With the opener coming up I was wondering what can we expect for blackmouth fishing. Theres a derby at Sekiu opening weekend if ya'll didn't now. Do you prefer downriggers over mooching. Let's here all the secrets since were all buddies here. By the way great lodging and brealfast for you guys coming to Forks area at Bear Creek Homestead Bed and Breakfast.

I think Port Townsand is the place to be! And bring you Scotty's!

I live in Tacoma and fish Point Defiance alot. This works for me: If I don't have luck early, mooching, I switch to trolling with downriggers. I like to troll a line between Owens Beach and the slag pile. I start on a 120 foot line. I use a large green flasher on one side, with 40 lb. leader, cut to 3 times the length of the flasher and I troll a green spackle-back hoochie. When I find the 120 foot line, I let the downrigger all the way to the bottom and come up maybe five feet. On the other side, I troll a small red flasher, again with 40 lb leader, 3 times the length of the flasher, and troll a green, spackle-back, mini-hoochie. I have twinkle skirts in the hoochies and I cut off every 4th tentacle. I troll as slow as I can and still work the large flasher. When I complete the troll on the 120 foot line, if I've had no luck, I move out to 140 feet, and so on out to 180 feet. The bottom is very nice between Owens Beach and the Boathouse, I've never had any problem with hanging up. I usually have luck somewhere in this process. Of all this, I think the depth is the key, keep the terminal gear near the bottom. Watch closely because you will pick up sanddabs, they are very aggressive, I wish they were bigger.

[This message has been edited by T Dodge (edited 02-03-2000).]

Keep your downriggers at home, if you head to the PT area... there are too many of them here already.

Mooching is the most effective and least intrusive, kind of like running a drift boat instead of blasting up the Hoh in a sled. Midchannel will have fish on it as it always does. There are other, smaller areas to fish as well. I think the key after the opener will be to follow the birds... I've had good success doing just that this past fall.

Another key is to use fresh bait if you can find it. Mike at the Fishin' Hole usually brings some in if there's a demand. Otherwise, keep a bait net in your boat.

Midchannel Bank was very good to me in Nov. I will be back again in Feb and March. Mooching or downriggers -- both work I think the key is find the bait find the blackmouth. I will be using a green glow flasher with 40lb leader and Grand Slam Bucktail to start. Also keeping an eye on the tide change, two hours either side seems to be most productive. Tight Lines

Down riggers rock at Mid channel!!!! The Moochers seem to ball up and the trollers work around em...Just be curtious, Unless they arnt. Cables always win!!!

See ya on the 16th...

I'll be at Possession Bar or Hat Island. I troll a glow green flasher with glow gren/white Coyote spoons. Berkley salmon scent on the spoon with herring smelly liquid on the flasher works good. See you out there. Good luck to all. Marc

I STARTED MOOCHING 15 YEARS AGO.THAN ABOUT 2 YEARS LATTER I BOUGHT A BOAT WITH DOWNRIGGERS AND STARTED DOWNRIGGER FISHING SENSE.WHAT I'VE LEARNED IS THE BIGGER FISH ARE CAUGHT MOOCHING BUT MORE FISH ARE CAUGHT WITH DOWNRIGGERS.I'VE DECIDED TO SET MY SELF UP TO START EARLY MORNING MOOCHING AND CHANGE TO DOWNRIGGER FISHING WHEN MOOCHING SLOWS DOWN.PORT TOWNSEND IS TOUGH TO FISH WITH DOWNRIGGERS IN THE MOOCHING CHANNEL SO ON A OUT GOING TIDE I TROLL TOWARDS EAST COMING OFF THE FLAT AND DROP OVER THE SHELF AND DO QUIT WELL.YOU CAN FISH THE CHANNEL BUT SOME CURRENTS CAN AND WILL PUSH YOUR GEAR TOGETHER AND TANGLE IT UP.GOOD LUCK.BROWNSVILLE DERBY FEB. 26 $1000 1ST. PRIZE $500 2ND.DAYLIGHT TIL 2PM.SURE MISS DISCOVERY BAY DERBY.
IF YOU GET RID OF DODGERS & FLASHERS AND FISH CUT PLUG OR HOLE HERRING ON DOWNRIGGERS YOU CAN PICK UP BIGGER FISH.

[This message has been edited by NUTS FOR LOOMIS (edited 02-06-2000).]

[This message has been edited by NUTS FOR LOOMIS (edited 02-06-2000).]

[This message has been edited by NUTS FOR LOOMIS (edited 02-06-2000).]