Jigging for herring

[ExFlyGuy]

Hey guys,

I am going to be taking my boys out to try jigging for herring when they show up. I picked up a couple herring rigs already but am wondering if you guys bait the hooks or if the little bit of flash is enough to attract them?

Thanks

 

[chris73]

Assume you mean in the Gorge? Hope your boys have lots of patience. Wasn't worth any effort for the last 15 years. Before that, the fly jigs are fine as they come. Pick a time when the tides rip, use the jig with the glow beads and add one or two silver spoon to the rig. And again lots of patience! Good luck.

 

[advTHXance]

Just the sabiki rig with a weight and a couple spoons on swivels is enough to attract them. It was pretty slow going for me last year when I tried it, but swiftsure halibut do love those gorge herring.

 

[ExFlyGuy]

I am in nanaimo. Last year there was so many herring in departure bay the whole bay was milky. I watched some guys jigging amongst the commercial boats and they were pulling 3 -4 up every time they dropped. I was new to ocean fishing last spring and didn't give it a try. This year I would like to fill the freezer to use them for bait!

 

[Waterwolf2230]

I caught quite a few this summer just jigging a Sabiki Rig with a 4oz pyramid weight attached to the bottom. Parked over a school of herring and was catching 3-5 every drop. Made me some nice pickled herring out of them!

 

[Rayvon]

We used to travel to the Departure Bay area in mid March when the commy's were gillnetting herring.A plain sabiki rig with a 4-6 oz. weight works good,adding a little flash helps and wait for more than one before pulling them in,their shaking attracts more to your jig.We could usually find them by watching for birds and seals/sea lions feeding along the shoreline.Good luck,we had a lot of fun on those trips.