Can someone explain how to “mooch” in Elliot bay for the Kings?

OK so it is a lame question but I don’t seem to be able to find an answer.

I know none of geek boys I work with would know so I cant ask at work

For Herring, I would use a 4-6 oz Metzler sliding weight, bead chain, and six foot of 30lb leader to a mooching rig. Drop to bottom medium speed, when you hit bottom, reel up 5-10 times then drop again.

Kill the motor and let the wind drift you slowly as you bounce your setup up off the bottom and let it fall back down.

Good luck-

The best mooching areas are right out in front of Todd Shipyard (know as the Hump) and Duwamish Head...

Although quite a few folks mooch during the summer months for Returners, most mooching takes place during the winter - Tengu Derby - for blackmouth.

Everything Downriggin said I agree. Would suggest to go with what works best for you at this time in the season, then work on the feeder blackmouth in the winter. As everyone had said "mooching is an art and a technique that you won't master in a few outtings". Try doing a search in the archives or Salmon University. Besides that, there's hardly a place where I can mooch without havin' to pull up cause a cannon ball puller gets to close to the boat. That's why you aalso need to bring your own cable cutters.......

Robert

Ain't that the truth. We fished Sekiu over the weekend,and had a boat about 30' long troll so close to brothers boat my brother could have touched the other boat with his rod tip. My brother made a comment about there being plenty of water,and the people in the other boat just smiled and went on their way.

If you're out there before light go shallow. 25 pulls max.

Ive tried mooching a few times and use a bananna weight. The problem is that the herring seems to get twisted around the main line a lot. How do u get around that? Is it a real slow drop and retrieve?Thanks in advance!

"Is it a real slow drop and retrieve?"
Not necessarily. Drop and retrieve rates may vary for best success. Many variables will dictate. While experience helps, experimentation is often the norm.

How do u get around that?
Try avoiding these two most common problems:
1. Dropping down too far too fast.
However if a fast drop is desired, then step down 10-15' at a time and hold before next drop. If a quick free fall to the bottom is desired then quarter cast across the tide direction to impart a slight bias tension.
2. Using too long, light or limp of a leader material. This is typically THE most common error.
Generally I will use a heavier, stiffer material for leader than my mainline. Remember, with mooching you're not out there to fool em' but to feed em'. If you can serve it to them "their way", they don't care if it is on a rope.
I typically use 7-8' of 20-25# Chameleon or UG for salmon. McCoy works fine too.

Great question. Mooch on.

Mooch out.

JK. you have to have an angle in your line when you let it down. kick your boat into gear and let your line down. once you initially establish an angle you are good to go. I'd bet that just dropping it straight down gives you the tangle.

A swivel in the middle of your leader cuts down on line twist as well.