Silver trolling 101: Steelheader.net- Steelhead, Salmon and trout fishing

Got this off a site that sells Grand Slam bucktails.....pretty good info.
____________________________________________________________

Use the leader lengths we recommend. (with flashers and dodgers) We've established these lengths by literally thousands of hours of on the water testing and customer feedback.

Use 30 to 50 lb leader with a flasher or dodger. We know this seems heavy, but it makes our bucktails work even better.If you want less visibility use fluorocarbon leader.

Troll at the speed we suggest.

Rigging for Salmon Trolling and Large Trout: Use a standard salmon mooching leader, ie:30 to 50 lb test, two 3/0 to 5/0 hooks (Mustad 92553s or similar style) tied 1" apart. Thread fly on leader and slide down over hooks. Tie the other end of leader to the tail end of flasher or dodger using specified leader length; Measure from tail end of flasher or dodger to the nose of bucktail. Best leader length is in bold.

With 11"Plastic Flasher (Hotspot or similar brand)

27-30" for Coho, Pinks (troll @ 2-2.5 mph)

32-33" for Coho (troll @ 3-3.5 mph) if you prefer to troll @ faster speed.

29-31" for Blackmouth or Springs (troll @ 2-2.5 mph)

36-39" for Adult Kings (troll @ 2-2.5 mph) 50 lb. test is best here!

27-30" for Chums (troll slow @ 1.8-2.0 mph)

With Dodger (size 0)

14-18" for Coho, Chum, Pinks, Blackmouth, and Big Trout (troll @1.5-2.0 mph)

21-23" for Adult Kings (troll @ 1.5-2.0 mph)

With Dodger (size 00)

10-14" for Coho and Big Trout (troll @1.5 mph) note: use 10-15 lb leader with this smaller dodger and 2/0 hooks.

For downrigger trolling run setups 15 ft behind weight. For flatline trolling use crescent sinker (2-8oz.) 3 ft ahead of flasher or dodger. Another tip: Add a twinkle skirt to our lures. Just slide onto the leader before our lures. Good colors are: silver, green, purple, and red. Sometimes our lures work even better with this addition, sometimes not. Experiment a little!

Additional Tips:

Troll with the current flow. (we catch 80% of our fish going w/the flow, only 20% going against it.

Best fishing is 1 hr before tide change to 2 hrs after. Also dusk and dawn.

Add a small strip of baitfish to your hooks, fillet a herring, anchovy, or other baitfish. Cut into long triangular strips1/4"wide by 3"long, then roll in un-iodized salt. Hook strip once through the wide end so it is hidden in the fibers of fly. We get 15 baits out of one 6" herring. The scent will increase your catch.

If you use bait oils/scents put them on your flasher, they gum up our flies. We use 10 drops on the tail end of our flasher. Re-apply every 20 min.

fish tide rips for Coho (troll rigs @ 20-60 ft deep even if bottom is 400 ft deep) This is their usual cruising/ feeding depth.

Fish shorelines, edges of kelp beds, points, and drop offs when King Salmon Fishing. Most of the time they hug the bottom, so troll w/a downrigger just off the bottom. The only exception to this is the adult summer/fall kings, which are often caught suspended off bottom @ 40-80 ft deep.

--------------------
JD