Discovery Bay Salmon Derby !!

[robodad]

Anyone on here planning on fishing this next weekend (Presidents Day weekend) in the derby ?? I'll be out there but don't know much about blackmouth fishing so if ya have any tips I'm open to suggestions !!

[Danimal]

A buddy of mine is fishing it. The number one thing a bout Black mouth fishing is if your not on the bottom your not fishing. Send your ball down till you hit the bottom then bring it up just a couple of feet,and keep checking it to make sure your still with in a couple feet.

[cohoho]

Dirty dog...   I can't believe I will be out of town the same weekend we had planned to win the prize money....   Guess we'll have to win the Halli derby then....  And try to regain the No-Fin championship...   

Oh - bounce -bounce-bounce and bring your Coho Killers....... 

[trophyhunt]

You also need to keep checking your bait, keep the grass off your bait. Nothing worse than trolling a bare hook or hook full of grass for hours. Ask the locals what they are biting on, try some scents and we keep our leader about 18 to 22'' long.

[BOWHUNTER45]

good luck out there ....be sure to bleed them out ...they taste better 

[trophyhunt]

good luck out there ....be sure to bleed them out ...they taste better 

:yeah:We bleed them out as soon as we get them in the boat, we keep a pair of snips on board to cut the gills and put them in a bucket upside down to run the blood out of them. My cousin has a bucket with plywood in it to keep the fish upright, it helps keep the blood in the bucket and not all over the boat.

[Cap.Silver]

 I'm sure you already know that Blackmouth like structure ,ony serious dropoff ledges where bait fish can hide behind during incoming or outgoing tide -that is where you want to be .... I would target depth areas from 70-140' no deeper than that .....
also if you can find bait fish that's where you will get chinook . (besides sonar look for birds and seals)
As far as gear : 11" flasher green with red stripe or green /silver 25' behind downrigger ball and 40-42" leader with either Red racer candlefish, 3 1/2" - 4 " spoon ( irishflag,cookies&creme) or fresh herring . Fish the bottom 10-15' or look for suspended bait .As far as speed - 3-3.5Mph ,wire angle about 20 - 30 degrees from vertical at the downrigger pulley .....
Sometimes it is wise to ride and keep checking for bait than keep trolling for hours and hours 
That should win you some $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ .... Wish I could go ,I'll have to check it out .

[robodad]

Excellent, Thanks for the tips !! Hopefully the weather cooperates and the water is fishable all weekend, should be a blast !! 

[plugger]

I would hold off on bleeding them when your not in the derby. You might be a little upset if you loose by a couple ounces and its puddled up in your fish box. 

[wildmanoutdoors]

Big ones are near bottom. If you see marks up higher in bait its most likely shakers...