Flatlining for Kings
October 15, 2006
Flatlining Kwikfish for king salmon is one of my all-time favorite things to do. When a big chinook eats your plug and starts shaking his head, it’s a feeling like no other. Ready to get in on the fun? I’ll show you how.
First, a quick definition: Flat-lining refers to backtrolling plugs like Kwikfish or FlatFish without any weight — kinda like you would run a Hot Shot for steelhead.
How to Sardine-Wrap a Kwikfish
August 9, 2006
It seems like there’s a bit of mystery surrounding sardine wraps and a lot of people tell me they’ve never tried them because they don’t know how to rig them. Don’t fear the wrap, people! Wrapping a Kwikfish (or Flatfish) is a very simple task, and with a little bit of practice you’ll be doing it like an old pro. Of course, you’ll increase the lure’s effectiveness by about 400 percent by adding a sardine fillet to the belly, so it’s definitely worth taking the time to learn.
December Kings
December 6, 2005
While conventional wisdom says that most king salmon runs along the West Coast peter out by the beginning of December, there are several coastal drainages that pump out excellent Chinook action until Christmas and sometimes later. The really cool thing about these late-running kings is: they’re usually BIG…like this 48 pounder.
Basic Bait Drifting for Kings
October 10, 2004
First off, let’s get you rigged up. Here’s a good basic rig to use as a foundation:
• Tie a snap swivel to the end of your main line.
•To the snap, attach either a piece of pencil lead or a Slinky weight
•To the other eye of the swivel, run an 18- to 36-inch leader with one or two 1/0-4/0 octopus-style bait hooks. (The roe is fastened to the forward hook via an egg loop snell, which you can learn to tie in a video on this very website).
Most king anglers also like to add a driftbobber - such as a Spin-N-Glo, Cheater or Lil’ Corky - to their line just above the hooks to add buoyancy, action and a splash of color to the bait.
Where to Find Kings
October 10, 2003
It doesn’t matter if you’re in a $40,000 jetboat or fishing off the bank, the key to successful king salmon fishing is finding where they hold. Fortunately, kings are actually quite predictable in that they’ll seek out very specific types of water. Find the right water and you should find the fish.
Deep, slow pools are also magnets for king salmon. The fish will use these areas to rest in as they recuperate from the rigors of their upstream migration.
Basic Spinner Technique for Salmon
September 29, 2003
Casting hardware for king salmon is a popular pastime on freshwater streams from California to Alaska to the Great Lakes tributaries. This time around, we’re going to take a quick look at s of the basics of tossing lures like No. 3-5 Mepps and Blue Fox Super Vibrax spinners as well as spoons like Little Cleos, Cohos, Pixees and BC Steels.
