Needle-fish hootchies

[Hit em Hard]

I have never fished needle-fish hootchies and need some advise please.

1) How long a leader flasher to hootchie? 2) What trolling speed - same as a normal hootchie? 3) Do they need to be fished right on bottom or in the bottom 1/3 of the water column as I have heard suggested?

I am always up to trying something new however I believe that finding out the facts from some of the best is a good place to start. This forum certainly has some of the best in my opinion.

Thank you in advance.
h.e.h.

 

[GDW]

I feel like captain obviouse but...


Fish them where the fish are. If the salmon are right on bottom your lure should be too. If they are in the upper water column I would fish there. Needlefish Hootchies are effective down deep but can work at other times too.

Troll similar speeds sometimes if your trying to drag bottom you need to slow down a little. Everyone has an opinion on the best leader length I like 36 minimum but fish with a guy who goes as short as 24 inches.

 

[Peterman]

I believe you fish them the same as Hootchies.... 40-50.lbs leaders 34"-38" long for chinook(what i do)... there fished the same except they are a lot slimmer and thus closer to matching the bait... Barkley sound and Ukee areas are usually full of needle fish... around vic aswell... thats why small spoons can work better than full hootchies are bigger spoons... Just really matching size... I will be trying them more and more especially in Barkley... Something with a UV or Glow down along the bottom should produce well.. I would think earlier in the season aswell

 

[Hit em Hard]

Thanks for the info GDW and Peterman. I will be giving it a shot this weekend in Ukee.

h.e.h.

 

[UkeeDreamin]

Last week we found the needlefish in the bellies of the springs and butts on the Ukee banks to be 6"+ so stacking two needlefish hoochies to better match their length was effective. This also allows you to play with colours. Inside fish predominantly had tiny herring by the dozens in their guts but a few also had some very large 7-8" white squid. Finally, most of the coho on the banks, and there are lots of them out there in 20-60 feet, were full of krill and could be taken effectively with bright pink, trimmed squirts like you'd fish for sockeye.

 

[the fog ducker]

Ive had needle fish puked up outta different types os creatures , most often than not , they were all slightly different in size ,
in a certain area we fish inshore , the hali gorge on needlefish at times , puke out fresh needle fish on the deck , I look for the largest one or two ,put em on my jig and send em down , Wham , !!!

as far as trolling em , just started having good success with them , Osama pulled em around commercially with great success , was nice enuff ta
show me a trick or 2 with them , 32 - 36 in leader , min 40 lb test , Single siwash , ( i also use tandem 3/0 ) small bead or 2 in the noggin ,
this was my star this past wknd ,% 80 success , keep the colours simple ... " Bone " ....Splatter was awesome this wknd..

gd lk

fd

 

[Hit em Hard]

Thank you Ukeedreamin and Fog Ducker - great info. I am off to Ukee tomorrow and looking forward to giving the needle fish hootchies I purchased last year but didn't use a shot. Mechanical problems with the boat kept me off the water for the first couple of weeks of July and by the time I got to Ukee the fish had mostly moved up in the water column and were feeding on pilchards.