First report. I’m from Minnesota so salmon fishing is still a bit of a mystery to me. Fishing tides, pods of baitfish, flashers, etc is not second nature to me. It has been a challenge but a ton of fun learning a whole new fishery and style of fishing.

Any case...we launched at 5:30a from Shilshole and for some unknown reason the big motor never ran (I run a 175 Merc Sportjet on a 19 Alumaweld Stryker) Change of plans since we’re now limited to the kicker. Luckily we had an outgoing tide and we were able to make a run from Richmond to Edmonds. We caught (3) silvers - two in the 5 lb range and a shaker. Two on herring aide coho killer and one on an ace hi in fly chartreuse and white.

A couple questions - I hear a lot of people fishing “rips” - are these identified by the piling up of grass in a line? Second question how heavy of downriggers ball is appropriate for 100’+?


Minus the motor it was a pretty enjoyable morning - looking forward to getting back at them.

If anyone has knowledge but no boat I’d be happy to take you out - or if you have a boat and would just like to help a Midwest boy with this great fishery let me know

Mick

riverhunter

8/13/2018 4:54:34 PM

Rips are essentially what you described but not only limited to seaweed gathering. If you ever came across flat calm water and then you see a line or lines of moderate choppier water those lines are your rips. They can be straight or all over the place. Also 12lb ball is usually ideal but I prefer a 15 lb ball for coho as you tend to go faster which can cause your gear to raise up on the water column. Example if using a light ball and you are trolling fast with 100 ft of line and you have a light weight on you will most likely be from 75 to 60 ft with a heavier weight 100 ft on line out you will most likely be around 90 to 75 ft

mickcermak

8/13/2018 5:29:26 PM

Thanks for the feedback. I’m running 12 lb and thought the same thing - running 3.5+ mph the cable was running too high.

mickcermak

8/13/2018 5:43:17 PM

Thanks for the feedback. I’m running 12 lb and thought the same thing - running 3.5+ mph the cable was running too high.

mickcermak

8/13/2018 5:58:34 PM

Thanks for the feedback. I’m running 12 lb and thought the same thing - running 3.5+ mph the cable was running too high.

Ward

8/13/2018 5:57:45 PM

12# downrigger balls are fine. Just do the math to get actual depth. You get less blowback with braid on the downrigger. I've chosen braid but a lot of good fishers go with cable.

I have a couple 15# balls sitting around because I haven't taken the time to adjust the brake on the downriggers. I'll probably have them ready for use for winter blackmouth where you fish the bottom. Right now, I haven't run the downriggers past 125' and mostly fish suspended chinook at 75-90'.

Just wait until September and you'll be fishing rips for ocean coho. That's my favorite Puget Sound fishing of the year cause there isn't much better than an 8-10# coho on light gear.

Keep at it and you'll be a Puget Sound expert in short order.

18ftTrophy

8/13/2018 6:56:58 PM

Rips are great for fishing Coho. Chinook is fishing bait balls and working bottom contours (edges of bars, holes or pockets).

rmrauscher

8/16/2018 9:14:43 PM

Go with a 15lb ball. Make sure you adjust the brakes on your downriggers. For me a 12lb just doesnt get the job done due to currents and tides. You still have to do the math if you want to know how deep you are actually fishing. I think there is a chart on NWFR somewhere that is actually very useful for quick reference. For example: (regardless of ball weight) 100 feet of cable at a 45 degree angle is only fishing about 70 feet or 141 feet on the cable if you want to fish 100 feet with cable at 45 degree angle etc etc etc..... Also I run braid because the hum from steel cable is annoying.

mickcermak

8/17/2018 9:13:32 PM

Thanks for all the feedback fellas.

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