A Beginners Progress in Sooke - Englishman

[Seafever]

Englisman:- I'll agree it is spotty at times these days around much of Sooke for Chinook.

But on days before and now, if everyone else is catching Chinooks and you aren't ( at the same time they are fishing)
then something is going on that needs to be changed.

However you also can't go wrong with Chris73's advice......because that is the number one rule of fishing above all else.....which is "Go where the fish are!"

There's a Chinook out there with your number on it somewhere.........Cheers!

 

[highlights]

x2

You go to Renfrew right now and dont score in three days then something is wrong with your formula.

You should get so many opportunities in those three days that it allows for some experimentation.

 

[Englishman]

Yessss

Hey guys,
Today the incredible has happened and I actually caught a beautiful big Chinook of 22lb! Taken on anchovy at 77’ not far from the Trap, on the braid side again, like the two smaller ones in July. I am totally pumped and ecstatic about this, and am still not sure it was for real except for the pictures of course
What changed from the many other times I have been out? Well I did wash all my gear as Charlie advised in his post and baited up wearing latex gloves. I also used the gear pretty much as Seafever described – first time I have ever used a 7’ leader – never gone above 6’ before, and we fished the flood, whereas a lot of recent trips we have been fishing the ebb. So who knows what the magic ingredient was – too many variables in fishing to ever be sure.
I am deeply indebted to Danthewire and Sammyslabber for providing me with so much information on how to rig the bait and trolling techniques, and I am grateful to Highlights, Lipripper, JuandeSooka and several others on this forum for all the advice tips and encouragement received. This fish was really all of yours and not mine!!
In other news, saw a 27lb’der and a 29 lb’der at the cleaning station at Sunny Shores, so maybe more fish have moved in after the slow weekend…...

 

[danthewire]

Atta boy Roland !!!!!!!!!

Glad to see you got a nice one, make notes, weather,tides, holder,colour, depth, yada, yada, yada.
You'll soon see a pattern.
Above all observe.
You'll soon develop your own style.
So happy for you.
Dan.

 

[chris73]

Congrats on a very nice fish! See, you CAN do it!

 

[Englishman]

Atta boy Roland !!!!!!!!!

Glad to see you got a nice one, make notes, weather,tides, holder,colour, depth, yada, yada, yada.
You'll soon see a pattern.
Above all observe.
You'll soon develop your own style.
So happy for you.
Dan.

Thx very much Dan. Yes I will make detailed notes, as I have kept a journal since April.
Don't know about my own style yetawhile. I am still basing things on what my very patient and generous teachers have told me....

 

[Dave S]

Was a gorgeous day on the water eh! Stoked you nailed one.

 

[Englishman]

Congrats on a very nice fish! See, you CAN do it!

Thx Chris73 - your earlier recommendation to try Renfrew is a very good one. It is just the thought of trailing my boat 80km all the way there and then launching in unfamiliar waters is somewhat daunting at my low level of expertise. May feel capable of tackling that expedition next summer.......

 

[Englishman]

Was a gorgeous day on the water eh! Stoked you nailed one.

Thx Dave. Yes indeed it was a fabulous day on the water to top it all off. Could not have been better day to catch such a nice one.

 

[Englishman]

holy cow, way to go English, nice work sir, wonder who is more relieved, you or the members on the forum?,lol, beauty fish, the fish will be jumping in yer boat now, Congrats.....holmes*

Hi Holmes,
Thx a bunch
Your observation about who is the more relieved is a very savvy one!! I am sure some of the forum members must have been scratching their heads at my ineptitude and wondering what on earth I was doing to screw up all the time. At least now they will not have to read my constant laments about failing to catch summer Chinook......at least not so much.....LOL

 

[beemer]

Congrats englishman! Love the gloves! Fee Fi Fo Fum I smell the blood of an englishman! and chinook

 

[highlights]

Way to hang in there English! Must feel great to have your perseverance finally pay off.

Congrats.

HL

 

[Rockfish]

It was only a matter of time; so new goal, one over 30.

 

[Charlie]

All those little things, added up to a nice fish! That "BIG" grin, on that ugly mug - makes it all worthwhile! Nice job!

 

[Little Hawk]

Congrats English!

Like Dan says, take notes (very important); was yer' beer half-full or half-empty? Was yer' hair combed to the left or to the right? When the fish hit, did you have to take a **** real bad or had you just taken one? Was the wife yacking continuously, or sporadically? The bird that flew over just before 'the strike', was it an Eagle, or was it a ****-hawk?

I digress. Way to go man!

 

[scott craven]

Good job English, how did you find the net job with a 7' leader ?
wouldn't want to try that solo.

 

[spring fever]

Great fish-now remember all the guys that helped you and pass on the good deed. I have watched this thread and contributed with great interest and I have to say if all the advise was followed anyone would become a fairly competant fisherman and a force to be reckoned with!! Made me review some of my techniques and I was surprised at how often I said-yeah I used to do that-guess fishing education is ever ongoing!! Congrats again-sorry I don't fish down your way would have liked to meet you.

 

[Englishman]

Thx very much guys!
I've said it before and I'll say it again, this members of this forum have been absolutely great and it has been a privilege to meet a couple of you. There are so many "little things" to know which all add up.......it has been a great learning experience and I'm sure my learning won't stop until I go to the "Happy Fishing Grounds".......LOL
R.S. Craven - the credit for netting goes to my wife (who also took the photos in the boat). I am too old and inexperienced to fish solo!!
Thx again
English

 

[Lipripper]

That is Awesome Roland!

Still plenty of time to beat a 22... Keep at it

 

[Seafever]

Congrats Englishman!!!......it sure is a nice feeling when a nice-sized Chinook is in the bag and comes into the boat.....Cheers!

If you are still having trouble on the WIRE line.......try this:- take the plastic insulator off the wire and connect ball direct to wire with a metal-to-metal clip....then set the voltage at .61.......

Seen this done too...and it works.