I think it's important to "match the hatch." This time of the year, most of the bait is pretty small, depending on where you are. Lots of time it's candlefish.

So if you're using spoons, use coho killers and smaller style spoons. Green, green/glow, that sort of thing. If you're using hootchies, use the thin needlefish-style hootchies. If you're using bait, either buy small bait, use herring strips, or cut your big bait down to present a small profile.

I like the Smelly Jelly pastes, they are the consistency of Vaseline, I use the herring (blue) and the anchovie (off white), I've had really good luck with both of them. I've also heard Tom Nelson talk a couple of times about mixing them with garlic, but I've yet to try it.

Most important this time of year is fish on the bottom... like within 10 feet of the bottom, the closer the better. That's where the blackmouth will be most often.

The WD-40 cleans off your gear, removes the human scent, and if you add Smelly Jelly or some other oil to your gear, it makes a scent trail, this is what's I've been told. The "WD" in "WD-40" stands for "Water Dispersment"

Check out Tom Nelson and John Keizer's black mouth articles in the last two issues of The Reel News, they've got good info in there.

You can find Smelly Jelly and free issues of The Reel News at most good tackle stores, I know Outdoor Emporium in Seattle will have them both.

-N.