Re-posted
If I missed anything, can anyone please help me out? These are the basics; you will learn things very quickly.
LURES
Coho: Lures are used when you have found a deep-current lacking pools (Minimal current at least). Also very slow stretches of river and sloughs.
· Vibrex Spinners (Brass or hammered brass)
· Coho Killers
· Colorado’s (Brass)
· Sil-Vex
Springs: Are taken by large spoons in the lower Vedder (channel). Just find any deep pockets and giver.
· Koho (Brass)
· Iron Head’s (Brass)
Chum: Don’t bother using gear you will be broke.
Note: Besides the coho killers try to keep you hardware in brass colors for most rivers. See what other guy’s suggest too.
FLOAT FISHING:
This is the main technique on most rivers.
Coho: You will need the following:
· “Dink” Floats.
· Swivels
· Pencil lead
· Hook’s you will need a variety depending on the water. Typically you will need #1’s (Cloudier water), #4’s (Clear water).
· Leader line again a variety 10lb test (Cloudier water) and 6-8 lb test for clear water.
· Peach, white, bubble gum wool, see what other suggest too.
· This is optional but I always have a jar of Jensen eggs (Orange).
To put all this gear together:
1. First the float goes on the main line, put the line through the top, you will see it come out wrap it around the float once and slide the line into the bottom lead. This will allow you to change line depth without any problem.
2. Tie on a swivel if it’s a single (Not a three-way) leave a bit of a tail for the lead about 1-1.5”. They’re a few methods here to attach the led.
3. Then put the pencil lead on the tail, when breaking a chunk of lead off, use pliers, just choose the size and wiggle the lead back and forth, don’t cut it. You need a hole on either side. Slip the lead onto the tail and crimp with pliers.
4. You know need a “bait tie” leader this goes onto your swivel.
5. Than use roe size of a quarter, or wool trimmed into a ball the size of a pea. You can also use wool peas size and slip a Jensen egg behind it this is a good option.
Now here is the thing, the line between your float and swivel on the main line depend on the depth you fish. You want to lead to just hit the bottom, I mean just or just off the bottom and again I mean just. The leader length should be about 1.0-2ft. The pencil led is dependant on the water speed.
For a basic idea of what it should look like, lose the jig too!: (Size of gear will be different)
http://www.steelheadnotebook.net/images/float_jig2.jpg
The same goes for Springs and Chum, just increase the hook size to about 1/0 hook and increase the leader line to about 12lb test, everything else is the same.
WATER TO FISH: All system’s
Coho: The slack water I talked about earlier you can fish that float fishing, fish right on the edge of the fast water and the slack, Just on the fast side enough to carry your float. So cast slightly upstream to get a good float. This will take some practice. You can free spool to a bit to cover more area.
The best is pools and behind rocks. Find an area with large boulders that have decent size pools behind them, like deep about 3-5 ft of water. Go above them (A few meters if you can) and dance your float around them along the seam water, keep doing this. Coho move in and out quickly, but rest in these spots.
In the Chehalis I had luck fishing roe very close to log jams.
On the Vedder you don’t have to fish where everyone else does. I never did and I had tons of success. Park and hike, you’ll learn more this way too.
Springs: Same seam water, but they tend to like deep fast runs. So look for deeper pools or runs with deep, faster water.
Chum: Are everywhere, especially in the tail out of runs and pools.
Baits:
Roe: Try to find some good quality roe and keep it quarter sized, you can also use roe bags. Just ask a guy at a local shop to show you how.
Wool: Keep it small and keep it trimmed up, if you get a tail on it from casting and such, trim it.
How to tie an “egg loop”:
http://www.piscatorialpursuits.com/resourcecenter/bumperknot.htm
Good luck
