Spokey,

I'm familiar with the technique I believe you are using. Years ago, I used to fish off of the Edmonds pier for salmon. We would use just a cut-plug herring with no weight, and let it slowly sink and drift with the current while the reel was in free-spool, and the line would start to pay out when a fish picked up the bait. A lot of guys would make the mistake of setting the hook too early. This might be what is happening to you. Next time your out and a salmon picks up the bait, let him run with it at least to the count of 10 if not longer. I can see where you want to use the noodle to help cast the herring, it's tough with no weight for sure.

My advice, ditch the flourocarbon line and spool up with a quality 10lb. test mono. Use STICKY sharp hooks and let the fish run with the bait as long as you can stand it. When setting the hook with the noodle, don't use a sharp upward motion like you would with a heavier rod, use a long sweeping hookset, reel down QUICKLY, and set the hook again. If you are able to combine all of these elements, you should have more success. Now actually LANDING a big king with a light noodle well, that's another story...

Good luck