EAmon___hoffman123
7/14/2011 10:59:00 AMJ-MICHAEL
7/14/2011 11:41:00 AMleviP
7/14/2011 12:53:00 PMGringo Pescador
7/14/2011 1:19:00 PMJ-MICHAEL
7/14/2011 2:22:00 PMI really wanna try Drift Fishing since most my fishing has always pretty much been spinner or spoon fishing... Just put in your time, go through the trial and errors, learn from your mistakes, learn from others, and in time like anything you'll have success ;) Last time I was out practicing some Drift Fishing was last fall on the Wallace River parked by the Highway 2 bridge while I was down by a hole I hiked up to and even tho it was pooring down rain and the river was not favorable for catching fish, my only intentions were to just practice and practice. Trying different jigs, corkies, and whatever else I hear the gents on here use as I read there reports. Which reminds me, that was the afternoon that I then was done fishing, and then hiked back to my 2004 BMW only to find the drivers window smashed completely out. Ugh ! Amazing how brave someone would be just feet from the Highway to do such a thing. Lol. Glad I drive a Jeep now... =)
I started out spinner fishing when I was like 14 and living in Arlington at the time just fishing the local ponds and such. (I'am now 41) But one day when I was 15 years old I was down hiking near my house down by the Stillaguamish River (Blue Stilly Park) and at that time Rooster Tails were my favorite, and stumbling across my first humpy using one got me addicted then to river fishing ever since. Later then I got my first Steelhead there at that hole also =) I went from the Rooster tails, to then the Super Vibrax's, and now for the past 15 years or so I've mainly prefered the Mepps Aglia's in the number 3 form with a #2 or 3 Gamakatsu Octopus (red) hook. I prefer the brass Mepps, but still use also the silver bladed jobbers also...
I'll tell ya, I've tried the different colors of the Mepps and the painted blades don't suit me just because that incy amount of weight added to the blade does effect the finesse of the blade spin when I'am in striking zone of the fish and I want that SLOW hover then above bottom. The Mepps work great for hovering into the holes while spinning at a slow speed. Rooster tails, Blue-Foxe Vibrax's all require a little faster retrieve. After a long time, the little things do matter and its just my preference and what I see works for me ;) When I leave for fishing, its the fishing hat, polarized glasses (To help see what's going on) my needle noses pliers in my left Carhartt's for any release of fish without me or the fish getting out of the water, scissors also there, then the rightside sleeve on my Carhartt's is my pruning snips (for any annoying small branches...Lmao) & also my small sharpening stone, so that while still in the water with my waders, I can check my hooks periodically and maintain complete sharpness. Sharp hooks do make a difference ! I'am picky on that... In my left pocket is my shrimp scent that I make sure I use periodically to hide any scents and in hoped of added enticement. Lol. Then it is just my fishing vest and rod and reel, and I'am off hiking up & down the river looking for those quiet overlooked holes away from the crowds. Combine that with early morning, and you'll usually at least hook a fish !
Generally tho, once I read the water and understand where the fish will be, I'll cast upstream to around the 2 or 3 o clock position, and then depending on the conditions or hole I'll either stall to retrieve a bit to just get the weight of the spinner to my target zone, and then all the variables come into play with how fast I'am retrieving at, but while my spinner is coming around to the 11 o clock position I'm usually at almost a dead slow retrieve as the lure is making its turnaround and is also in the strike zone hopefully near bottom if the cast was good. Then shortly after, I slowly start to pickup my speed on retrieval just because I'am nearing shore and wanna stay away from then snags, and also want to get my spinner back to put it back in front of the fishes nose ! Haha =)
Best time to maybe practice is like when the humpies are running or something, and then you can pratice with them for spinner fishing ;) Either way you'll get it... Good luck to ya !