For the last 4 years I have been going down to fish the Columbia and ocean with a couple of friends. They have fished together for years, so one takes the port side and one the starboard, and I always get the prop wash. Every year they get kings and I get skunked. However, I get 2-3 times more silvers than they do combined. We use the same basic things, divers 12-25 pulls, bait, spoons and hootchies. If they were limiting every trip, I would think it matters fishing in the prop wash, but it's just enough to make me wonder. Any thoughts?

Try going a little deeper then them.I've caught alot more silvers in the wash also.Why won't they rotate positions??? after they get there's.Or aren't you paying your fair share for gas / bait / lunch etc.If your spliting all the costs equally then they should rotate if needed.If not then you may want to find new fishin partners.Good luck,
STRIKE ZONE

You will always catch more silvers in the wash they are a very aggresive fish. The kings however are more of a skittish fish that does not like the disturbance so close to the boat. Like what was said above I would try fishing deeper or trading spots if you are after kings.

If you're stuck in the middle and there is not much of a crowd try a flatline with a 6oz. weight, about 50 to 75 pulls and a plug cut. Even w/two downriggers I always like to have the one flatline out. It has saved many a day. Of course if dogfish become a problem I'll pull it.

Strike Zone, I'd never really thought much about it before to make it an issue. Thought maybe it was luck. But after last year I started thinking about the prop wash theory. I'm going down the week of 8/16 so I will make sure there's new boat rules in place.

I'd agree to all that's said, but on my boat we all take turns. Everyone has their rod at first, but once a fish is bonked, the rods are the other guys. We do this when trolling, as it's generally a "luck" issue as we're using the same bait, tackle, rods etc. To me, it's only fair to "spread the wealth", and it makes the trip more enjoyable for everyone. I've been with other guys (while trolling) who have limited out, while I sat and just fished, and it just seemed to greedy to me. Just my opinion.

I agree with Snitt. It is the same on my boat. The first fish goes to whomever put the rod down. After that it is rock paper siscors to decide the order.

It becomes a topic the night before, as to what time we will be playing our game.

I've never had a problem with the middle rod getting fish. Your problem may be, and please don't take this the wrong way, that you stink. As in, smell bad. I think chinook are the pickiest salmon as regards smell. At least farther up the columbia, being clean really makes a difference. If your gear smells bad, you may not get fish. Try washing your hands and terminal gear in Lemon Joy or other dish detergent before you handle the bait and fiddle with your gear. Particularly if you smoke or chew. A squirt of WD-40 may help matters also.

Another thought, are you achieving the same depth as them? Are you using heavier line or a different planer? Are your 'pulls' as long as theirs? Are they sneaking a few extra pulls on you when your back is turned (not that I know anyone who would do this...)? Are you using cut plug when they are using whole? Do yours spin the same way? That's just a few variables that could make the difference.

You might buy a six pack for one of them if he'll bait you for a day, and see if it makes a difference.

Silver Hilton-
You may Have a point. When I started using hand cleaner and (occasionally) washing my gear, things improved dramatically. I don't know if my "study" was exactly scientific, but the coincidence seemed uncanny.
Some people just have more L-lysine or whatever it is, on/in them we call it "stink-hand" (Stink-finger?).
Also, I chew and that's always been an issue in the back of my mind.
I bought some liquid stuff at Sportco (can't remember the name) that seems to work well.
There's some hand balm called "Yum" that appears to help. I rub it on after washing hands, after taking a pinch. I swear it works.
At least it eliminates the nagging thought in my mind "Is it the chew smell, or my smell?"

Try it, you can't lose anything, except a buck or three...

As to middle rod- Agree ahead of time that you rotate. Otherwise, find less selfish partners!
I like to employ the first-to worst theory: Whoever dangles first goes to the worst position (or imagined worst position).

it's not the chew smell, i spit copenhagen spit on practically all my steelhead & springer egg knots when i tie them....

if you can, cant your pole just to either side of the wash (or as close to the edge of the wash as you can get) you'll pick up more kings. if you can't get on the edge or just outside the wash you will be forced to fished deeper....

i agree 100% on the smell, i put mike's shrip/anise or spray bang anise oil on my hands before handling bait & any time i am going to touch the bait... I also spray it into the plastic bag I am going put the cut plugs into..

learn how to plug cut your own bait, (there are very few humans that can be trusted with the bait, much less attempt to cut it without proper training), always use the coho side of the block, use a good SHARP filet knife, cut it like bread as close to without touching the gill plate, make certain the edge it straight, crisp, & smooth without any burrs, use extreme care to get the guts out so as not to rip or damage the belly, keep ice under & on top of cut plugs in a little cooler, check your bait everytime before you put it down & after every thing that happens to your pole that looks fishy, (bring it up slow), when the bait is working right, it looks like las vegas...

it really doesn't matter where on the boat you drop your stuff down if you are certain your cut bait is right, silvers do indeed tend to hang higher up in the wash though but, it certainly doesn't exclude you from the kings by "having to" fish the wash, frankly i couldn't care less where on the boat i fish, i would of course prefer the port side but, hey i figure if i am lucky enough to be on a boat, trolling for salmon, i personaly would never raise the matter of where i am fishing (unless of course, it was my boat) as long as i get to cut my own bait, rig my own stuff, & pull the # of pulls I want to...

for what its worth, when i get to fish the wash, 25 is my number (w/ 4 ounce, narrow beam EZ Diver & red triangle flasher) & I do get more silvers than kings but, i get at least my fair share of the kings too ....

With the depth and speed that you fish Kings at, I sincerely doubt prop wash is a factor at all.

Listen to SH, believe me, he knows about stink.

Yeah, Dawg, after last time, the boat is just now getting habitable again.