FishwithJD

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Still time for huge B.C. steelhead!

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big B.C. steelhead.jpg

I just got off the phone with my pal Gill McKean of West Coast Fishing Adventures in Terrace, B.C. and he told me I should hop on a plane immediately and head for Canada, where he has been absolutely whacking big steelies to 20 pounds like the 20 pounder above (on flies!) and lots of rainbows.

“It’s been nuts, eh!” said Mckean. “The other day I had 4 guys out and they had a fish hooked up literally on every cast! Of course, it’s not always like that, but we have been having some awesome late-season fishing.”
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Hook Rigging for Small Plugs?

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JD

On your idea of using a #50 hot shot for spring Chinook: When you change out the hook and use the barrel swivel– do you remove the split ring and attach the barrel swivel directly to the screw eye? Or do you attach the barrel swivel to the split ring?

Thanks, Chris

Hey Chris, I take a small set of needle nose pliers and open the screw eye on the plug and attach the swivel there. With a split ring and barrel swivel, run you run the risk of adversely affecting the plugs action.

Flouro Leaders for Kings?

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Hey JD, I read the article on your website that you wrote on flatlining plugs. . . I was wondering if you always use a 10ft 20-25lb flouro leader? I have never put much thought into having low visibility line when pulling plugs for salmon(trolling I do). . . I’ve always done ok tying a bright colored braid to a swivel then have a 4 or 5-foot flouro or mono leader.

Do you think, in clear waters like the upper Trinity or the Sac(when it gets low), that having a long(10ft) flouro leader as opposed to a 4 or 5 footer will bring in more fish?

Great article by the way!

Thanks, Danny

Danny,

Yea, in clear water I think it really helps to have a longer leader. However, kings can also be pretty oblivious to leaders when they’re aggressive and on the chew. I’m not quite confident enough in that to run braid straight to my plugs, however, so the abrasion resistant qualities of flouro help keep big teeth from sawing through your leader…

Topwater Hook Issues

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Hi JD,

When fishing Pencil Poppers for stripers do you stick your fish on the front treble or the back or both??

I have had a nice summer fishing topwater on the Sac for stripers. The only thing a little disagreeable about the fishing is the fact that I have jacked a couple fish up with the trebles on my pencil popper. I think the problem is mainly that back treble swinging around during the fight and snagging the fish somewhere on the face.

From my photos and others I think those fish are mostly grabbing the head of the plug? I am contemplating removing the back hook (actually I will probably just cut the hook points off because I like to tie in a little white bucktail and flash on the back hook). What do you think? Thanks, Matt.

Hey Matt,

I generally get my fish with both hooks — usually the back one down the throat and the belly hook around the jaw. Maybe you’re setting the hook more quickly?? I like to let the rod load up before I set…not sure if that’s why you’re getting yours on the forward hook — just a guess.

Over the years, I’ve gone to all barbless on all my poppers, which cuts down on the carnage (fish and human!). I’ve also tried removing the trebles and replacing them with “assist hooks” on wire droppers, which works okay. The jury’s still a bit out on that one.

I’d like to hear how the removing or bending out the back hook goes…keep me posted!

–JD