I feel like I'm taking a risk here after looking at G-Man's 3 page thread about Fraser R. sockeye "fishing." Therefore, some ground rules. This thread is NOT about morals, ethics, or laws. This is about sockeye behavior, to the best of the angler's understanding. Some folks are saying sockeye "bite" the hook or lure; others say they are snagged via "flossing." I've not done this kind of fishing so I don't personally know, and I'm interested in your knowledge and opinions based on experience.

I tie flies for a co-worker who travels to the Kenai R. every year. He and his dad fish for and catch a bunch of sockeye. They regard it as a combo sport and meat trip. I asked him if the sockeye take the fly fair, or are they foul hooked? He said about 1 out of 5 may be foul hooked, meaning outside the mouth. They don't try to "floss." Most of the fish they catch appear to be hooked fair, inside the mouth, but there is no telling what the intent of the fish was.

I said I tie flies for this fishing, but they use what seems like fairly standard drift fishing technique. I tied these flies on size 6 hooks initially, but many straightened out. They use heavy line and leader due to the strong current. I started tying the flies on size 2 bait hooks last year (about the same shank length as the fly hooks), and now the flies last longer. They use a two foot leader and a piece of pencil lead heavy enough to reach the bottom, casting to the edge of the fast current. Because the main current is so fast, the fish migrate near the shore and inside the edge of the fast current.

BTW, they have done rather well using these flies, and fly size and color does seem to matter to their fishing success. Large flies on long-shanked hooks did less well. So, do these Kenai sockeye "bite" flies, or are they all flossed, yet mostly fair hooked inside the mouth?

Please refrain from posting ANY comments regarding the morality, ethics, or legality of this fishery. That was covered in G-Man's thread. I'm interested in the fish's behavior.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.