotta keep chuckin' in the early morning. That's why they call it fishing, not catching

 

[myspacedave]

If you're casting at night with glow in the dark lures like cleos, moonshine spoons, etc.. then straight braid is the ticket, no need for a flouro leader.

When dawn hits, I would go to either A ) a second rod loaded with mono line (6lb Trilene XT, 8 lb XL... etc..) or B ) use braid with a flouro leader using an albright knot... the trick to keep maximum cast-ability is by keeping the flouro leader short enough so the knot doesn't go through the guides. So 18 - 24 " maximum on a 11' rod will work.

I've done both separately, but I prefer to bring two rods, one with straight braid for night spoon chucking and another with light mono for sun-up. Hope this helps.

Thank you so much! I meant to ask someone that mentioned glow stuff about it. I currently have 2 of them in my arsenal, and i just charge them with my smart phone flashlight. I heard UV money checkers are excellent to charge them. I was also told that glow nail polish will help revive their youthful... glow? oh im the worst. I was wondering if the UV light is worth it, in your opinion. Half my water time is usually in the dark. 4:30/5am-6:30, then I change to colours and flashers.

 

[myspacedave]

I'm definitely winning the numbers game for attempts this year. Makes for very sad fishing stories, and an even more disappointed me, but I'm an honest fisherman. Never understood the lying and deceit fisherman do to each other. Maybe if we all taught responsible angling and conservation to our friends, there would be more social stigma on us to clean up after ourselves. Seems the one hobby ppl aren't encouraged to learn. 5 years ago, I used to fish with less experience, less often and get more fish. I dunno wtf happened to me!!! Sorry for the rant. Needed to get that off my chest.

 

[myspacedave]

Go at night with glow in the dark spoons, don't wait for your spoon to sink, it should be heavy enough to be at the proper depth during retrieval without needing to wait with your bail open after each cast.

Vary your rate of retrieval. When everyone leaves after 1-2 hours, stay and keep casting. If you still haven't hooked up, keep casting. When you're too cold and tired, put in another 1-2 hours.

ya, that's usually me on the pier alone, cold, and red in the eyes.

 

[myspacedave]

Your approach seems right on. An open water Chinook will give your 6lb line a good work out hahahaha.
I commend you on your new outlook of fishing. Too many times have I seen horrible things by other anglers on the river. I also sometimes refuse to fish mid run in the rivers because IMO, the salmon are not feeding and it is a floss fest.
Catching a salmon like that does not make me feel good about myself.

That is why my new favourite thing is winter/spring steelhead. On a good day, they can be very aggressive and it is obvious when they are feeding.

Get out there as much as possible and try to get an open water one before they all move into the rivers! Good luck.

Thanks brother! I became involved with other friends that shared the same interests of conservation, and now we just live it. Do you think it would be a bad idea to stay chuckin' till our steelie/bow friends move into rivers? Or is that a waste of time? I have a buddy I'm trying to convince to do that, but it's his first run, and I think he wants to chase em up the creeks. I feel the same as you. SNAGFESET! F*** That! I was one of them once, I transcended. I judge. I'm an asshole. I'm comfortable with what I've become. If I do hit the rivers, got any good suggestions to avoid snagging up salmon, and maybe enticing a strike?

 

[myspacedave]

 

[BERRRG]

I like using the albright knot to connect two lines together.

albright or surgeons knot for line to line connections, if your rod is soft enough, you can run a lighter leader, i use a 9ft light action rod, 15lb braid, 10lb fluoro leader to a 3 inch steel lead to protect against teeth, those cleos aren't cheap! 18" leader is a good place to start

If you're casting at night with glow in the dark lures like cleos, moonshine spoons, etc.. then straight braid is the ticket, no need for a flouro leader.

When dawn hits, I would go to either A ) a second rod loaded with mono line (6lb Trilene XT, 8 lb XL... etc..) or B ) use braid with a flouro leader using an albright knot... the trick to keep maximum cast-ability is by keeping the flouro leader short enough so the knot doesn't go through the guides. So 18 - 24 " maximum on a 11' rod will work.

I've done both separately, but I prefer to bring two rods, one with straight braid for night spoon chucking and another with light mono for sun-up. Hope this helps.

Sweet thanks guys. My reels are loaded with braid and I think I'll use the albright knot to fluro leader as the sun comes up. Rods are on the Heavy side, and I'll probably use 10lb test leaders. Thanks!

 

[balt0]

I use 12lb Maxima UG leader and use a swivel to connect braid to mono.

 

[thebigchombowombocombo]

I've gone 4 times so far and only hooked up twice on two seperate days the day after rainfall. Suprisingly no hits on glow lures yet. If the average/fast/twitching retrieve doesnt work then I suggest slow reeling it in to the point where its hitting rocks or ticking the big boulders in the water. You will snag though lol so prepare to lose some. Lost 2 spoons so far D=

 

[rich_ace_G]

i'm hunting for early steel. woolys leech & some roe....if it gets warm. i'm back kayak fishing instead.

 

[GuitarBuildingAngler]

Thanks brother! I became involved with other friends that shared the same interests of conservation, and now we just live it. Do you think it would be a bad idea to stay chuckin' till our steelie/bow friends move into rivers? Or is that a waste of time? I have a buddy I'm trying to convince to do that, but it's his first run, and I think he wants to chase em up the creeks. I feel the same as you. SNAGFESET! F*** That! I was one of them once, I transcended. I judge. I'm an nether orifice. I'm comfortable with what I've become. If I do hit the rivers, got any good suggestions to avoid snagging up salmon, and maybe enticing a strike?

In rivers it is very difficult to avoid snagging or flossing them. They are so damn big, and stack up so many to a pool. In all honesty, when mid salmon river season hits, I target Coho's. The Chinooks are not actually biting. They are either getting flossed, or you entice a hit through pure salmon aggression (but that's hard to pull out of them when they are literally dying to mate).

The Coho's will eat though.

 

[rich_ace_G]

In rivers it is very difficult to avoid snagging or flossing them. They are so darn big, and stack up so many to a pool. In all honesty, when mid salmon river season hits, I target Coho's. The Chinooks are not actually biting. They are either getting flossed, or you entice a hit through pure salmon aggression (but that's hard to pull out of them when they are literally dying to mate).

The Coho's will eat though.

Chinooks are usually flossed or accidentally hooked. They tend to sit on the pool, (the bigger salmons) when it's shallow you can see cohos moving around. One thing I notice, when hooked, chinooks would sprint like it's winning gold...cohos, shake shake shake...but that's just my own observation....

 

[Fishheads]

Chinooks are usually flossed or accidentally hooked. They tend to sit on the pool, (the bigger salmons) when it's shallow you can see cohos moving around. One thing I notice, when hooked, chinooks would sprint like it's winning gold...cohos, shake shake shake...but that's just my own observation....

IF a chinny bolts for gold (I like that haha) ... that is usually the quickest way to know it is foul hooked. If a chinny strikes you're presentation and you have done it right, you will usually know. I have had some SERIOUS had shakes upon hook set on those beasts.

 

[myspacedave]

Was in there again today. Was very busy. Had one on, but it got caught up in a next guys line and I lost it. Two on from shore and boats kept getting them continually as they passed by. Leads me to believe it was a directional and/or depth problem. I got mine with a lazy, fluttering retrieve. I'm hoping this rain holds off another day so I can get another day on the water. I'll let you guys know if anything of interest happens. Thanks for all your help!

 

[steve7321]

I was out all night and morning. There are some fish but I wouldn't take the 2 hour drive again if I knew that the numbers were still not there. There are a few that enter the mouth and that's all that was within casting distance. I threw everything at them and nothing. But new groups show up and instant hook ups. So depressing. Still not running yet. Very soon.

 

[ChromeAddict]

^^
Same thing happened to me last night. Guy pulls up and first cast gets a 17lb female on the same spoon I was using.