Fishing deep water for springs

[Worm]

Hi Guys, just realized I had signed up for this site a long time ago. Figured I should chime in and introduce myself.

My family and I try to make the trip to Port Mcneil area every year for a couple weeks. I was just reading some of the posts for the Vancouver /gulf area recently (by the way jealous of all the nice fish!) and noticed at times the springs can be found in deep water. Which I always felt was over 200ft ish for salmon. From my experience everyone in the Port Mcneil area sticks to structure and for the most part shallower areas near land. Anything deeper is jigged for hali’s.

Got me thinking, is this deep water fishery specific to the south coast area for some reason? Or maybe a guy should be trying deep water structures (250-300ft+) further north as well?
Some would classify me as a relatively inexperienced saltwater guy, so figured I’d see if those with more experience has some insight.

The depth charts show lots of off shore structure, I just never thought to troll them for Salmon, and wondered if it was worth a try.

 

[Old Blue]

Hi Guys, just realized I had signed up for this site a long time ago. Figured I should chime in and introduce myself.

My family and I try to make the trip to Port Mcneil area every year for a couple weeks. I was just reading some of the posts for the Vancouver /gulf area recently (by the way jealous of all the nice fish!) and noticed at times the springs can be found in deep water. Which I always felt was over 200ft ish for salmon. From my experience everyone in the Port Mcneil area sticks to structure and for the most part shallower areas near land. Anything deeper is jigged for hali’s.

Got me thinking, is this deep water fishery specific to the south coast area for some reason? Or maybe a guy should be trying deep water structures (250-300ft+) further north as well?
Some would classify me as a relatively inexperienced saltwater guy, so figured I’d see if those with more experience has some insight.

The depth charts show lots of off shore structure, I just never thought to troll them for Salmon, and wondered if it was worth a try.

Always worth a try. I know a few guides up in the Charlottes that go 160-220 when things are slower in shallow working structure and they sley it out deep.

Tofino area they do well down deep as well at times

 

[Karma-Kazi]

Ive caught coho and chinook over 220' on the downrigger in 300+ ft of water. I like to use glow hootchies and most of the fish have squid in them. This is in Sooke.

KK

 

[Capt_Ed]

go ask any commercial troller how deep they fish for springs? Lots at 50 fathoms

 

[spring fever]

I work my way down but I have to admit I am by nature a deep fisherman-I don't waste a lot of time in the upper layers-I prefer to have the ball just off the bottom as I work my way out to deeper water. I normally (off the wcvi and Winter Harbour specifically) work my way out to the 50 fathom mark and will then work down thru the depths til I find fish. When I find them -I never leave until I'm sure they have moved on. I will do an expanding square or racetrack around the point I hooked up at the same depth and then either side of that depth. I am always amazed at the number of fishermen who hook-up and then continue to troll in the same direction as if they had a specific destination in mind. Never once going back to the spot they hooked up at. The above statement does not apply by the way to specific areas like inside Nootka and other inlets where depths are structure dependant and I am seldom below a 100 ft and often at 25. Large learning curve!!!LOL

 

[Rum Buddies]

I've seen springs down to 300' but many its not fun to drag fish up from the depths - they're dead by the time they get to the top.


Spring fever dropped some knowledge here, never understood why guys don't buzz around and keep hitting the spot where they got a fish - often you'll get bites in just one spot, going one direction.

I am always amazed at the number of fishermen who hook-up and then continue to troll in the same direction as if they had a specific destination in mind. Never once going back to the spot they hooked up at.

 

[Fishin'Zinn]

Done that in the Charlottes, pretty fun actually. Noone is getting fish, you go way out to 200'+ drop 'er down and what do you know, Salmon non-stop! If they aren't around in the usual spots, they are almost always somewhere else!

When you dredge them up from that deep too it's pretty strange, a lot of the time they don't know what the heck is going on (maybe really cold and sleepy or something heh). Don't know they are hooked until they get close to the surface!

 

[Karma-Kazi]

This one piece of info improved my success alot! up until about 5 years ago I would just start trolling from the bay to secreatary all one way then turn around and come back. It was what we did back then!

Now its stick and stay Make those suckers pay!!!

I also used to get really frustrated when I couldent gain ground in a strong current and would end up changing my speed to make ground or somtimes even loose ground in strong currents. Now Im fully content on sitting in one spot say like the top of a reef and waiting for the poor suckers who come up and over to take my bait!

-KK

I've seen springs down to 300' but many its not fun to drag fish up from the depths - they're dead by the time they get to the top.


Spring fever dropped some knowledge here, never understood why guys don't buzz around and keep hitting the spot where they got a fish - often you'll get bites in just one spot, going one direction.

 

[fishin_magician]

Stick, Stay and Make It Pay only in certain circumstances.

If commercial fishermen did stick and stay and not cover water, they'd be selling the boat and gear at the end of the season.

Definitely though, if you're catching fish in an area, don't wander all over the place off the fish.

 

[Worm]

Looks like I'll have to try going deeper next time I can't find fish. I can see it being tough on them though if they come from too deep of water. Something to keep in mind if I'm not hitting keepers.

 

[spring fever]

Looks like I'll have to try going deeper next time I can't find fish. I can see it being tough on them though if they come from too deep of water. Something to keep in mind if I'm not hitting keepers.

Don't think it bothers them like rockfish. I often fish plugs at 220ft of wire and because there is no flasher the fish is often on the surface seconds after the hit-before the line is even up-don't think its a factor. The fight is different of course-you hit a big Spring beside the kelp at 45 ft and it is definitely going to feel more chaotic and out of control than the same Spring on 220 ft of wire-great fight-you just have a little more time to get control.

 

[Sharphooks]

Just bought some cannonballs from a guy who was fishing halibut in 130 M of water last week. Dropped a pipe jig down, bounced it on the bottom, hooked a 25 lb spring on the third bounce

I try shallow first (low hanging fruit on the tree)---if they're not there, go deeper until you find them, then act like a bulldog---don"t let go as long as there's action at the depth you find them

 

[tubber]

Ernie Ross introduced himself and gave me one of his lures last week when I was in a Langley store.
http://pacificnetandtwine.com/?prod...4256b8a7538ec5a874&cat=2346,2538,3158&filter=

We got to BSing about his days on his troller. He was a pleasure to talk to and passed on a couple spots I hope to try this summer. He said if they were searching for fish they would occasionally make a tack across deep water from one bank to another rather than picking up the gear and running and would get springs on the bottom lures at 100 fathoms.

 

[searun]

Spring fever dropped some knowledge here, never understood why guys don't buzz around and keep hitting the spot where they got a fish - often you'll get bites in just one spot, going one direction.

If you see my boat doing circles, I'm not drunk driving! Always amazed at how many guys drive in straight grid patterns all day. Find the fish, and stick on them.