Just throwing out some curiosity questions here:

With all the numbers of salmon in the rivers and even higher numbers of fishermen, how many of you find good action fishing behind 15 boats?

Or, are you a "get to the honey hole first" person and camp out there for the day?

How many of you quickfish pullers prefer to anchor up and let the fish come to you? How long do you give a hole?

I've got my own thoughts on these questions. I'm just curious what others think and do. Feel free to reply as answering these questions won't give away secret techniques or places. I'd love to hear what any guides have to say.

P.S. Heard from a pretty reliable source that someone got a HUGE silver out of the chehalis yesterday and was frantic to find a scale.....possible new freshwater record. Keep your ears tuned.

[ 11-01-2001: Message edited by: Eric ]

Good question Eric. I'm wondering the same thing as I'm possibly headed out to the coast this weekend and might be taking my wife and a friend who's never caught a salmon. I don't relish trying to play the wee hours firedrill with newbies in the boat and will most likely sleep in and let what's sure to be an armada head out before us.

Bruce

From my experience,I've alway's hooked fish behind
others.But I've also have had great results first hole in every one to get the dumb / aggressive one's first.I don't mind being behind oh say 5-7 boat's but any more then that I start to get on edge.As far as runnin qwiks on the anchor that method work's great at times,but lot's of time they take better when on the move.Good luck,
STRIKE ZONE

There have ben many times we started late after the crowd left the ramp and got our fish.bank fishing in the winter I like to start mid morning,or later,the best winter fishing I have had has always ben mid day.

I don't think it matters too much. I see so much stupid stuff on the rivers, that I'm honestly surprised a lot of people catch fish.

You'll catch fish and do well if you have good eggs, and properly wrapped and tuned Kwik fish. The other key is reading water. Learn how to read the water and you'll do fine no matter when you launch.

Parker

Assuming the 15 dudes ahead of me know how to salmon fish proficiently, my answer would depend on the river conditions. If the conditions are low and clear I'd start early and run for a honeyhole and pound it hard. Otherwise I like to start late and slowly work anything but wrapped kwikies, since 3/4 of the dudes in front are running them. After the parade of plugs has gone through, there's almost always a limit of salmon that can be bounced or dragged out with eggs. Also diver/shrimp combos work for me in lieu of the banana-shaped plugs. Kings munch these big-time.

peace out..........

-----------------------------

"LastWater" ProStaff

I agree first water doesn't matter to me,after the water has been pounded by "Plug-Monkeys"
I like to givem some thing they haven't seen yet,some times it's something as simple as drift rig or a Jig.

example :last weekend we watched Pluggers ahead of us work some water pretty hard,after they pulled out we settled in and just tossed some corkie and yarn combo's......we hooked 3 fish in about 5 minutes.

I'd rather Bat clean-up.....chicks dig the LongBall ........Os

Hohwaiian???...jeese, there is a blast from the past.

Out on the Coast this year first water hasnt mattered that much for us. Weve been getting up late and fishing cleanup all year and still been cooning the Coho and we are mostly fishing behind guides. But we are mostly throwing hardware when most everybody else had been plugging in King water mostly. When there are lots of fish and the water conditions are good It dosent matter much for salmon.

When fishing steelhead I hate early risers--they often startle me on their way in while I'm packing out my limit.

The couple conditions where batting cleanup can be more productive is when the water is up and colored and fish are on the move thru 'secondary water', and even more significant is when the water temp is down into the upper 30's during winter steelhead season. It often get's better as the water temp comes up a couple degrees during the day and the early guys found lethargic to non-biting fish. I aluded to this in my column coming out in the Dec./Jan. STS steelhead issue. BTW, I also have a couple tech piece's in it by our own Bob Ball and Superfly Joe.

I like batting clean up when it comes to fishing, but don't like batting cleanup in any other way!
The best fishing is always 10:00-dark... Less of them freaks out there that think first water is everything!
Keith

I like first water, but seldom get it. Usually down in the middle of the fleet. My rivers are coastal.....here is what I deal with...... 50% of the people dont have a clue, they take the wrong line or anchor on top of the fish. Another 20% dont have good bait, presentation or are also lost soles...............soooo, there are usually lots of fish left for the taking....The first time I heard this saying, I was very young and inexperienced and I thought the person saying was soo very concieted, but as I learn more, it becomes truere and truer........"It's not so much where you are, but who you are"

Eric:

1. Being retired helps.....big time!!!!

2. 1st water, especially during winter steelhead season, with the increased number of guides working the local rivers. Pretty tough to fish behind 5-10 guide boats with 3-5 lines out.

3. Have 3 rods...1 for Kwikfish, always wrapped. 1 for the spinner bit and 1 for casting plugs. Can change to bait if these don't produce.

4. "Hate to camp out" but sometimes during "jack season" some areas are just sooooooooooooo much better than others. Other than that jack season, pretty much on the move, here, there, everywhere. Even go from river to river during the same day..........smile.......sure nice to have 5+ rivers to fish within 20 miles.

5. Sharp hooks, good bait, time on the water, Fishin Buddy, boat...being in the right place at the right time, different colors of plugs, spinners, cokies, yarn........and then it sometimes helps to have the "luck factor".

Heard about the big fish also.......but then there some "big ones" being caught that don't make the news.

"Worse day sport fishing, still better than the best day working"

I like putting in a little after first light. First off because I am ussually to damn tired to get up any ealier. Ussually I drift fish the water with corkies or eggs then I PLUG. there is nothing in the world that is more INTENSE then your rod slamming don't and having a fish on..