Pedder Bay beginner help

[silverchum]

Hi everyone,

I'm going fishing with a friend tomorrow (Monday) afternoon/evening out of Pedder Bay. We've gone out salmon trolling a couple of times from Cattle Point/Oak Bay, but have never been out in the Sooke area, so I was hoping to get some basic advice on where to go/what to do. We're both rank amateurs when it comes to salmon fishing, so we're not looking for any secret hot spots/techniques, but would appreciate some advice on a basic technique that might produce.

In the past, we've trolled anchovies in teaser heads (green) with red Hotspot flashers, but have yet to catch anything so we have no idea if we're doing this right. I've also had some luck shorecasting with a Coyote 3.5 Wonderbread spoon --- what is the recommended way to rig this for trolling?

Also, is there any specific protocol/ettiquette that we should be aware of when trolling in the area? From some of the messages I've read, it seems to be a crowded area, so I take it there's an established route/direction?

Thanks a bunch!

 

[yo mama]

You sound like your on the right track. When fishing in traffic the general rule is your right side to the rocks has the right away.

Never had great luck on the wonderbread but have slammed some hawgs on the 50/50 chrome green or blue. chovie and green hot spot @ 70 feet should bring ya some luck hanging off of Church rock out of Pedder.

 

[Kildonan]

I found a big mistake I made when first fishing Sooke was my leader from my hotspot flasher to the teaser head was too short. I like to fish about an 8 to 9 foot leader now. I fished shorter leaders before that and had poor luck.

As for protocol/ettiquette? Good luck on that although most people there are pretty good. If you screw up, somebody will let you know in no uncertain terms. <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

 

[silverchum]

Well, we just got back from an all afternoon and evening trolling around Church Rock across to Beechey Head. Had a great time and the weather was just fantastic. Crowds were not bad at all, and I don't think we offended anyone with our boating, but it's definitely something that we'll have to get more experience doing.

Passing across the mouth of Becher Bay, I had a bite on a stubby trolling rod that I had perched out the back with a Deep 6 attached to a glow/green anchovy (no flasher). The rod was pretty stiff, and at first I thought it was a rock fish or something small... turned out to be nice-sized salmon, but when it saw the boat, it took off and the drag was tightened down too much and the rod too stiff that the hook pulled out.

We then headed out a way into the open ocean and after 15 minutes, picked up a nice 4-5 lb pink. On the way back, hit a couple of greenling jigging around the kelp.

All-in-all, a real nice time and we'll definitely be giving the area another try in the future.

Looking forward to reading some more on this site.

Thanks!

 

[wolf]

Go with a 5,6 ft leader a leader 9 ft long is very hard to get the fish into the boat when your using a 9 or a 10.6 rod remember some basics too when you use a hootchy its 29 to 36 inches for the action from the flasher whip. I use short leaders and dont seem to have a problem at all catching many springs!!!!!!!!!!

If you really want to learn the tricks and such hire a respected charter thats very good and the money will be well spent consider it a lesson and ask all the questions you want we are accomidating. I get quite a few people for just such reason and they leave very happy.

Good luck Wolf