Prawning steep drops with current

[kaelc]

Dropped the traps here a little shallow at 195ish, was targeting 250, skunked. It was a flood current so guess the scent was traveling up? Should I have been trying for deeper dropping at 300, trying to hit in the 300-250? This is an area that drops to 1200 feet and current rips up to 2.6kn, I would only prawn there at less than .75kn. I've only prawned in Saanich inlet, without much current and areas with less 400 feet of bottom with current.

In an area of high current are steep drops like this productive for prawning? Any tips, better on an ebb, would that be too risky to prawn above .5kn with rec gear?

Thanks for any insight.

 

[Srthomas75]

I’ve only tried setting my traps on steeper areas like you’ve pictured a few times ( and not been too successful even though there is lots of advice on here saying that’s the preferred terrain ?)
I think the bottom of the “cliffs” is the best spot ?
I’ve had more luck with dropping into low spots/ holes etc….
I got half a limit near Moresby yesterday while I trolled for zero salmon

 

[Rain City]

I’ve only tried setting my traps on steeper areas like you’ve pictured a few times ( and not been too successful even though there is lots of advice on here saying that’s the preferred terrain ?)
I think the bottom of the “cliffs” is the best spot ?
I’ve had more luck with dropping into low spots/ holes etc….
I got half a limit near Moresby yesterday while I trolled for zero salmon

Yep, never ON the slope. Bottom ideally or sometimes the top, depending on depths. There's too much risk of everything tumbling down the hill and turning on its side.

 

[Howzer]

I've lost or had to track down traps in those conditions.
Best to try and land on the flats at the base of those cliffs if possible, imho

 

[seachicken]

Yep, never ON the slope. Bottom ideally or sometimes the top, depending on depths. There's too much risk of everything tumbling down the hill and turning on its side.

Never on the slope? Except in Saanich Inlet. Not sure about everyone else's experience but we get a lot of prawns on the slope in Saanich Inlet. Maybe not as steep as that spot shown and less current.

@kaelc you could always try above that spot where the slope is less steep

 

[Capt_Ed]

This thread made me think about setting my Halibut longline gear up in Dixon entrance . Some times I had to set it a 1/4 of a mile ,one side or the other, from where it was supposed to lay because of current and it had to settle in 280 fathoms on an edge. You want some stress try setting 7 strings like that that are almost 2 miles long , and if you miss their lost to 450 fathoms. Great times and I miss it everyday

 

[Howzer]

This thread made me think about setting my Halibut longline gear up in Dixon entrance . Some times I had to set it a 1/4 of a mile ,one side or the other, from where it was supposed to lay because of current and it had to settle in 280 fathoms on an edge. You want some stress try setting 7 strings like that that are almost 2 miles long , and if you miss their lost to 450 fathoms. Great times and I miss it everyday

Yup, it can get nasty there. Bet you don't miss the bugs on Dundas though...

 

[Capt_Ed]

"The black flies on Dundas" my beachman used to have to light a small campfire and stand in the smoke just to be able to spend the 12 minutes on the beach. 6 of those bastards could pick a guy up and fly you away