A Beginners Progress in Sooke - Englishman
- Thread starter Englishman
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Hoochiebob
Well-Known Member
Well done Englishman! Looks like the training wheels are getting ready to come off. I am very encouraged at the response you have had from the highliners on this site and am glad to see it has paid dividends for you!
Keep it up and I bet you can beat that 22 before the run is over!
Keep it up and I bet you can beat that 22 before the run is over!
Englishman
Well-Known Member
Well I still consider myself "in training" yet awhile, so training wheels are still on methinks. LOL
Yes, the support I have had from the experts on this site has been fantastic. Totally awesome.
Well beating the 22 would be absolutely amazing, but I am very cool and content with the fish I caught. Like others have said I am focussing on the sights and experience of being out there in the incredible ocean we have around us and I am trying not to get all hung up and obsessed about "the next one".
FishBC.org
Active Member
Congrats Englishman. Wonderful catch. Been following your adventure.
Won't be long and you'll crave a bigger fish.
It becomes obsession.
Happy fishing.
Won't be long and you'll crave a bigger fish.
It becomes obsession.
Happy fishing.
Dave S
Active Member
Well I still consider myself "in training" yet awhile, so training wheels are still on methinks. LOL
Yes, the support I have had from the experts on this site has been fantastic. Totally awesome.
Well beating the 22 would be absolutely amazing, but I am very cool and content with the fish I caught. Like others have said I am focussing on the sights and experience of being out there in the incredible ocean we have around us and I am trying not to get all hung up and obsessed about "the next one".
Good to hear your not gonna get all hung up with getting a bigger one. It's not about that. It's about the time on the water. It's the quality time with friends family that make fishing enjoyable. Some guys are on a mission to get "their" fish and will stop at nothing to get it. Some guys will snake your tack, yell at all around them when they have a fish on, grunt and groan at the tables when you try to make conversation, etc, etc. Don't let that become you. Enjoy what we have and enjoy the time on the water, and if you get into some bigger fish, sweet!
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Hey Englishman congrats on your fish. I might have met you at the sunny shores dock briefly I brought in a 27lbr (my biggest so far) the day you caught your fish. There was a guy at the dock with a 22 but I don't remember him having your crazy hair so it might not have been you - or maybe you put a hat on.
Anyways as an amatuer myself I wanted to caution you on the suggestions from other members to go to renfrew for three days. I go up there every year, I highly recommend it as it is a different experience than sooke. That said the fishing - at least for me - is not much different. Every year the reports are RENFREW IS ON FIRE and every year I go up there expecting big things. Every year it's a struggle and I get maybe one fish with another hit or two over 2-3 days fishing. Sure some boats (mostly regulars) do excelent up there. But it's the same in sooke, those who are out there each day do great those who get out once or twice a year often struggle.
I went to renfrew for the Davey derby this year and over 2 and 1/2 days fishing I almost got skunked. At 11pm on the sunday (Derby over at noon) I finally bumped into a 25lbr not even 5 minutes after I finally gave up on bait and tried a spoon for the first time. When talking to the marina owners etc. they are quick to point out the boats who are getting into lots of fish but I fished side by side them and trust me it was not easy fishing as the reports make it sound. It's the same story every year, people are quick to post on the renfrew report when they do well but nobody ever says when it slows down - and along the beach at least it deffinetly does just like sooke.
Since that trip I have been on fire in sooke. I suggest going to renfew for the experience, not to catch fish. If you get fish great, if not don't feel too bad. I would focus on learning sooke. I have had my boat for three years and fished with friends for a few years before that. This has been my best year by far. After the renfrew trip I have been doing real well in Sooke. Not many big fish (2 25lbr and a 27 then lots in the 12-18lb range - smaller fish this year). I would say for me at least the fishing in sooke this year has been far better than anything I have experienced over multiple trips to renfrew over the past few seasons. That is not because the fishing is better in sooke, it's because I get out there much more often and have great confidence in what I am doing right now.
So now that you caught a fish start fishing with confidence and more will come! Hopefully I see you at the dock again and we both have our first tyee!
Anyways as an amatuer myself I wanted to caution you on the suggestions from other members to go to renfrew for three days. I go up there every year, I highly recommend it as it is a different experience than sooke. That said the fishing - at least for me - is not much different. Every year the reports are RENFREW IS ON FIRE and every year I go up there expecting big things. Every year it's a struggle and I get maybe one fish with another hit or two over 2-3 days fishing. Sure some boats (mostly regulars) do excelent up there. But it's the same in sooke, those who are out there each day do great those who get out once or twice a year often struggle.
I went to renfrew for the Davey derby this year and over 2 and 1/2 days fishing I almost got skunked. At 11pm on the sunday (Derby over at noon) I finally bumped into a 25lbr not even 5 minutes after I finally gave up on bait and tried a spoon for the first time. When talking to the marina owners etc. they are quick to point out the boats who are getting into lots of fish but I fished side by side them and trust me it was not easy fishing as the reports make it sound. It's the same story every year, people are quick to post on the renfrew report when they do well but nobody ever says when it slows down - and along the beach at least it deffinetly does just like sooke.
Since that trip I have been on fire in sooke. I suggest going to renfew for the experience, not to catch fish. If you get fish great, if not don't feel too bad. I would focus on learning sooke. I have had my boat for three years and fished with friends for a few years before that. This has been my best year by far. After the renfrew trip I have been doing real well in Sooke. Not many big fish (2 25lbr and a 27 then lots in the 12-18lb range - smaller fish this year). I would say for me at least the fishing in sooke this year has been far better than anything I have experienced over multiple trips to renfrew over the past few seasons. That is not because the fishing is better in sooke, it's because I get out there much more often and have great confidence in what I am doing right now.
So now that you caught a fish start fishing with confidence and more will come! Hopefully I see you at the dock again and we both have our first tyee!
Englishman
Well-Known Member
Hi Jockey.
Yes that was me you spoke to at Sunny Shores, wild hair and all!! Thx for your thoughtful post about Renfrew. Like you I want to learn more about Sooke before I cast my line in distant waters, and get confidence in what I'm doing. Congrats on your 2 x 25 lb'ders and 27 lb'der though. We got one today as well but not as big - see next post.... Maybe see you at Sunny Shores again?
English
Yes that was me you spoke to at Sunny Shores, wild hair and all!! Thx for your thoughtful post about Renfrew. Like you I want to learn more about Sooke before I cast my line in distant waters, and get confidence in what I'm doing. Congrats on your 2 x 25 lb'ders and 27 lb'der though. We got one today as well but not as big - see next post....
Maybe see you at Sunny Shores again?English
Englishman
Well-Known Member
Well wadder yah know!
Went out again today and tried Otter. Got a couple of pinks but not much showing so picked up and moved down to Sheringham. And lo and behold, we got a 19 lb’der mid-morning! Amazing!! We got it on exactly the same gear as the big guy on Tuesday, this time at 86 feet.
A great deal of the credit must go to my wife who struck the fish and netted it – all I did was play the fish…...LOL (I was not “on station” at my rod when it went off because I was busy removing weed from the hoochie rod on the other side).
So, it is only appropriate that the picture of her holding this fish goes up. A lot better looking than my aging mug. And maybe I shall have to call this thread Englishwoman’s progress …….LOL
English
Went out again today and tried Otter. Got a couple of pinks but not much showing so picked up and moved down to Sheringham. And lo and behold, we got a 19 lb’der mid-morning! Amazing!! We got it on exactly the same gear as the big guy on Tuesday, this time at 86 feet.
A great deal of the credit must go to my wife who struck the fish and netted it – all I did was play the fish…...LOL (I was not “on station” at my rod when it went off because I was busy removing weed from the hoochie rod on the other side).
So, it is only appropriate that the picture of her holding this fish goes up. A lot better looking than my aging mug. And maybe I shall have to call this thread Englishwoman’s progress …….LOL
English
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danthewire
Active Member
Aaaaahhhhhhh we've created a monster.
Good Job Roland and Mrs Roland.
Was nice out there today for sure.
Dan.
Good Job Roland and Mrs Roland.
Was nice out there today for sure.
Dan.
Charlie
Well-Known Member
Her smile, sure is a lot nicer than yours! Nice job!
scott craven
Well-Known Member
You English people are about to clean out our Chinook's 
good on ya !
good on ya !
Hoochiebob
Well-Known Member
OK, now I'm getting jealous.....
Good on ya mate! Nothing like slamming a fish with the wife onboard. I swear I catch more when my wife joins me than I do with my fishing partner!
Good on ya mate! Nothing like slamming a fish with the wife onboard. I swear I catch more when my wife joins me than I do with my fishing partner!
Englishman
Well-Known Member
Her smile, sure is a lot nicer than yours! Nice job!
Amen to that one Charlie! And many, many thanks....
Englishman
Well-Known Member
Hey Hoochiebob,
Several forum members have told me to relax (e.g. see High Five above), and we both probably are when we fish with our wives. Removes the primeval competitive "gotta beat the other guy" element and maybe makes for better fishing overall.
Hit em Hard
Member
Hello English:
Congrats on both your fish. It just gets better from here on in.
Hey Homes if your GF is as good at crib, monopoly, bowling, and fishing as she is at painting plugs you are done for.
H.E.H.
Englishman
Well-Known Member
Finally got out today after 8 days absence from the water. Fished Otter but no Chinooks this time. It would have been too unlikely for this beginner to have hit Chinooks, 3 trips in a row! LOL
Lots of pinks still around though, so made for a busy morning. Some fog but beautiful day on the water with water as calm as a mill pond!!
English
P.S. My wife hauled in a loose flasher and big teaser head to which was attached a great big 6 inch herring and embedded therein was a big treble and stinger, all complete with barbs. Someone was not playing by the rules!! We English are sticklers for the rules and my wife was not pleased
Lots of pinks still around though, so made for a busy morning. Some fog but beautiful day on the water with water as calm as a mill pond!!
English
P.S. My wife hauled in a loose flasher and big teaser head to which was attached a great big 6 inch herring and embedded therein was a big treble and stinger, all complete with barbs. Someone was not playing by the rules!! We English are sticklers for the rules and my wife was not pleased
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Englishman
Well-Known Member
Thx Holmes. I think a Tyee is still way out there for me. My next step towards "graduation" is to be able to catch more than one Chinook on a single trip in Sooke waters.....LOL
Seafever
Well-Known Member
Englishman:-
Going for Lunker Chinook?
Three things to remember:-
(1) Big Chinooks often like big bait.......try using a big herring instead of an anchovy.
(2) Big Chinooks like being near structure..It doesn't have to be shallow structure...hell, it could be a vertical rock wall or dropoff that goes to several hundred feet down. (although the fish will be a lot shallower)
(3) Big Chinooks can get lazy....try trolling slow.
and.......sometimes a lot of bright flasher action will spook the big ones.....try using a "milder" colored flasher ..or...troll the big herring by itself a fair distance back of the boat.
Going for Lunker Chinook?
Three things to remember:-
(1) Big Chinooks often like big bait.......try using a big herring instead of an anchovy.
(2) Big Chinooks like being near structure..It doesn't have to be shallow structure...hell, it could be a vertical rock wall or dropoff that goes to several hundred feet down. (although the fish will be a lot shallower)
(3) Big Chinooks can get lazy....try trolling slow.
and.......sometimes a lot of bright flasher action will spook the big ones.....try using a "milder" colored flasher ..or...troll the big herring by itself a fair distance back of the boat.
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