I was up at Point Whitney last week and saw several coho jumping. I am going back up to Pleasant Harbor this coming weekend and would like to run up to the bay and fish for a few. I remember going there several years ago. I marked an incredible number fo fish and there were many jumpers but I didn't have much action.

I was hoping someone with experience up there could give me a few pointers on catching coho in Quilcene Bay.

Thanks Don

When I fished it, It is the most frustrating experience I had ever had... those Quilcene Bay fish just would not bite!

Some guys buzz bomb them and catch a few. Others motor mooch herring.

The key is to go very early.

Good luck and post some pics if you get some!

#6 Blue Fox spinner, remove factory hook, add a duo-snap and a 3/0 or 4/0 siwash. Lash a sand shrimp to the duo-snap/siwash shank with dental rubber bands or magic thread.

Cast it out, let it flutter down to the bottom and do a slow retrieve.

With the rain, you may find most of the fish have scooted up into the river.

Hey Dan,

How about a hootchie spinner? Ever tried one of those?

Are you sure that they were not the summer chums? I have heard that very few coho are in the bay as of yet. This rain will probably change that but just thought I would let you know that alot of what most see jumping in Dabob bay are summer chums. Againg hope I am wrong and that you cath em' up -TBJ

Hootchie spinners don't seem to work as well as the shrimp spinner for those stupid Quilcene fish. Occasionally, even the shrimp spinner will not result in any hookups.......which is maddening when the fish turn the fishfinder black and they're jumping all over the place.

- Go very early. Start fishing before anyone else is even there (including the netters) as the sunlight just starts appearing.
- Find the fish. Fish there.
- I use a barbless flourescent pink 2.5" buzz bomb and do not jig it in, I just cast it almost onto the beach (from my boat) and reel it in fast. Fishing from a beach works well too if you have beach access.

Fly fishing is great too - but if you really want to catch fish I'd recomend the pink buzz bomb fished very very early in a medium spinning combo. It works well for me in the lower canal. The bite is usually ending around the time the last 'early risers' are showing up to fish.

Good luck!

Hi

I grew up in Quilcene and I do share your frustration. I have caught them on buzz bombs, cut plug herring and spoons. I would agree with Dan that spinners are the best way to catch them...in the bay. Large bronze spoons with colorful red beads are definetly worth a try. I'd also try a large wedding ring with a small piece of worm. I have caught many coho in hip waders off the beach with this set up. Plus, this will catch sea-run cutthroat and Quil/Dabob bay sea-run cutthroat fishing (catch and release) is phenominal.

For the life of me, I can't figure out why these fish head up the Big Quil so early. There are only about two miles of river before they reach the hatchery and subsequent barrier. Even with low flows, many of the fish struggle upstream way earlier than any other smaller streams I know of. Don't bother with the combat river fishing--It is a snagger-fest, and reminds me of the post about the Skok.

So bring your large spinners with you and switch colors if you don't have much action. Oh, also you may be tempted to fish right on the surface, but most of the fish I've caught are near the bottom in about 30' - 40' of water near the entrance to the bay on the west side, just north of the spit.

Good luck!

I hate those Q-bay fish.

The most fish I ever got in one day (6) I used small herring, trolled.

But that was just once. I've never got them on that again.

I have got them (1) with a pearl/pink 2.5" buzz bomb. Fished straight down, on anchor.

One day I got them on the sandshrimp spinner too (2), unfortunately several were right in the dorsal (4).

I have spent many hours (50+)fishing there in my life and seen at least eleventybillion of the bastards jump, and landed 9 legally. On the average day there I probably say the words c0cksucker and motherf0cker at about 30 seconds on center.

"Why won't these c0cksuckers bite?"

"That motherf0cker almost jumped in the boat!"

All day long like that.

Hit it as everyone said in the first light. We catch them mooching herring. Run a cut plug. Hope for a 15min turn on in the bite first thing and then leave or else you will start talking like Rocket.

I hear you rocket. Been there...

Two other things to try. 1. Silver Sluggo (bass soft plastic bait) fished fast right on the surface. Cast out and reel in fast. Bites can happen right up to the boat so be awake as you pull it from the water. 2. Try half and half Dick-nites on a 5 foot leader with 1 one oz. cannon ball sinker,just like in the Snohomish. Cast and jig the rod on the retrive. Lift the rod tip 3 to 4 ft. let fall and reel so that the lure is making a zig zag vertical pattern. Most bites happen on the drop so watch your line. Let the rod tip down with out letting your line go slack. You should always feel the weight on your rod tip. The dick-nite flutters down and silvers love that free fall action.

Nothin' worse than fishing over GDF'n NON-biters!

Take me ANY place where the damn fish bury the rod, and I'm a happy man!

Shrimp/prawn spinners get the feeding fish. I like to mix it up and present territorial fish to strike plugs.

Thanks for the advice. I will provide a report.

that doesnt look like the quil doc