by Captain Pete Rosko for The Mack Attack, September 26, 2014

Since there are so many fish species that are caught on the Sonic Baitfish® (SBF) in September, this issue will cover just three of my favorite species.

Coho (silver) salmon…Jig, cast or troll. Jig or cast (depending on water depth), a 1/4, 1/3, 1/2 or 3/4 SBF. To maximize flutter on the fall, fish the lightest SBF to effectively reach your target but still reach the depth you want without too much line angle. Vertical jig from any of the three attachments (nose, back or tail). The fish will tell you which attachment they prefer. Cast by attaching your snap/line to the nose or tail. Troll…Attach the SBF to the nose (or tail), never to the top of the back. Trolling a 1/3, or 1/2, oz SBF can be extremely effective for coho salmon during daylight hours with basic equipment.
During low-light hours, especially at sun-up, I will cast (spinning tackle works best) a 1/3 oz SBF ahead of my troll path. This permits the SBF to fall until my boat passes beyond it and the line becomes taut. This causes the SBF to stop fluttering on the fall and start swimming towards the surface. This technique enables the SBF to cover about 40-50 feet of water below the surface. This is a simple technique that you can use, and surprise your fellow anglers on your boat, that are going through the extra effort of using downriggers. When sun drives the fish lower, I attach a 000 Deep Six diver, 4-5 feet ahead of the same SBF, to take it down as far as 80 feet (001 & 002 divers take the SBF even deeper). You can also add a Double D Dodger® as well for added attraction while trolling.Once I locate the fish, I stop trolling and either cast or vertical jig the SBF according to the marks on my fish finder. Remember to turn your fish ID off as it will misinterpret bait fish for predator fish.

Kokanee…As with all my techniques, I try to keep things simple. Vertical jigging for kokanee will soundly out-fish trolling, or any other technique, when done correctly. The ideal sub-surface water temperature for kokanee is 54 degrees. When you combine this with a quality fish finder, and a slow drift, expect a great day of catching kokanee. Don’t fish blindly! Locate the kokanee on your fish finder…the larger the school, the better the action. Vertical jig a SBF from any of its three attachments and, as previously mentioned, let the kokanee tell you what they prefer. Track the zig zag pattern of your SBF on your fish finder screen and stop the lure at, or just above, the fish mark. I never over-jig; especially for kokanee. Limit your rod lifts to between 6-12 inches. At times, “dead-sticking” will out-produce active jigging.

Look for our new finish, coming soon… hot orange! I consider this to be a superior finish for kokanee and many other species of fish.
My kokanee tackle consists of ten pound braided main line attached to 2-3 feet of ten pound fluorocarbon leader via a double uni-knot. For quick lure changes, and livelier lure action, a duo-lock snap is always connected to the terminal end of my leader. My favorite spinning rods are 5 1/2 to 6 ft light action rods.They are light in weight, sensitive and have good backbone with an ultra fast action tip section. When vertical jigging, rod & lure control lessen as you increase the length of your rod.

Walleye, bass & panfish…I love casting to these species in calm, shallow water, including streams, rivers, ponds and lakes. This is especially effective early morning, late evening and on cloudy days. A 1/10, or 1/6, oz SBF, with line/snap attached to the nose or tail, can be unforgettably effective. Basically, a cast and straight slow retrieve is all you need. If the fishing is slow, I will often give the SBF two hard jerks after it hits water. This is to mimic the sound of feeding predator fish. Then I revert back to a slow, continuous retrieve. The only time I retrieve fast is when fish are “boiling” on the surface. The SBF will gurgle as it moves swiftly over the surface…very effective (listen for that gurgling sound with the SBF). My tackle for this style of fishing is the same as used for kokanee.

Thank you for subscribing to the Mack Attack and I will share more of my tips with you in the October issue.

Pete