Plunking! What am I doing?

[code3daddy]

Hey everyone. I thank all out there that have helped me with tips on rivers, gear and bait. Now I have a curiosity about plunking.

My brother went out on a guide boat last year fishing for steelies. He and another guy sat in the boat while the guide rowed. They let their lines drift down a ways and then let it sit there and shake. At least that is how he described it. Is this plunking? What is plunking and what do you use to do it? Where do you do it? What is the science involved here?

Thanks

[wintersteelhead]

They were pulling plugs. Hot Shots or Wiggle Warts. They dive , depth depends on how much current/pressure is forced against them.

[ckim85]

plunking is when a lazy person takes a huge weight + bait of some sort and just lobs it into the river and plays the waiting game. thats about it...no science involved.

[Bodofish]

plunking is when a lazy person takes a huge weight + bait of some sort and just lobs it into the river and plays the waiting game. thats about it...no science involved.

Hey I didn't say you were stupid!!! Fish smart not hard! First off I can tell you I've caught more steelhead plunking than all the anadromous fish you have thought about catching. If there is a reason you can't catch fish plunking is because of your attitude and your ill-conceived notion that there is no "science" or better put, technique involved.

What's the number one rule of fishing? Fish where the fish is, not where it isn't. Proper placement of the pesentation is critical. Go ahead cast all day, I'd be willing to bet that one out of twenty casts you make are in the bang zone. How much science is involved there? Spray and pray! I just prefer to to put my gear in the right place at the right time and read a book while I wait for mister steelhead.

When done correctly at the right time plunking is an extremely effective way to catch steelhead.

[scott080379]

I wouls have to agree with bodo on this one. Plunking works great nad done at the right location it works great. This doesn't work in every river or at every hole.

I am not one for plunking but at the right location I will sit and wait and do it.

[BentRod]

From my experience, I'd have to contest the term "lazy". Although I've never tried for steelhead this way, this is how I've always fished for catfish and I don't feel lazy when I'm doing it. I'm usually pretty alert and attent to the movements of the rod and feel of the line while "plunking". I agree with scott and Bodo. If one method doesn't work, try another.
TL

[Dustin07]

hey bodo, how do you rig your line for that method?

[BMGW]

Gotta love it! For years I beat the banks and caught my share of fish and almost always the plunkers would have fish on the banks. As I got older and wiser, I realized that the time put in per fish by plunkers vs drifters is lower and the success rate is higher. I can't say that is backed up by scientific research just years of anecdotal evidence. I love the smell of a lazy fire, definitely not the smell of a "lazy fisherman". That aside, I have caught way more nice fish plunking and by using side planers than I have otherwise. It's a great way to get the family involved, play with the dogs, joke, eat, bs, and all while staying warm and dry, well depending upon where I am plunking. Since I have spent a fair amount of time in boats, drifting, and plunking, I say to all their great ways to fish. What I would like to say here is regardless of how you choose to fish, please respect the others. What I mean by that is if you plunk don't setup at the put in or take out that would inconvenience the boaters, and boaters please don't fish through the plunkers, likewise drifters should not fish so close to the plunkers as to cause tangles, and side planers be reasonable about blocking boat traffic by trying to fish the other side of the river, there is plenty of water for all.. OK off my soap box now. One advantage plunkers have is that they can effectively fish when the river is not quite driftable and surprisingly the fish will run very close to the bank, (less currant) damn lazy fish! LOL One of the best and easiest setups for plunking is using a drop weight on a 3 way swivel and running a baitline such as a spinglo with nothing on it except scent, or you could add a small cluster of eggs, most popular is a sand shrimp tail, or if you like you could run a plug such as a Hot Shot. Now the science kicks in as to how much weight to use, how long a bait line, what color, what size, what time is the tide and when is it time to change sizes based on the water flow. Almost every river has favorite plunking holes, one of the best ways to figure out how it works is get your gear together and head on down there and talk to the plunkers and I think you will find a warm welcome and fun bunch of guys. A plunking rod needs to be a little stiffer than your typical drift rod and you can make your own rod holder out of pvc, you will still need boots, at least knee highs, first time you hook into a decent sized fish you will understand why, oh yeah common courtesy is if a plunker has a fish on and your next to them you need to pull out, if it's a good fish and starts running and your 3 rods away you need to pull out, most plunkers do this automatically. Just thinking about this is getting me all excited for you. Go fish man!

[curado]

well said BMGW

[code3daddy]

Ok so to be clear. I need a heavier weight like, what, 2 - 6oz? What is my target on the rivers? do I need a heavier line or will my 12lbs do it?

Are plugs like Rappala's?

[Bodofish]

I always just used the same rod I used for drifting and everything else. A little more back bone would have always been nice. I was just careful when I casted, slow smooth swing. No flings, flips or rips. For weight I used 2 to 8oz pyramid weights and heavier if they wouldn't stay put. I did use 15# test line and the same for leader but there were more big fish back in the dark ages. As for setup main line to a three way then 18" of leader to another three way then a foot to 18" of leader to whatever weight you use. Off each of the tees goes a 18" leader with spin n glow, bead, yarn and hook. Size and color to match the water. Of course eggs or shrimp. Pick your spot carefully and how you cast to it. High banks do not work well. Pick a deep channel in a bend in the river so you can be pretty certain of where the fish will run. Cast directly across the river to the channel and as close to the far side as possible then reel it back in to where you want it. Straight across so you can sort of do a clothes line affair with the two leaders hanging down stream when the fish will run. Adjust the length of the leader to the weight so your presentation is as close to the bottom as you can get it with sitting on the bottom. Crack the flask, the book and hit the lawn chair. Another note on casting. I used to kind of get the whole mass of stuff swirling around in a circle as I was preparing the cast. It helps keep all the lines from getting tangled.

[Splitshot]

I take it plunking to the dift or float steelhead anglers is like bobber and worm fishing to the guys that troll endlessly around lakes for trout?

[BentRod]

I take it plunking to the dift or float steelhead anglers is like bobber and worm fishing to the guys that troll endlessly around lakes for trout?

That's my take on it.

[racfish]

For those who think plunking is the lazy way to catch fish then youre ignorant. I have filled out punchcards plunking the lower rivers and estuaries in Wa State rivers.Plunking is just another way too fish. Some folks crack me up when they drift they think they need a G Loomis or expensive Lami.Going in a driftboat with a guide is truly a way lazier way to fish.

Plunking for me is two spin n'glos on a 6 oz lead(depends on swiftness of water) with eggs or sand shrimp.Yes I take a book or the morning paper and read while I fish. Plunking is a great way for a handicap person to enjoy steelhead fishing.To call it a lazy man fishing is wrong. I space my leaders 2 feet apart using an 18" leader on the bottom and a 12" on top. Plunking is not done from a boat . I guess you could.I plunk from shore. Is there a science to plunking? yes there is.One needs to know where to cast and too make sure youre in a hole.I usually drift and plunk in one day.Depends on the tides and the moon.

[driftercn83]

okay lazy I am not but plunking is great for summer runs on the columbia and the best way is with a three way swivle a dropper line abour 1 foot and a half to a foot then a 2 foot to 3 foot leader spin and glo normally watermelon or orange and black or oragne a perice of prawn or a whole sand shrimp oh did I mention a 2 or three ounce rock att\ached to the dropper line which is made of 5 or 6 pound test using electtrical tape when the fish hits wait and then pop the rock off cause you will be snagged in place cheap weight and you are fighting all fish no weight and

[driftercn83]

Lets not hate on other peoples techniques unless its illegal snagging. and all of you that say plunking is stupid think about this if you fish for trout in a lake with bait or surf fish or fish for sturgoen thats all plunkin and lets give help not call people stupid