Bite on - huh?

[GetMeAFish]

OK ... another one of my brilliant questions for you ... I've heard the expression 'bite-on' by most everybody who actually has success fish'n ... and it would seem to be an easy interpretation that this expression refers to the time that the fish are feeding .. duh right?

Well ... I've also heard about looking for 'bait balls' when on the hunt for salmon and I imagine this is different than 'bite-on' during any particular day (?) ... I say this because the way I'm reading it ... 'bite-on is a reflection of feeding in correlation to tide change(?) and 'bait balls' don't necessarily reference any particular time of day or 'bite' ... cuz many a time I've read that the bait balls were there but no fish ... now is this an inherent paradox in the way I'm reading it (I'm a rookie) ... or ... is there something to it ... meaning ... there is a definite 'bite-on' during tide change ... morning and evening ... and there is a definite relationship between salmon and 'bait balls' .. however ... finding one does not necessarily mean ... 'bite-on'.

If you could follow my rambl'n ... I'd appreciate your thoughts on the topic.

Cheers.

 

[Kisinana]

Certain times of the day are better than others. The expression "bite on" refers to times when the fish are hitting. At times you can drag just about anything and get hits. Any number of boats in a given area will be getting hits as this is a feeding time. Then 30 minutes later the fishing is dead quiet.
Many of the newer GPS handhelds have a program that gives best fishing/hunting times during the month and the day. They normally rate it as best good and poor.
At times you will get hits travelling in one direction only, even though you turn and go back across the same area.

 

[beemer]

Hey getmeafish , one thing to remember about baitballs is that most are driven by diving birds not salmon. If you see small black birds ,muirs,auklets,cormorants popping up around the outside of a mass of gulls this is a good sign that this is a bird driven ball. Diving birds tend not to like diving on salmon driven baitballs.If you don't see any birds get over next to the ball and get your gear down ! If you see black birds, chances are where you are fishing is just as good as right next to the baitball.

 

[GetMeAFish]

Thanks ... the info on the birds is great ... I never realized there was a significance to birds being near a bait ball or not. Speaking of bait balls ... is this always a requirement to catching salmon or in a place like Qualicum does the bait ball target not present ... therefore ... the strategy being different for locating the fish?

Some guys speak of fishing near kelp ... is this more what you would target in a place like Qualicum?

I'm asking alot of basic questions here ... I'm determined to catch me a salmon this year !!!

 

[beemer]

hey getmeafish , Don't want to mislead you. When baitfish are present, salmon will probably be in the neighborhood ,just not right at the baitball.

Different species of salmon have different habits at different times of the years. I would suggest getting a few buds together and chartering a guide for a day. What you will learn in a day will more than pay for itself over the season. Best of luck!

beemer

 

[GetMeAFish]

Beemer ... I've been contemplating getting a charter for that very reason. Are there any in mind (on the lower half of V. Isle preferrably) who are particularly oriented to helping rookies out with learning the sport.

I'd probably be more intent on taking mental notes of what they are doing rather than being wound up about winding up a salmon ... don't get me wrong ... that's the prize but I really would be looking for an understanding on how to locate them in a practical situation and not theory ... so the guide would likely be bombarded with questions ... and I would think a rookie friendly guide would be the way to go.

Appreciate any referral you or others can offer.

Cheers

 

[scott craven]

Some good guides on the forum here,
LastChance, BlueWolf, Tailspin
all of them have great fishing knowledge, and ready to help a learner.

 

[beemer]

hey getmeafish, I would suggest hiring a guide in the area that you are going to fish regularily. In my experience most guides are more than willing to share their knowledge with newcomers. Call some of them up,ask around your local area marina. The guides that craven mentioned are on this board and all have shared info to help new fisherman and promote the sport. Good luck!

 

[GetMeAFish]

Thanks guys ... this forum is very helpful.

 

[victoriaboater]

Just want to elaborate on the GPS hunt fish calculator. This is based on whats called the solunar theory. Here's a link to a good site for more info. http://www.solunar.com/. In a nutshell it relates positions of the moon and sun to their interactions with nature on earth. I know it sounds like a bit much a first but if you think about the effect that the moon has alone in the form of tides it makes a bit more sense.

 

[chris73]

Hey Victoriaboater: or a crystal ball or a moonshine date...you know what I mean!!

 

[victoriaboater]

LOL, Definitely the dates! Bring em next time we go out.