Salmon jigging technique

[GrandBanksTom]

Guys, any thoughts on how you like to jig for salmon if you're anchored. Do you:

1) Drop to a desired depth (say 3 feet off the bottom) and just pop the rod up and down in the same spot continuously?
2) Drop to the bottom, then work the jig while slowly reeling up all the way back to the boat?
3) Drop the lure slowly, jigging at certain intervals on the way down, then hitting the bottom, and doing the same on the way up?
4) Cast far out from the boat, let the jig hit the bottom, then reel in slowly while bouncing it off the bottom?
5) Drop to bottom, then fast retrieve up all the way back to the boat?

Thanks all.

 

[Rum Buddies]

http://www.amazon.ca/How-Catch-Salmon-Advanced-Techniques/dp/0919214657

 

[scott craven]

Good one Poppa, I have a copy if you need it Tom...

 

[GrandBanksTom]

Good one Poppa, I have a copy if you need it Tom...

Thanks. Local library has it! Will check it out.

 

[Rum Buddies]

wasn't trying to be a smart butt, its a good book and will give you a nice breakdown of the various techniques - it'll get you pointed in the right direction.

 

[Pippen]

I guess it would kind of depend on what you were chucking out there. Zingers and Buzz Bombs are largely designed to imitate a wounded bait fish...as it kind of flutters when jigged.


Here's an article about them......but also the Salmon University site will be a great resource for you Tom as you are figuring out the ropes.

http://www.salmonuniversity.com/ol_buzz_bombing_Salmon_Rudnick.html

 

[GrandBanksTom]

I guess it would kind of depend on what you were chucking out there. Zingers and Buzz Bombs are largely designed to imitate a wounded bait fish...as it kind of flutters when jigged.


Here's an article about them......but also the Salmon University site will be a great resource for you Tom as you are figuring out the ropes.

http://www.salmonuniversity.com/ol_buzz_bombing_Salmon_Rudnick.html

I've combed this website religiously. A lot of valuable info there, but didnt see much about actual vertical jigging while anchored. But it makes sense. Vary your technique based on lure. Perhaps cast a Buzz Bomb out, hit the bottom, and bounce it on the retrieve. For a Crippled Herring (which we use extensively on the east coast), it would be a much better vertical jig.

Have you guys ever tried using a Tsunami Deep Heavy shad? Those lures are cheap and deadly this side. Sebile Magic swimmers also dominate. Im convinced these lures would work in the PNW too.

 

[Rum Buddies]

my best advice would be to use whats works here in BC. Its tempting to dig out your east coast lures and use them here but you'll likely end up spending hours and hours wasting your time and wondering why you can't catch a fish. First master the basics then move on to trying new things and messing about.

Unless you see fish on the surface forget about casting, just drop your gear straight down to the depth you want and jig, in sidney most fish will be near the bottom. Needlefish jig fishing right in the sand is your best bet.


I'd pick half a dozen proven lures and stick to those until you start catching consitently.

 

[el.Pereh]

This is the only technique I use when I fish north of Vancouver island. Grab a few Gibbs minnows around 1.5 - 2 ounces (get a few to match the bait size once you've landed one) in silver green and silver black (I've heard gibbs mac fish jiggs work great as well). I dont like buzz boms because the lure sometime moves away from the hook and you can't lure-release bycatch.

Once you've spotted the bait or salmon on the sounder, drop your line (letting it flutter) down to that depth. You'll need to figure out a way to estimate what depth your lure is at, something at based on your rod size and reel type. I use a 20 foot leader tied with a blood knot onto braided mainline so I just figure out how long it takes it to drop the leader under water and extrapolate. It is important to have the lure fluttering on the way down, you will get a lot of hits before you get to your ideal depth.

Raise you rod tip and allow the lure to flutter back down a few feet. I usually pause for a second or two at once the line is taught, have got some good hits doing so. Repeat until the scope of you line becomes such that you are not getting good action on the lure or it you would like to probe a different depth.

It is of utmost importance to "find the fish" or the bait ball when doing this. Always be on the look out for diving bird activity or signs of bait on the surface, look for contours where salmon could be holding given the direction of the current. This is one of my favorite aspects of this technique as you need to be quite active. When using this technique we tend to not anchor up at a place unless it is real fishy. Just line up your boat upwind or up current of the area you would like to pass through, that way you will cover more ground too. Casting downdrift will increase your time with the lure at a good jigging scope.

When you hookup with this technique, it is an absolute blast. Very few hits don't "stick".

Watch out for black bombers!

 

[Dogbreath]

Some Striped Bass lures work well here and others are duds Salmon just don't respond to them at all certainly a Coho would take the Tsunami Deep Heavy shad and it might work trolled slow for Springs but as mentioned other things would work better.

 

[Rum Buddies]

no doubt that might catch the odd fish but its hard enough to consitentatly catch fish in Sidney with bait, let alone bass wigglers. Lings love those things though and some nice lings can be found around sidney.

 

[outback]

no doubt that might catch the odd fish but its hard enough to consitentatly catch fish in Sidney with bait, let alone bass wigglers. Lings love those things though and some nice lings can be found around sidney.

this is my experience as well. Offshore West coast vancouver island the fish are so thick and such aggressive feeders peak season... its hard not to catch them. Sidney fish are usually much less thick and usually tricky to find even for the best of fisherman.