Anyone have some reports for this weekend out of Shilshole? Or am I better off headed for the river? Let me know....I am suffering from salmonitis and need to hook one for a short term remedy!

My dad fished it today with 4 other people on board, trolled 11+ total miles and never had a bite.

Fished the area all day yesterday. Since it is my last chance before hunting season starts, I gave it all we had. We had 10 fish total for the day. Unfortunately 5 were shakers, 3 were blackmouth, one an easy 20# the other @ 10# each, and 2 silvers at 5# and 3# repspectively.

Not the best trip of the year, but not the worst either.

So long to the salt for this year...........

DeKuma - thanks for the reply. Were you using the usual setup - flasher with green hoochie and herring strip? I think that was what you said you were using before. This is probably my last week for the salt too. Not as good as it could have been but not too bad either. Hope I do as well.

Thanks for the report!

Good luck with your hunting!

Busy,

I have switched from the usual set-up with the hootchie in favor of the Grand Slam Bucktail. Since making the change, it has consistently out fished any other bait/lure we have tried to compare it with.

Still using the green glow hotspot though.

Thanks for the good wishes, I will let you know how I do.........

May go after blackmouth at shilshole once deer season is over.

Busy,
The fish are still there. Fished at Westpoint from 7:00 to 10:00 then shot over to Meadow for a half hour or so. Two people, two keepers (one small, one 10#). We also lost another fish and had one hit hard enough to snap 20# leader. One setup was a green hotspot with a green/glow splatter back hoochie....no herring strip. The other setup was a deep diver with a hotshot w/rattle in blue pirate colors. Each setup took one fish. Checker at Alki reported about 1 fish per boat. Good luck if you go.
JMS

I know this is a little old but we fished their wekend before last and their were a lot of fish. We got four silvers and 3 shakers by 11 am. I am headed back out next weekend to give it another shot. We used same gear everyone else is using hotchies and hot spots. also caught two on whole herring behind a hot spot.

Dekuma,

What color grand slam bucktail are you using? When I went to John's in Everett the other day, he only had blue and white. I have been using the blue one a bit, but it hasn't been working real great for me 36" behind a large hotspot.... My green glow squid with the rock salted herring strip has been the most consistent for me getting coho. All my fish have been down 80-150', but I have been at the shipwreck.

Jeff"e"d -

I have been using both the green and white and blue and white. One weekend the blue needlefish was best, last weekend the green Herring size was best. I keep two or three of each size/color in the box at all times.

As for your leader length, I think it is too long. I have found after much trial and error that the bucktails work best with heavy leader in the 30-40# range with a length of 26-27 in. the best. Grandslam recomends 27 as the best option, and after many tries, I would have to agree with them.

Scott

I'd have to agree with DeKuma on the leader length. I have caught silvers on longer leaders but I have caught the most fish and biggest fish using 20" (seriously) leaders behind hot spots. I know that seems real short but it gives the fly a good whip as it trails behind the dodger and I think it pisses the fish off.

I will double that I also like to use 40lb or 50lb leader . It is a lot stiffer and improves the action of your hootchie or bucktail. Also I will never fish without scents again. Last time out we had four fish for four guys when the average was 1 per boat. I have been really lucky this year. 7 trips and 20 salmon two of the trip we were skunked and the other 5 full of action. I going to find some wood to knock on now.

Yeah, I hear ya on the leader length. I tied it at 36" because that's what John Martinez recommended. I've used fly's before that were much shorter, in the mid 20's. I am curious what length you use for blackmouth / kings or if you use bucktails when going after them....

I usually go to 30-32" for blackmouth, but this year I have hit several 10-20# backmouth with the 27" length.