I'm at it. After catching a king on opening day, I've logged some thirty hours on the salt with nothing to show for it but empty spots in my tackle box where two flashers and three coyote spoons belong, along with a couple dozen dogfish-chewed leaders. I've poured over trolling tactics and yada yada on the net and am just about convinced to buy a black box--to see if it will chase off the skunk that's nesting somewhere between my release clip and terminal tackle. The worst part is that I know there are fish around, and guys are getting them...no--the worst part is that I don't know what I'm doing wrong...

The old men have started snickering at me at the launch, like a bunch of schoolgirls.

Can anyone recommend a couple definitive how-to books on trolling for salmon in the San Juans?