Prawning vancouver area

[kmm]

I was wondering if someone could give a prawning newbie some advise/tips. I attempted prawning once last year in indian arm to return home 6 hrs later soaking wet and with one prawn .

 

[kaelc]

I was wondering if someone could give a prawning newbie some advise/tips. I attempted prawning once last year in indian arm to return home 6 hrs later soaking wet and with one prawn .

At least you got one! I would recommend buying/ borrowing a prawn puller. Run 4 traps on 4 different lines to start. Look for spots where others are prawning but dont set on them. Look for ledges in the 250 foot range. Set all four at slightly different depths and in difference spots, then have a coffee and start checking to see if you are into the right spots and depths. Good luck

 

[Corey_lax]

Indian Arm can be tough for prawning. Everyone else has the same idea as you when they want to get into protected water and find some prawns. You'll have better luck if you head west of Vancouver.

 

[kmm]

At least you got one! I would recommend buying/ borrowing a prawn puller. Run 4 traps on 4 different lines to start. Look for spots where others are prawning but dont set on them. Look for ledges in the 250 foot range. Set all four at slightly different depths and in difference spots, then have a coffee and start checking to see if you are into the right spots and depths. Good luck

Thanks!! I'll put your tips to use this weekend! I'm happy to report, I do have a puller

 

[kaelc]

Thanks!! I'll put your tips to use this weekend! I'm happy to report, I do have a puller

We did all right today in the gulf islands. Couple traps were down when we got there. Probably 20 a trap

 

[sly_karma]

Thanks!! I'll put your tips to use this weekend! I'm happy to report, I do have a puller

It sounds like you're just out for the day, so short soaks are the go. To make those productive, you need to blast out a scent trail in a short time. That means the bait needs to be sloppy and wet, scent flooding out the moment the trap hits bottom. The Scotty cups with a few slits in them should either be modified by drilling a bunch of extra holes, or replacing them with mesh type bait containers such as Kufa.

Prawn/crab pellets are relatively slow release, good for overnight soaks and as a base for a mixed bait system. Cat food is much wetter, and can be made more stinky by squirting fish oil over it. Better yet, dump the cat food out of the can and mix with fish oil to soup it up.

Washington prawners use this concept to maximize productivity in their 4 hour openings. The rule of thumb down there is you should have only a third of the bait left after a one hour soak.

 

[Aces]

A whole pink salmon chopped in half adds great scent and really improved our scores

 

[Coyote Spooner]

Try to find spots that have a steep drop off, that bottom out at around 200-250’, and have a muddy bottom. Navionics gives you awesome detail, to identify these spots. Howe Sound has some relatively sheltered waters to explore, depending on your boat size. Just be aware of the sponge reef closures, before you head out. I believe these are also marked on Navionics, or check DFO site. Dropping there can get you some big fines!!

 

[trophywife]

A whole pink salmon chopped in half adds great scent and really improved our scores

not quite bait fish,, could be considered wanton waste, just used the offal correct? lol
we are not in the 70's anymore there aces

 

[Aces]

not quite bait fish,, could be considered wanton waste, just used the offal correct? lol
we are not in the 70's anymore there aces

It's not?

 

[Rain City]

It's not?

You're allowed to believe whatever you want. It's cool, man.