Puget Sound
- Thread starter Stonedfish
- Start date
Wiznet
Steelhead
Spot Lock was game changing yesterday. There was a ton of current most of the day, and where I found all of my action was in a heavy current near a steep beach drop off. I was "anchored up" in about 25' of water and it didn't shallow up until about 15' from shore. The fish, both coho and pinks, were cruising along that ledge where a ton of herring and small shiner perch were balled up.
There were other fish moving around elsewhere but it was clear that the best opportunities were right along that ledge. With Spot Lock I was able to shut down and sit in that perfect spot where I could cast to that ledge and the bait and I sat there for 4-5 hours. Trying to drift and maintain casting position along that same ledge was dang near impossible without it.
Realistically it's the only reason I was able to find some success yesterday. I could see how hard Jon was working to try to keep his boat in position. Given the conditions I'd say he did a hell of a job, as proven by managing to connect with some fish.
I need spot lock for my stripping basket! Side view sonar would be nice as well. 
SF
SF
Serious question though, are any of you boat guys using the side view sonar while salmon fishing?
I’ve seen some videos of it in action and it’s pretty incredible how it can pick out individual fish.
Just curious how it works or would work in our local saltwater.
SF
I’ve seen some videos of it in action and it’s pretty incredible how it can pick out individual fish.
Just curious how it works or would work in our local saltwater.
SF
I need spot lock for my stripping basket! Side view sonar would be nice as well.
SF
Maybe some small power poles too. If you get tired while casting just deploy the poles and you can lean against your basket.
Could come with useful attachments too, like a small fly tying table that could attach to your basket. Set up the poles and you have a small tying table so after spending the morning looking for sea runners and watching baitfish with your binoculars you could tie the perfect imitation right there on the spot
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I have side scan on my boat but haven't messed with it much. A little bit down south during the winter but haven't found a use for it for that type of fishing.
This summer is the first season I've fished Salmon in the north sound in this boat so I'm still getting a feel for this sonar setup in general, but I should play with it more. In fact yesterday would have been a great chance to use it.
Nick,
If you end up playing around with it, let us know your thoughts.
It seems like it would have worked will based on where you were locked in fishing yesterday. Would be pretty close cool to see fish passing by or call out one you are going to hook.
SF
The problem with taking time to play with the sonar is you lose time casting flies into bait balls. ;-)
Several years ago I was fishing Potholes with my friend Kc, he'd just bought a new Humminbird unit with all the bells and whistles except both of us dummies couldn't figure out much of anything. On a whim, I phoned Humminbird; actually got a human being who spent a good 30 minutes walking us through different settings.
GOTY
Steelhead
Call out a hookup? Only a few of us are so talented to Babe Ruth some chromers. Naturally, I've done it in Nick's boat, but have yet to see it repeated.
Re: side scan, Nick it would probably be super nice when having to circle back to recover ejected fly rods that flew 800ft out of the boat. @Evan B if you played a part in designing Echo's unsinkable rod socks while you were there, I thank you good sir. Nothing quite like casually netting a floating 10wt off the surface of the ocean.
Does it need to be reported on the catch card?
If Simms made their jackets out of the same material Echo uses in those rods then my jacket would still be with me.
SeaRunner
Steelhead
Are you talking about side scan or the newer "live" scan that has come out in the last few years and shows real time activity as opposed to the historical information most sonar provides?
I will use side scan when searching for bait and it has been very effective at this. It will pick up bait balls to the sides of the boat that would not otherwise show up on traditional sonar. I have confirmed this by running both sonars at the same time. Side scan has been very helpful in narrowing down the particular zone for the day, especially when bait is sparse. Frankly I haven't used it much this year as bait has not been hard to find.
Maybe it is live view I’m thinking about.
I saw some musky anglers and the sonar picked up individual fish and you could see the eats.
Whatever it was, it was pretty impressive.
SF
Looks pretty nice out there today, though a bite bright for my liking. Hopefully some folks on here are out there enjoying it today,
Since I’m working from home and a five minute walk to the beach, I need to start doing some evening sessions.
SF
Since I’m working from home and a five minute walk to the beach, I need to start doing some evening sessions.
SF
See that MA 10 sub-legal chinook encounters through 7/29 is up to 122% of the allowable impacts. No word on the closure date but it has to be coming. With at least 4 days of fishing since the 29th the final numbers may be pushed past 150%. Fingers crossed that it doesn't affect the rest of the month's coho/pink fishing.
speedbird
Life of the Party
Weird, I've barely caught any sublegals in ten this year. All mine were on Possession Bar. I wonder what size gear the test fishers use