Happy Camper

HAPPY CAMPER

The weather is getting warmer by the day and if the outdoors hasn’t been calling you, you might not be listening hard enough. Silence the craziness of the world and clear your calendar; it’s time to go camping! There’s nothing like packing up the car, driving to a beautiful destination, and sleeping under the stars.

If you???re worried about roughing it, there’s more than one way to camp and Cabela’s knows this. Since 1961, Cabela’s has become the World’s Foremost Outfitter of outdoor gear. Offering a wide selection of high-quality outdoor apparel and supplies, helpful buying guides, and exceptional customer service, Cabela’s has done an excellent job of cementing their reputation for being the best.

When it comes to camping, choose from a variety of quality, top-branded products that will keep you comfortable, safe, and able to enjoy your trip. It doesn’t matter whether you’re an experienced camper that likes exploring or prefer to make it a new tradition with the family; Cabela’s has what you need.

Looking for a new tent? The ‘Eureka!’ Copper Canyon 6-Person Tent‘ is a great buy. Cabin-style walls give you a generous amount of vertical space at 7ft and offers ample room for sleeping bags or cots. Zippered E! Power Port allows you to easily run power cables to your tent and the bathtub-style floor seals out ground moisture.

Just because you’re camping doesn’t mean you need to sleep on the hard ground. Instead, stay comfortable throughout the night with sleeping pads, air mattresses and cots. If you want to keep it simple, the ‘Eureka!’ Rio Grande Queen Air Bed‘ is an option to check out. This environmentally friendly air bed offers stealth-grip fabric to keep your sleeping bag from slipping and an integrated raised pillow for comfort. It also includes a rechargeable 120-volt pump for easy inflating and deflating.

Don’t forget your meals either. You can find easy-to-use outdoor cooking supplies with Cabela’s Camp Cooking & Dining Collection. There are packable stoves, grills, smokers, or full-blown camping kitchens to make sure you have a delicious meal no matter where you are. You can also bring some of the comforts of home with coffeemakers and their selection of spices and seasonings.

There’s so much available at Cabela’s for camping that I can’t begin to tell you about it all. Be prepared for anything with camping essentials and check out the Cabela’s entire camping collection today for your next adventure!

Shop Now??

Posted in Fishing News | Leave a comment

Fishing Tackle Box Must Haves

Tackle Box Must Haves

fishing tackle box

Fishing Tackle Box

You cannot have success at any sport if you do not have the right equipment. When people think of fishing, they automatically think of rods, reels, and bait. However, you cannot underestimate the power of the tackle box because it plays an important role in the success of your fishing expeditions.

Many people covet their tackle boxes because they represent a lifetime of trials and tribulations regarding what methods work for which fish. If you are a novice in the world of fishing, you could find yourself overwhelmed with the possibilities and choices that are available. Starting your tackle box can seem challenging, but if you stick to the basics, you will be able to get started without a hitch.

The first thing that you need is to pick out a box. A tackle box should be strong and able to handle wear and tear easily. The plastic tackle boxes are usually thick and come with strong handles making it easier to lug back and forth between boat, river, and pier trips. The most important thing when deciding on a box is the latch. Your tackle box must have a sturdy latch because you do not want everything to spill out on the dock or into the water. When you are in a boating store, pull on the latch and test it before you decide on a purchase.

Some essentials to keep in a tackle box are hooks, lines, and sinkers. Hooks are an important part of fishing because without them you will not be catching very much. The larger the number size of the hook, the smaller the hook actually is. When you buy line, make sure that your line fits your reel. Keep an extra spool in your box for just-in-case purposes.

Sinkers are important for helping your bait to catch fish below the surface of the water. In order to get your line to the bottom you are going to need split-shot sinkers. Sinkers are made from different materials, but the safest are the ones that are made from steel, tin, and non-toxic metals. Some of the sinkers are made from lead and they can potentially poison some types of fish.

Lures are going to be the next thing that you add to your tackle box. There are many different types of lures ranging in all colors, shapes, sizes, and material. Different fish are attracted to different types of lures. For instance, a kingfish will be more attracted by a lure with glitter while a bass will be more attracted to a worm shaped lure. Make sure to know what the fish you are trying to catch like to eat before you buy.

Some fun gadgets that may be useful are the leaders, snap swivels, fingernail clippers, needle-nose pliers, practice plugs, stringers, and maps. Maps are obvious because you need to know how to get to your favorite fishing spots. However, the other things may need some greater explanation. A leader is a piece of line with a metal core that will keep a fish from biting off the line and escaping. A snap swivel will prevent tangles in your line and a practice plug is for casting. Lastly, a stringer will help you to keep your catch fresh in the water.

Once you start fishing regularly, you will find out which lures are useful and which one don???t help at all. You will discover the tools that you use the most and the ones that are just collecting dust. Hopefully, you will try new things and maybe put your own spin on some old ones and build the perfect tackle box for you.

Posted in Fishing Tips And Techniques | Tagged | Leave a comment

Bait Casting For Salmon

Introduction

Salmon are a species of migratory fish common to the Atlantic and the Pacific Ocean. The species has also been introduced quite successfully in the Great Lakes of North America. Interestingly, people look at salmon fishing as a form of sport or entertainment and make extensive plans for their fishing trips.

What kind of bait to use for Salmon?

Before embarking on a fishing trip, it is advisable to study the eating habits of the fish. Salmon are mostly meat eaters, so using meat or something similar to meat as bait should be effective. However, different anglers are comfortable with individual methods. It depends on you to choose the bait that you are satisfied with.

Different types of bait

Some of the methods used in bait fishing for salmon include:

Cut bait – Using cut bait is a good option while fishing for salmon. Cut bait is nothing but a sliver of raw fish, either herring or smelt. However, any other kind of fish would work just as well. Using such bait for salmon fishing has the added advantage of attracting the fish with the smell of the bait.

Artificial bait – Some fishing enthusiasts have found it particularly useful to use a lure as bait instead of raw fish. When used for salmon fishing, a lure is traditionally called a “spoon”. This is basically a thin artificial bait which resembles a tiny fish when it is pulled with a boat. The Green Highlander is one of the most common lures or “spoons” used in salmon fishing.

Things to keep in mind while Salmon fishing

Salmon are fast moving fish and rarely stay in one spot. While fishing for salmon, it is important to troll (move your boat up and down, covering all areas) and not stay anchored at one spot. It is also prudent to keep track of the migratory pattern of the fish.

Use a strong heavy fishing line that is ideal for deep water fishing. Make sure the fishing pole and reel are strong enough to haul up a full grown salmon.
If you are using cut bait, make certain that it is fresh and that it has a strong smell. Using rotten bait will not help.

One of the main ways to attract salmon to the bait is to make it as flashy as possible. The use of bright colors and smells to draw attention to the bait is a good tactic. You can use flies, spinners or flashers to make the bait more appealing to salmon. Flashers and spinners simulate movement which enthrall the fish and make them bite.

Salmon are extremely timid by nature and can move surprisingly fast if alerted of danger. It is advisable to be careful of your movements while fishing. If you startle one fish, it might alert the rest and your expedition will be in vain.

Conclusion

Bait fishing for salmon requires a lot of patience and skill. This is not a hobby which can be learnt in a jiffy; it requires an immense amount of time, effort and practice to master the sport. However, the excitement and pride which you get when you catch your first fish makes it all worthwhile.

Posted in Fishing News | Leave a comment

Salmon Fishing The Fraser River

salmon fishing in the fallI had a couple of great days fishing the fraser river last weekend with my son and it was especially fun because of the style of fishing. We were ‘bottom bouncing’. Man, I love that kind of fishing. We had the luxury of my son’s boat so we put it in the water just East of Chilliwack and from there scooted over to one of his favorite gravel bars. Its amazing how you remember a fish you caught in a particular spot and the part of the river where you caught it.

What I really like about bottom bouncing is the action of the rod and the feel of your line bouncing along with the current. We were using a two ounce bell weight and the water really moved it along nicely. The weather was outstanding and even had to put the sunscreen on.

Even though its that time of year when things are quiet, the coho generally start moving into that part of the fraser around this time of year. The springs have made their run and its just a bit early to get into the steelhead.

All in all it was a perfect weekend. The kind you think about for weeks before you get there.

Oh and did I mention, we never brought anything home. Only caught one small coho and as it was wild, released it for another day.

Posted in Fishing News, Salmon Fishing | Leave a comment

Salmon Steelhead Fishing – Casting

Fly fishing in fresh water for salmon is probably the greatest challenge there is when it comes to landing these ocean-going fish. Even though salmon steelhead fishing is notoriously difficult when it comes to getting them to bite on a fly, most fishers consider one catch in a whole day of well worth the effort and the bragging rights that come with it. Of course, novice fishers will not understand the big deal about landing one steelhead on a freshwater fly cast, but you can rest assured that experienced fishers will understand the real feat you accomplish.

These game fish are often caught casting in the ocean, but in most ways these ocean dwellers are vastly different animals than the ones that are found in freshwater. Spawning salmon, including steelhead and both the Atlantic and Pacific varieties, eat only occasionally if at all while migrating, so the food instinct is not something the fisher can count on to make them rise to the fly. The gear (including bait and tackle) needed to have a successful freshwater experience is thus totally different than that used either for true freshwater species or for saltwater fish.

When you look at flies used for freshwater casting, you will probably wonder what the heck they are modeled after. Most freshwater fishing flies take on the shape of various insects or larvae that the fish will bite on, while casting in saltwater will mean fish-imitating bait. The flies used as bait for salmon steelhead fishing in freshwater don’t look like anything at all. They are not designed to impersonate a food source of the fish, since most of them going back upstream aren’t eating anyway. Instead, they are created with the idea of either annoying the fish or arousing its curiosity in mind.

One exception to the rule is fly fishing for kokanee. Kokanee typically live in deeper fresh water, but like all species they do have a spawning instinct that tells them to move when it is time to mate. They can often be caught on flies that do resemble prey species, as they will eat when spawning. The most successful flies are nymphs, especially when attached to a lighter line that allows the fly to rise in the water, imitating the behavior of real nymphs. Kokanee can also be caught year round in fresh water habitats through trolling with bait such as roe and wet flies on a downrigger set up.

Once you do get one of these finicky fish to bite on a freshwater cast, you will understand why a landing s prized so highly. The rods and reels used for freshwater are often the same as those used for freshwater species (composed of graphite, and if you are salmon steelhead fishing you will probably want a stronger model), but no freshwater fish ever fights quite the same as having one of these specimens on the line. Be ready to fight these fish for every inch; even the small kokanee can take up to half an hour to land on a fly fishing set up.

You also may find our article on drift fishing interesting.?? Click here for more information related to fishing.

You may publish this article only on the condition that all links are left working and intact.

Posted in Fishing News, Fishing Tips And Techniques, Salmon Fishing | Leave a comment

Selecting Salmon Fishing Tackle

Setting up for a great ocean fishing trip doesn???t mean focusing only on salmon fishing tackle. Tackle is important, of course, but you also want to make sure that you take other gear into consideration, such as fishing rods, fishing reels, the type of fishing line that you are going to use, terminal tackle such as hooks and weights, and of course baits and lures.

Different types of salmon fishing are going to call for different gear. Any ocean salmon fishing is going to mean that the salt water takes its toll on your equipment, and we???re not just talking your basic gear; if you fish in a boat, you are going to have to have your motor checked constantly- some estimates put the turnover rate for an inboard motor on the ocean at seven years. This can really add up, but there are tricks, like using fresh water coolant, that can help add life to your motor.

As far as salmon fishing tackle and gear, you should pay a lot of attention to the composition. Fishing rods and fishing reels should be made of a material that does not corrode, such as stainless steel, graphite (this is the most popular material in

ocean fishing rods), plastic, even wood.

Don???t use equipment that is made of mixed metals; different metals will react in different ways to the salt content, and you could end up with a reel or rod that is 25% corroded; it will look fine for the most part but it won???t work.

There are different schools of thought when it comes to the right type of fishing line to use as far as your salmon fishing tackle is concerned, but in most cases the more expensive line is the best option. Now, it doesn???t have to be the MOST expensive fishing line on the market, but higher priced lines tend to be best for clear water fishing; the less visible line will not spook a fish off of your bait. More expensive lines are also more resistant to breaking, kinking, and tangling.

Casting can be one of the most rewarding salmon fishing experiences, especially when the costs are weighed against those incurred fishing from a boat. The tricky part can be in determining the right kind of flies; in fact, the only type of salmon that is really going to bite on a fly are steelhead.

The flies you are going to be successful on for steelhead will depend on whether the fish are winter or summer run, and of course the kind of bugs that are around the river or stream you are casting on. The real challenge in casting for steel heads is just getting the fish to bite on any flies at all.

Ocean fishing for salmon, whether from a boat (mooching, trolling, or drift fishing) or from the shore requires some very specific salmon fishing tackle. You need hooks and weights that get the line down to the level that you want, but that also don???t pick up a lot of kelp on the way in.

Bottom bouncers work great as lures for casting from a wharf or from the shore, and packed roe is one of the most successful baits. Remember that baits and lures for salmon are always based on smaller fish; bugs won???t get you a lot of bragging rights at the end of the day when it comes to salmon.

For a great selection of fishing gear at discount prices visit: https://www.gosalmonfishing.com/all-fishing-tackle.php

Posted in Fishing News, Fishing Tips And Techniques, Salmon Fishing | 1 Comment

Salmon Fishing The West Coast

If you haven’t tried salmon fishing on the west coast, you’re really missing an exciting opportunity to catch some beautiful spring?? or chinook and coho salmon. I just came back from my 7th annual trip to the west side of Vancouver Island in British Columbia and had a spectacular trip.

There were 4 of us again this year and once again we limited out each day.?? My brother, Barry managed a 42 pound Spring Salmon and my buddy Al (the captain) Gibson brought home a 35 pound Spring as well.?? The rest ranged from about 18 to 25 pounds for the springs and 8 to 18 pounds for the hatchery coho.?? We use a guide service for this trip and the guy we go out with really knows his stuff.?? I’ve seen many times over the past 7 years where we brought in twice and sometimes three times the number of fish that other guides were bringing home.?? So I know its not all luck!

In addition to salmon this trip netted us our limit in halibut from 20 to 30 pounds and even a few ling cod which are great eating. We took a different approach this year and trolled for the hallies which seemed to add a more sporting touch.?? However, the size was smaller.?? In past years we would always head out about 20 miles and drift fish for them.?? They were bigger (one was 72 pounds) but it was like hauling a sheet of plywood off the bottom. Not very sporting and really hard on the arms.?? Especially when your forearms aren’t in great shape from punching a keyboard all day.

For a great selection of fishing gear at discount prices visit: https://www.gosalmonfishing.com/all-fishing-tackle.php

Posted in Fishing News, Salmon Fishing | Leave a comment

Drift Fishing

Drift fishing gets its name from the fact that you are just drifting along in your boat; there is no motor, no need to get to one point or another, just you, the waves, and hopefully a school of salmon below you somewhere. Drift fishing will often mean both mooching and casting, depending on where you think the fish are. This means that you should have both an open face casting reel and line set up in case you spot salmon on the rise for a school of herring away from the boat as well as the usual gear and products for depth fishing.

The bait used in drift fishing is designed to give the impression of a wounded baitfish. This bait tempts salmon on several levels. Visually, flashes of light will catch the attention of the big carnivorous fish and lead them to the area. Of even more significance are the sound vibrations set off by the bait, which give them their colloquial term ???bottom bouncers???. These vibrations attract fish from all over the area, who want to get a look at what???s in distress.

Both the movement and the sound created by the bait in drift fishing are designed to trigger a predatory response in salmon. All predators, both terrestrial and marine, are drawn to the easy meal that a wounded prey species represents. An animal wounded can???t get away as easily, and will trigger a ???eat NOW??? instinct in the brain of the predator. Easy meals are difficult to come by in any wild setting, and the fish want to snap it up before someone else does.

Because of the still water nature of drift fishing, it is important that the line used is lighter and won???t be spotted by an approaching salmon, especially the leader portions. Good leader will be lighter than twenty pound test.

Finally, the rods used in drift fishing are different from the ones that you will have success on while mooching. Mooching rods have soft tips, which allow a watching fisherman to see when the salmon takes the bait. Drift fishing is about the instant grab and then the fight, so a rod with a semi stiff tip is required to set the hook in the mouth of the salmon. If the rod is too stiff, however, you run the risk of tearing the hook right out of the salmon and losing the fish altogether because they don???t have as much play.

In drift fishing, you want to be moving the rod up and down, causing the vibrations which cause the salmon to go nuts. This up and down motion can be tiring on the wrists, so it is important that the rod has a good foot or so of butt length which will support your forearms. This length will also allow you some extra leverage against your stomach to help when reeling a fish in.

Drift fishing and mooching are peaceful, stationary ways to catch salmon out on the ocean, and both require quite a bit of patience and set up skill. Trolling, on the other hand, will allow you to take in a lot of scenery and try out a few different spots, and will be the subject of the next article in this series.

If you’re an avid fisherman, you may find this Largemouth Bass Extreme Fishing Guide! interesting.

Posted in Fishing Tips And Techniques, Salmon Fishing | 2 Comments

Fly Fishing Reels for freshwater salmon fishing

Catching any species of salmon on a fly means that you are in for a hell of a fight, so it is important that you use the right fly fishing reels for freshwater salmon fishing. Fly fishing reels for the most part have the same basic design, and the difference that will mean a great story with a picture or a steelhead to back you up and a great story about one that got away will often lie in the makeup of the reel itself. Here are some of the components you will want to look at in order to land those spawners when they are on their way upstream; always keep in mind that although the techniques and casting may be the same for salmon and trout, the salmon are the fish that are going to give a bigger fight in the landing.

Handle

The handle of your reel can make all the difference in a salmon strike on fresh water. There are a couple of considerations here. The first is comfort. Fresh water salmon are notoriously fickle in their tastes; one day can see hardly any bites, the next day your line is hopping. Western steelhead in particular are one of the greatest fly fishing catches there are in terms of bragging rights, both because of their fight and their reluctance to rise to the fly. It???s important that the handle on your reel is suited to your palm so that you won???t find your hand is getting tired or sore after hours of reeling. A big handle will provide this comfort, and will also come in useful when after a few hours out, throwing and retrieving with no action, you suddenly get a bite. The size of the handle allows you to make a quick grab even from the doldrums, in time to play your line.

Drag

Fly fishing reels for freshwater salmon fishing need to have materials that get rid of heat and that have a good amount of surface area for the drag. The drag itself will assist you in playing the fish out, while heat dissipation is critical in order to keep a line from snapping with a fish on the other end. The very highest quality (and also of course the costliest) material used to create drag on a fly reel is carbon fiber. With this material any concerns about losing a big fish due to heat friction are gone, but then so is a lot of money. The next material down, Rulon, is also acceptable and presents a minimal amount of heat exposure to the line. In order to prevent friction caused by debris, it is important to look for a fly reel that has a sealed drag on it.

Fly fishing for salmon, even land locked species, can mean quite an arduous days??? work with little or nothing to show for it at the end. When looking for the best fly fishing reels for freshwater salmon fishing, you need to be aware both of the level of comfort and the possibility of tempting a really big fish onto the fly. Any fisherman will tell you that the latter consideration is the most important, but the qualifications of a reel to meet the two distinct needs are no longer mutually exclusive, so look for a reel that offers the heavy duty materials needed to land those big fish without a lot of additional weight and handling.

For a great selection of fishing reels visit: https://www.gosalmonfishing.com/all-fishing-tackle.php

Posted in Fishing News, Fly Fishing, Salmon Fishing | Leave a comment

Bottom Bouncing For Chinook and Sockeye Salmon

Bottom bouncing for Chinook and Sockeye salmon has become far and away the most prominent method of fishing in recent summer runs for sports fishermen. Gear used for bottom bouncing in rivers such as the Columbia or Fraser, is unlike any other and very productive. The only necessity to have a good day fishing Sockeye using this method, is making sure they will be there in moderate numbers allowing even beginners, to experience results!

Lets have a look at some of the standard stuff now. A 1O.6 ft graphite rod that is used for salmon and levelwind reel is a typical river set up and will be perfect. If you are new to bottom bouncing and don’t have funds to go buy anything right away, a medium action spinnig rod and reel in the 8 to 9ft range can get you started too. The terminal tackle such as weights, line swivels and more also make all the difference and we’ll have a look at that next.

A large river system plus a large fish like a King salmon equals allot of pounds on your gear. This all equates to have a line that has a strong enough test as to not snap yet not be too much to damage lost fish or equipment. My modo to buying anything (my wife hates it) is “you always get what you pay for!” This modo has cost me allot of money but everything I buy lasts me!! When it comes to fishing line this modo holds true – buy quality or you will be sorry. A 15lb to 30lb test is perfect for your mainline and a capacity of 150 to 225yds is good, especially if you hook a big Chinook! I like the super lines such as Berkleys Fire-Line as the actual diameter of the line is so thin, that you can beef up your test a bit, it doesn’t have memory like monofilament and it’s got much more feeling transmitting which results in more hook sets. Berkley has won awards for it’s new “Fireline – Crystal” which integrates the quality of superline of a braided nature and clerity of a monofilament line, making for the most versatile and powerful superline available.

The next thing you’ll need is a basic swivel, size 10 or 8 will work. I like to have a ball chain swivel connected to my leader from my main line. Before I attatch my ball chain though I put a bead that is bigger than the eye of the Bouncing Betty weight that will slide up and down the line freely above the swivel. The ball chain swivel acts as a guard from the bouncing betty weight, that can damage the mainline, put nicks in it and lead to a lost fish or leader setup. The bead above the swivel acts as a bearing and allows the bouncing betty weight to move around and not get hung up on the swivel as it’s moving in the water. This setup is my favorite and is one of many ways to rig up your salmon gear.

There are several different types of weights on the market that work well while bottom bouncing for Chinook and Sockeye salmon. First is standard pencil lead, its cheap and versatile, although can cause problems. Pencil lead is commonly bought in coils. The advantage to pencil lead is how it’s bought, as you can cut off exactly how much weight you want to use. The disadvantage of it is that if you don’t know how much weight to cut off, you won’t get the depth or feel that you need, not ot mention it’s made of lead so it’s toxic and not good for the environment. Pencil lead is also cumbersome and is not as popular as a bouncing betty weight ball – I wouldn’t recommend them for this specific fishing technique.

Another weight used while bottom bouncing is called a slinky weight. A good way to describe this is; a cord with lead or steel split-shot pushed inside while the ends are heated shut and a snapswivel is attatched at the end so you can hook it up to another swivel or your line. The advantage to a slinky weight is that they are less likely to get snagged because they are less likely to hang up unlike other weights. A disadvantage to them is they don’t have as much bottom “feel” or transmission as say, a ball weight.

After we have our rod, reel, mainline and swivel picked out the next thing we need to discover is how to choose a good leader for the system we’re fishinig. The leader material should be one or two line “ratings” less than your mainline, 12 or 15lb test is usually good for your blueback (Sockeye), but for beginners or even advanced anglers, you may want to use a heavier test like a 25lber in case you get into a rockin’ Springer.

Remember how I said you get what you pay for? Well a good abrasian resistant, stiff mono that is of good quality, will find you better landing chances. With that, the next tip I give you is arguably one of the most contraversial peices of advice out there! Ready? You want Sockey and Sping salmon? Use a 15 FOOT leader!! Yup 15 feet! This is considered “cheating” by allot of anglers or conservationists and is deadly effective, but I’m telling you the secret to catching lots of fish here right? Some will call it flossing or snagging, but above all It’s one true way to get an unbelievable amount of salmon in the big coastal river systems.

Don’t piss your fellow anglers off!! WATCH YOUR LINE! Read this!

Try and remember that casting a leader that is 15 feet long on a big river can be difficult, challenging and dangerous. Hooks are floating under the water and cannot be seen! If you have a couple “beaks” (slang for an angler with no etiquette and is only interested in his own environment or gear.), that are way out in the water infront of everyone elses drift, you have to reel in sooner so you don’t hook them. Also always be aware of your back-cast and actual cast! Most fishermen who are bottom bouncing have laser sharp hooks that will cut through your leg or head with ease. One more thing to remember; while landing a big King long leaders can prove to be even more of a task as your leader is only able to reel up as far as your weight and rod tip will allow, or in other words, once your weight hits your rod tip you still have a fifteen foot leader with a fish on the end that you have to land somehow!

Common “lures” if that’s what you want to call it – considering salmon are generally territorial and not biteing, but rather getting snagged – will consist of either Spin ‘n’ glows, corkies and/or yarn. Color is not very important and I have always had great success with all colors although purple or bright yellow (chartreuse) is my most successful color. Size 12 or 14 is common for spin ‘n’ glo’s and corkies, while a “tuft” of wool that is about as long as two digits of your finger long will work.

Last on the list is the hook. Standard steelhead style hooks are perfect, size 1 to 3/0 work fine. Remember, as with line, you get what you pay for. Buy quality hooks, its worth it.

Finally, now that we have our bottom bouncing set up all ready, how do we fish it? Well it is not all to difficult but will require some practice to fully master. Basicly you will want to make your cast slightly up stream, then immediately pick up your slack line, but do not retrieve. Allow your gear to bump along the river bottom. While your gear is travelling along the river bottom, follow its direction with your rod tip and hold your rod at about 45 degrees, as your line starts to flow past you feed additional line out to extend your drift. After you have gone about 25 yards, then retrieve and repeat as necessary. When you are first getting started don’t worry too much about feeling the bite or take of the fish. It is very subtle and for the most part this will take care of itself as the rod will just bend over and get heavy and the fish is on!

Fraser river Sockeye fishing is unique in that this is an abundant fishery, so retention of fish is permited and this is a good thing. There is nothing better than enjoying a fresh sockeye with family and friends that you actualy caught yourself. As anglers we have a responsibility to make sure that the fish we retain are not wasted. Here are a few tips to make sure your catch makes it home in prime condition. Once you have caught a Sockeye and have dispatched it, cut or pull out a gill from both sides of the fish. This will allow the fish to completely bleed out. Bleeding stops any bruising and improves the quality of the meat. Allow about ten minitus to properly bleed out the fish. As soon as the fish is finished bleeding then clean or dress the fish immediately. Once the fish is properly dressed out, you must store it on ice in a cooler. I have seen many Sockeye stored unbled and uncleaned on the beach or in the shallows by the beach basicly rotting in the sun, this is such a waste and is not necessary After all the effort and expense it takes to go fishing, it just makes good sense to make sure our catch comes home in prime condition and not as fertilizer.

The reality of living in a populated area is that when the weather is warm and there are lots of fish around, the people just seem to come out of the woodwork (sometimes called “beaks”)! The fact is, you will probably be fishing with other anglers, in some cases, lots of other anglers. In peak season, 3000 to 5000 anglers per day will fish the Fraser river for Sockeye. The good news is that the Fraser is huge and there is room for all. Here are a few tips to help everyone to get along. First, treat everyone else as you would like to be treated. Second, don’t crowd out the person fishing in the spot you wanted. If he or she is there first go somewhere else or wait your turn. Third, parents don’t let inexperienced children fish in crowded conditions, it causes nothing but havoc. Fourth, anglers be patient with inexperienced children, even if they have just snagged your line for the tenth time in a row .Its not their fault that their father is more concerned about catching fish himself than teaching them how to fish properly. Fifth, leave the ghetto blaster at home!! AC/DC or Metalica is not part of a quality fishing experience. Sixth, pick up and pack up your own garbage! Your mamma is not here to pick up after you! Remember, the Fraser belongs to all of us, a little common sense and mutual respect will make for a great days fishing for all.

Do the Sockeye of the Fraser river actually bite?, or are all of them flossed or lined? Well, I believe the answer is yes and no. First, what is flossing or lining? This is the practice of swinging a long leader (6 to 10ft) along the bottom of the river with the intent of having that leader swing through the mouth of the fish swimming upstream. When the leader swings through the mouth of the fish, it is followed by the hook, which then gets pulled into the corner of the fishes jaw. First, is this legal or is this just snagging? Snagging, by the letter of the law, is described as the intent to hook a fish in a part of the body other than the mouth. Lining or flossing is designed to hook the fish in the mouth, so technically, this is legal. I personaly know several conservation officers who also avidly fish the Fraser in this manner, so from their standpoint, there is no legal problem. Any fish that is unintentionally snagged should be quickly and carfully released as keeping a fish that has been foul hooked is illagal and unethical. Second, will Sockeye bite a lure? The answer is yes, but when you consider the conditions in which we are fishing in the Fraser where the water visability is approximately 6 to 10inches and the water where the Sockeye are caught most often is fairly fast. Sockeye only get about a 1/2 second to see and react to a bait. So some sockeye do bite, but yes the majority are definately flossed or lined. Some people feel that this type of fishing is unethical, personaly because of the conditions in the fraser I think there is a place for this technique here, but in other clear water rivers where Salmon run and the conditions make it possible to fool a fish into biting your lure, I feel this would not be ethical. Basicly, this is a personal decision, but as I see it, most anglers have decided to accept this style of fishing and enjoy this tremendous fishery that the Fraser river has to offer.

Over the past several seasons it seems that the Sockeye season has been bogged down in controversy and political nonsence. Well thats because it has!( Dont get me started) As I sit here writing this in preparation for this magazine and the upcomming fishing season I really can’t say 1OO percent that there is actually going to be a Sockeye season at all. The predictions are huge and things look really good, but you just can’t predict what the Department of Fisheries and Oceans is going to do this year. Last season was not bad, they could have opened the fishery a little earlier than they did, but all in all, it was a good season. The D.F.O has a habit of making political decisions, not necessarily the right decisions. All we can do at this point is hope for the best and wait for the word. Your local tackle shop should be up to date as to when the fishery opens and to the retention limits of the various Salmon species.

It has been an interesting 8 years or so since the fraser river was opened to Sockeye fishing… to say the least. This fishery has changed not only the sport fishing industry but to some degre the summer lifestyles of the anglers who fish it. This is an amazing fishing experience. With warm weather and plentiful silver fish, its no wonder why Sockeye season is so popular. One thing is for sure, whether you love it or hate it, and most anglers love it, there will not be a cure for the Sockeye fever of the Fraser river any time soon.
_________________________________________________________

When fishing in busy river systems sometimes refferred to as “bottom bouncing,” there is actually an etiquette! Much like golfing you should follow these rules:

Never cast your line or lure on top of another’s line. Doing this will result in a snag, but most importantly the loss of a fish that may not be legal if one is hooked by accident not to mention angry anglers and they can get real angry. (remember its supposed to be fun).

Always cast upstream and don’t cast any more than two people above you if it’s shoulder to shoulder crowds. Casting upstream more than that effects the “flow” of casting to anglers and can be frustrating to have to wait for someone who does this.

As your line drifts downstream, keep it clear of peoples legs that are in the river, and don’t forget that your line will be further down the stream than where you see it go into the water. If you can see the person beside you at the end of your drift in a straight river, chances are you’re line has drifted too long.

The person who is up-stream from you always casts first! You should be aware of your surroundings, whats going on and wait for the line to drift down a bit before casting OVER their line. This will help prevent snags and keep the casting flow going.

If you have a fish on your line, you should yell “fish on” to let people know that you’ll need space.

If you think that you have a Chinook on – usually they strip lots of line from your reel immediately, or they will hold in one spot or they will give a “head shake” which will cause your rod tip to go down in large downward bends – yell “SPRING ON!” and start moving with it down the river if you have to (and usually you have to).

If you think that you have a Sockey – which instantly go nuts and move all over the place – or something else on, you should be able to bring the fish in where you are, so try not to take up the whole river unless your not sure, and get it in as quickly (without horsing it) as possible.

It’s common sense, not to mention illegal in some cases and un-ethical in most others, that if you have your limit, you should give your spot up to another angler.

Clean up after your self for goodness sakes!! Theres enough lost gear in the river as it is and it doesnt’ warrant you being able to leave your beer/pop cans or tackle on the river bar.

Read the rules of the regulations before you fish. I don’t know how many times I’ve seen guys out there catching fish and not knowing what kind of fish they had or what body of water allowed them to fish for certain species of salmon. The species section will help you with this, so please take advantage of it!

Have fun! Plain and simple. If you follow these rules you’ll have fun out there, and just remember there are always going to be “grumpy fishers” out there that are not willing to teach beginners and show a little patience, but rather complain and whine. It’s best to avoid these people all together, as they just wreck the sport for everyone.

https://www.gosalmonfishing.com
http://www.rifles-n-rods.com

Posted in Fishing News, Salmon Fishing | Leave a comment