Request - A complete idiot's guide to Salmon Fishing in the Georgia Straight area

I

island_dude

New Member
Hi All,

This will be my first season attempting to fish salmon. I'll be picking up my new boat next week - the next step will be gearing up and getting started.

As per usual, cost will be a consideration. I am wondering if anyone has suggestions for the basic gear that every fisher should have when fishing salmon (I already have downriggers, depth sounder). I have no rod, reel, tackle, etc.

I'll be fishing the Sunshine Coast mostly - if that makes a difference.

Thanks in advance for your help. This forum has been awesome and I would be pretty lost without it.

Thanks!
 
Take some fishermans out with ya to show you the ropes.
 
Honestly for gear fish a green/white coyote on one side and a splatterback hootchie on the other. Fish them behind green flashers on a 5 ft leader for the spoon and 40 inch leader for the hootchie. Cant go wrong with these ever in the straight and keeps it simple.
 
Army truck hootchie and hotdot spoon works good for me here in gibsons good spots are twin islands salmon rock and camp byng cheers and good luck
 
x2 what Kelly said.......but I'd also get:-

Army Truck hoochy
Cop car spoon.....3.5 and 4"
Purple haze flashers
Green Ghost hoochy ( It is Glow with a green stripe down each side)
Pistachio hoochy (some call it the "Apple Core" hoochy:- glow with fleurescent green blotches on it).
Straight Glow hoochy
Electric Chair hoochy :- (Angelo's....clear UV body with a light pinkish stripe down each side that glows in the dark)
Mp2 and Mp16 mini hoochies ( for late season estuary returners)
Casper (straight white hoochy)
 
If the Guy who used to have a tore in Squamish is still in business on the Sunshine Coast avoid him like the plague.

Other than that don't get your hopes up too high-fishing the chuck in that part of BC has been the pits for over 20 years now.

Kelly's advice is solid those are standard lures that wil work if there are fish around.

Don't get sidetracked into using live bait-some old timer is bound to tell you about the Good old blah, blah, blah-it used to work when there were more fish around but now....
 
Honestly, if its your first time go out with a guide.
Pacific Angler in Van offers a great saltwater course
3 hours in the evening in the store and a full day on the water
Jason will show you everything you need for all the different fisheries for the year, including the where, when and how to fish
it is a great course and the price is very afordable
JMO
Tim
 
island_dude said:
Hi All,

This will be my first season attempting to fish salmon. I'll be picking up my new boat next week - the next step will be gearing up and getting started.

As per usual, cost will be a consideration. I am wondering if anyone has suggestions for the basic gear that every fisher should have when fishing salmon (I already have downriggers, depth sounder). I have no rod, reel, tackle, etc.

I'll be fishing the Sunshine Coast mostly - if that makes a difference.

Thanks in advance for your help. This forum has been awesome and I would be pretty lost without it.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Bob Dixon (DavisBay Sportsfishing) use to run a class in the evening... Runs threw all the gear, depths to fish, tides and goes over charts.. Techniques and Tricks for fishing the sunshine coast.. id give him a call and see if he's still doing it...May / June are the best months over there.
 
Rob give us a bell you have my number

should be able to sort you out some good deals

rods reels gear
and other stuff
 
Maximum Salmon by DC Reid is a great book for beginners or even those experienced anglers looking to pick up a few tricks. Sometimes it's nice to read from a book as opposed to a screen. Not that you won't be able to glean lots of great stuff here. Also Charlie White published a couple of books that I've read that give a good account of the basics, but alas, local knowledge is like gold and sometimes books try to cover all the bases.
 
Do it yourself. Drive and determination will make or break what you are out there to do and get done. Pay your dues and talk to the people at the cleaning tables, you'll get "er quicker than ya figure. cheers.
 
The number one thing to know is where the fish are.

get info on on places where the fish spots are and how deep they usually are....
Learn best tides at that particular area.....this can make a difference.

usually they are the same places year after year.

You can fish all day with the best tackle.......but if you are fishing where the fish aren't.....not much fun.

Some guys will waste all day trying 16 different lures in a place/depth where there's no salmon......and then blame it on the lure, saying it was the wrong choice and the fish had "lockjaw". ( I've done it myself...LOL....).
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Seafever said:
The number one thing to know is where the fish are.



You can fish all day with the best tackle.......but if you are fishing where the fish aren't.....not much fun.

Some guys will waste all day trying 16 different lures in a place/depth where there's no salmon......and then blame it on the lure, saying it was the wrong choice and the fish had "lockjaw". ( I've done it myself...LOL....).
Click to expand...

Best advice there is. Its really frickin hard to learn how to fish and get confident if there aren't any fish around.
 
Print this page and take it fishing.
http://www.dairiki.org/tides/daily.php/gib
Mark the time you are out on the water and the time you get a fish.
Note the condintions and what depths, gear and speed.
Even mark down the days you don't produce and what you used.
Details from other boats if you see fish on.
Get a 3 hole punch and a binder to put your log into.
Put copies of your old license into log book.
Keep newspaper clippings in there too if you find one of interest.
Put the DFO letters from the head return program in there.
Over the years you will be well informed and can plan trips based on your log book.
Find a local guide with a website or facebook you can follow reports on.
GLG
 
Lots of good suggestions here in a lot of ways but also note the tide, its change and timing differential, where and when your location of success in specific spots is in relation to those tides .......... way tooooo much to learn on a few line thread ....... keep at it and have fun. On top of all this KNOW your Regs and Updates in the area's you plan to fish. Follow the pack so to speak if you see boats hitting fish watch the tack they are on, specific direction etc, and go with the flow ....... give respectful room to every one on the water. Don't get too close to others fighting a fish and when another boat is into fish and headed your way ... turn away. Give them room ... you will see why.

The old Charlie White books a good too, also video's he put out. Feel free to PM me if you need specific advice, lots of good people on here wanting to help a newbee.

HT
 
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