Heading out to Area 10 next week and targeting Kings. Do we still talk about fishing on this site instead of politics? It's been awhile since I have been here or had the time to go fishing.

Anyone have any success lately around Jeff Head or the Oil dock...or anywhere in the area?

I plan on using the usual green glow flasher and Herring kingfisher spoon / herring scent and between 80 and 120 ft on the riggers....but open to better options. I just bought some flashers that activate a flash in the water. Might be interesting.....

Thanks for any input that you have had success with in the last week or so.

I am South of your area. I've been finding fish at 135-140ft over 165-185 ft of water. I have had the most success using a chrome-uv-prism tape, 11inch fin, pro troll flasher. 33in 40lb UG leader to a 3.5 silver night 812, white uv. I use the pro cure garlic bloody tuna as scent.

Good fishing!

Midchannel in 9 has been on fire. Weather change mid week should get them heading south.

Appreciate the info... Nisqually Delta fish have been a tough nut to crack. Done well at fish trap in previous years though.

There my go to is the jigging the lures at tide changes. I am reverse kicker mode on the flood.

Fish were keyed in to plugs on Jeff Head last week. Getting a few on the green ace hi's as well. 130'

Don't know how much of a spoon year it's been as I hate using spoons as I'm not in to catching shakers. Start with a plug. If that's not working go to the traditional green squid or Ace Hi. I'd leave the spoons out of water.

The oil dock has started to heat up as well. Think the Lake WA fish are starting to to finally come down this way. Been low counts at the Locks.

And yes, the Tule King did catch a an honest to god tule.

Limited 3 yesterday at Midchannel dragging the bottom w/ coho killers. Long lasting bite on the outgoing clear up to noon. Lost a couple beauties. Very few shakers in the mix.

Thank you for all of the input and suggestions.

I went out on Saturday to Jeff head and we got 5 kings but all to small two shakers and 5 dogfish...thick with dogfish. I think someone was actually shooting them because on occasion you would hear a shot from a small caliber.

We were all up and down the column trying to stay about 10ft off the bottom we were using the herring aide spoon and a coho killer. Herring scent

The fish checker thought we were still early in the season when I asked how many kings were recorded at the Armani ramp. Nothing of real size he said yet. I'm going out again this Thursday and will try the Herring Ace Hi and and plug. I might head up to the oil dock to try there first and head to Jeff Head after if it isn't producing.

Rough conditions this morning prevented our run North to Midchannel... slow going. Attempted a troll on the AM incoming tide at Pt. no Pt. to no avail. It was blowing from the So. 15-20 which made it really tough for an effective troll. Obligations prevented waiting for it to lay down. Gave up and went to breakfast. Always tomorrow. Checker yesterday mentioned MA9 quota around 60% calculated days previous. Getem while you can. Tacoma tomorrow should be a blood bath.

Yikes.. I'm heading out tomorrow morning early from Don Armani ramp to either the oil docks or Jeff Head...if the wind is bad though most likely hug the shore and go to the Oil docks. I won't fish in bad weather and especially fog... been caught out there before in fog and it was a scary experience not being able to see. Never again. Will update when I get back tomorrow.

Jeff Head has been producing well for those in the know.

MCB has been pretty much nonstop HOT since the opener. Pretty impressive how good it has been for the length of the season, usually it kind of drops off a bit by now.

Lots of people fishing out of Pt. Defiance this morning; parking lot was full and folks parking on the streets. Fish were being caught but not red hot. The Roofers Assoc had their private derby today. Two PSA derbies coming up on the two following Saturdays. Our Gig Harbor chapter's derby is 13 August. Tickets can be purchased at Sportco, Narrows Marina, Ace Hdwr Gig Harbor or online on our webpage GIGHARBORPSA.ORG. Lots of good prizes to be given out both for weight and a raffle based upon your ticket number.

Point defiance was a zoo today. As Larry stated, there was the Roofer’s Association derby. We fished from about 5-8am before work and got one about #10 with a fin. Fishing was slow/fair during this time frame. I only saw a couple caught where we were. Hopefully there were some caught on the morning tide change that we missed.



Streamer

I did chat with the RCAW Board Director this morning and he said they had sold around 80 tickets so if one figures all fished and a minimum of 2/boat their derby participants were not the only folks fishing. Metro Parks needs to figure out how to get the necessary permit from the City of Tacoma to be able to utilize the overflow lot (approx 200 car capacity) adjacent to the new paved lot above the ramps.

I remember at one time discussion of building another launch at the end of the Pt. Ruston property where the historic ferry is moored was active. Would take lots of pressure off the PD launch.

More recently, as in the last two years, there was an effort by the Pierce County Outdoor Sports and Recreation Council to have a launch put in under the 11th St. bridge where the fire boats are currently moored. That effort went moribund when Pam Roach retired.

Good bite this morning. Got a really nice king and about an 8# coho and lost a couple other fish. Seems like a good push moved into Area 11.



Streamer

I was fishing Jeff Head yesterday morning along with about 50 other boats. I used everything in my box and finally got a nice ~12lb Native turned it back and that was all we got outside of the two dog fish. I didn't see many nets flying. I was going to head to the oil docks but my buddy had to get back. If anyone has the secret combo this year please share. I was using a 4 inch Herring Aide spoon dbl glow and Herring scent with a green glow flasher to get the wild one.

Picked up a couple of kings this morning down in 11. Nothing big. Each was probably #10. Also got a nice #7 coho. They are starting to show early and in some good numbers.



Streamer

Thought I already did, but here you. go.

All things being equal, the go-to MA10 rig is the Jelly Crush or Cracked Ice HotSpot flasher. Green UV Ace Hi on a 30" leader. 60# leaders with with a pair of good 5/0 sickle type hooks. That will get you coho and kings.

If the fish are keyed on spoons, generally it's a 4 or 3.5 Silver Horde spoon. Irish Cream, herring aid, etc. Run that about 42 or so inches behind a green/red flasher. 40# leader. Keep the CohoKillers in the. box for the MidChannel or Possession fishery up in MA9.

Lastly, don't be afraid to run the 603 Tomic Plug tied directly to your mainline. I run 20lb. Stren ExtraStrong....ExtraBeefy line. Works great. If you purchase 10 603's, you'd be lucky if half were true "swimmers". Once you find one that consistently catches fish, watch in "swim" in the water. Takes good notes. Swim your other plugs and if they are not exactly mimicking your known swimmer, smash them with a hammer in front of the rest of your Tomics and tell them to either "Swim like this, or die by the hammer". Some will listen to you.
Run your plugs 30 or so feet off of the clip. Run 'em way back and generally fish them close to the bottom. 130' seems to be a good number out at Jeff.

I only run known "swimmers" until I lose it on a sunken crab pot or get it cut off by some dumb-ass in a Arima that is trolling directly behind us. Fish will always come right up to the surface with a plug. Boats trolling behind you are not your friend and are mostly clueless idiots if they are following you. Beware of these boats.

No scents or bait is needed. Learn to fish without using a crutch.

Put your hours in. Can't catch fish sitting at home or being a weekend warrior. You have a limited time in MA10 and I highly recommend you all capitalize on it.

You're welcome and completely happy to help and give up information. I'd rather have you all catch these fish than have them go to waste. Kill them all. Please.

Thank you for your secret combo. I didn't use the correct flasher with the ACE Hi Fly last week. I usually use a 40# leader and number 5 hooks..but might be to long of a leader vs the 30in I was using the spoon length of 42+ . I didn't run an Irish cream for the spoon last time either...but did on the Herring Aide..most likely why I got the one Native. I was hoping for a surge of kings to come in but it seems by the WA State Creel reports they are just slowly coming in. I think I will head out there again this Saturday and see what I can pick up. It will be Oil Docks vs Jeff Head as I round West point heading out of Elliot.

This is the way.

This is some solid advice. That is why it’s important to always fish with different plugs and switch them up. Colors often have nothing to do with eliciting a bite. It’s all about dat action boss.

When purchasing used plugs (a recommended practice) always seek the ones that have the scratches and bite marks on them. They are tried and true. If you can’t catch a fish on a certain plug after a certain amount of time, toss it in the “to sell” bin and get rid of it.


Streamer

I bought a box of plugs from The Moderator many many moons ago.....and none of them had bite marks on them?? Come to think of it, I don't think any of them have ever solicited a bite?

Now I know why the plug box says "Hammer Box"....thought it stood for Hammertime.

cracked glass? Cracked Ice sounds good too but I am not familiar with that color unless it is new.

Thanks for the advice, it's pretty frustrating to be at Jeff Head seeing fish on the finder and wondering what I am doing wrong. I've had to learn all my fishing stuff on my own so an occasional boost from a knowledgeable fisherman is much appreciated.

Luckily for you, Tule King Paker has Boat Ho'd many rides in knowledgeable fishermen's boats to bring you this information.

Down here they are looking at young of the year herring. 3,0 or 3,5 spoons are certain to target these hatchery chinook.

I have an older coyote spoon in former wonderbread. Because it has been eaten by returning chinook.

I'm switching to jigging with these tides at the delta. To much green stuff washed around on these flows.

Thought I'd bring this thread back to the top since 10 is still open.

Since I ONLY catch wild fish this year, I've been going hungry. Going out tonight. What are you guys seeing now, Aug. 16, at Jeff Head, Kingston, and the tanks?

Hey that was me!