Looking for some help...

My brother and I pulled plugs on the Sky from Sultan to Lewis Street on Sunday with nary a hit. The water was great looking and after the rain I figured fish would be on the move. Based on the poor results of the day I started wondering about our plugging technique. We used varying sizes and colors of Hotshots(maybe sz 30-35) and Wiggleworts, 15 lb. Maxima, and worked every piece of water hard. In some of the deeper holes I wondered if my plug was getting down deep enough. Has anyone ever used extra weight (splitshot) or other method to get your plug deeper? I did try a larger, deeper diving plug for the deep holes. Any preference on which brand of plugs you use? If anyone has any suggestions to offer I would appreciate it. I didn't see any other boat or bankie hook a fish all day so maybe it was just a poor day on the river.


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ExtraStout

When I first started fooling around with plugs in the river I got this book, Plug Fishing For Steelhead by Mike Laverty. On getting your plugs deeper,the line thickness makes a lot of difference. 15# Max is too thick,I would go to 12# There are other lines that are thinner than Max and just as strong.

In my somewhat limited experience I've found that hotshots are hard to keep tuned, not to mention the fact that 15lb mainline is a little heavy. Try tadpollys. They usually run straight out of the box.

Don't feel too bad. Everything I've heard about the Sky recently has been very, very slow.

Bruce

Extrastout,

I have pulled alot of plugs from 522 bridge down. The plug I have found that works the best is the tadpoly. The way that the body is shapped makes it dive to deeper depths. I have turned many fish over with these in the past. Hope this helps!

The plug that gets down deeper than any other I have ever used is called a "hot lips" I can't think of who makes them right now. We use them over here on the clearwater river. But you know and I know that good plug water is usually only about 3-6 feet deep.

Tadpolies are my #1 choice, Kwik-fish in the 10, 12 are also very effective.
Both of these plugs seem to stay tuned for the most part..

After seeing Bob paint the bills black, we decided to do this... we haven't seen an increase in hook up.. we have been fishing one painted and one not on every trip... about 50/50 give or take?

12 ande-yellow.... GL3 MBR 941's, calcutta 250's

I think the smaller rods help with the action of the plug.... the 941's are our #1 choice, this is our 2nd year with them, I like them better than the HSR 981 we fished in the past.

TH
www.thcustomrods.com

Bank maggot here, but I do it quite a bit on the Sky and I'm usually tuned in to whats going on. Don't use last week as a downer, I here its been slooooow. This usually happens in late-February as the last of the brats have moved through, but its still pretty early in the nate season. Even more so this season, with the low water.

Maybe the rain this week will help, but I doubt the river will get big, snow level no higher than 3500'. Time will be the best cure; its still early.

For what its worth...Tadpollies!!

I use Tadpolys exculsively. Black heads always in the summer.I also use 10 lb max ultragreen and this is plenty strong. I've landed 20lb fish on that with 8 lb leader by dragging them up on the beach. So in a boat where you have the luxury of being able to chase them is a bonus.

If the water is 10 feet or deeper you shuld be using a diver and bait or pulled over to one side and pitching into. too deep for plugs I think.

On colors for plugs just remember when you buy one hold it up like it would be working in the water and look at it from the back(like a fish). Thats what it sees so all of the fancy coloring and designs are to catch you not the fish. Keep it simple.

Also plug distance from the boat is critical. The I never go out longer than 65 ft and as little as 35 ft. Depends on the hole. A good rule is to run them out and if you have any belly in the line shorten it up intill its gone.

The three keys to plugs are Presentation, presentation presentation. Sorry for going on and on I got a little carred away

Ron

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Fantastic info! I appreciate the tremendous response. Looks like a trip to the tackle store to spend more of my hard -earned money is in order. I 'll lighten my line and try some new plugs for next time.



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ExtraStout

Tad's are 3.99 @ Sportco! Dont think you can find em cheaper.