the thumb
9/28/2011 8:51:00 PMi'm not an expert but as for scent i like to use tuna in oil(drain the oil) and add smelly jelly salmon feast and herring. Worked real well in 2010 and this year so far 1 jack this last weekend( I was in my own boat for the first time deciding my own fate). It was not a red hot weekend around the bridge at vernita. The wind blew really hard on sunday. I think more fish came upriver of the bridge so far. good luck
DannyP
9/28/2011 9:33:00 PMThanks for your input. I have always used tuna in oil like all the others. Have tried herring oil, anise oil, several other lunker lotions. I don't care for the lotions as they are very difficult to clean when done. At the end of day I always wash super baits in soap and water. Any other ideas are welcome...for everyone,
YJ Guide Service
9/29/2011 1:23:00 PMI have used bloody tuna scent,herring scent, sardine scent as well as dippin sauce this year during the summer and early fall run and didnt do to bad. Alot of salmon fishing is finding the right depth though. Its hard to be a guide and tell people your secrets since it is ones livelyhood. I meet a fellow guide this summer that was kind enough to fill me in on what and where to fish in the Pateros pool, but wouldnt talk about a specific species he also fishs for there. Dont feel bad he didnt share his secrets with you its just the way it is. He probley feels that the more fish you catch the less his clients have a chance at. I personally guide for Pike,Muskie and Walleye and dont mind sharing some secrets with others on what I'm using, but Salmon always seem to be a diffrent beast...If your just starting out fishing a specific species it sometimes pays to go out with a guide for a day to learn those secrets so your not wasting your time fishing the wrong way...Good luck fishing everyone...
hinds2912
9/29/2011 6:46:00 PMI fished about a week ago (9/17 & 18) out of Ringold and was mainly hearing similar results. One boat brought in 3 fish for 2 guys using Kwikfish with a sardine wrap and 50' divers. They were fishing upstream of the Powerline hole keeping the baits within a couple feet of the bottom. The only other good fishing report came from one of the fish checkers. He had fished near White Bluffs the day before and their boat had a limit by 930 am using eggs but that was as much detail as he was willing to give. As for us, we we started trying cut plug herring off of the downrigger with only one bite and then the next day tried using Superbaits with flashers and had one on and lost and one jack caught at the end. We didn't see many nets come out either all weekend. There are plenty of fish in the Reach they just don't seem to be biting!
DannyP
9/29/2011 8:31:00 PMThank you "Yankin" and "Hinds" for your comments. I understand fully the reluctance of guides to disclose "secrets" regarding the fishing. This is my 4th year fishing down in that area and so far my most frustrating year. I am well versed with the in-outs of the fishing down there. Seems odd though that some guides continue to put fish on the boat when others do not. As for equipment, I have the best gear for fishing down there with bottom following downriggers. I can keep what ever in the right spot but deep does not seem to be the best answer as of yet. People who do talk seem to be all over the board. Just trying to put tohether some info from everyone who responds and put it out there for eveyone to read. Thanks again
bigbads10
9/30/2011 6:03:00 PMfinding the right depth where the fish are running is key and keeping your gear clean. i am fairly new at this salmon fishing thing but this year has been our best for fall run out of three years. we have been fishing about 10 feet off the bottom with down riggers and behind the ball about 15 feet.
wildwildbill
10/2/2012 10:03:00 AMFished the 15th and16th on the Reach and boated 9 on the 16th using the super bate in the red color. 4 of the 9 were 15,13,10,7 with the others 3 to 5 les. I fished in 30 to 35 feet of water 25 feet down, used tuna with oil no sent. On the 16th only fished till noon using the same bate had 4 large fish on but none in the boat , did boat 1 jack. Will be heading down in the morning to give it another try. Tight lines and good luck. Wild bill
wildwildbill
10/2/2012 10:04:00 AMFished the 15th and16th on the Reach and boated 9 on the 16th using the super bate in the red color. 4 of the 9 were 15,13,10,7 with the others 3 to 5 les. I fished in 30 to 35 feet of water 25 feet down, used tuna with oil no sent. On the 16th only fished till noon using the same bate had 4 large fish on but none in the boat , did boat 1 jack. Will be heading down in the morning to give it another try. Tight lines and good luck. Wild bill