salmon fishing without downriggers?

[superdown]

I don't have downriggers yet and wanted to know if anyone fishes for salmon in the sound without them? I have a 12' jon boat with a 9.5hp evinrude and 30pound thrust minnkota. does anyone have any techniques for semi close to shore salmon in the sound or lake washington and maybe when it's a good time to try?  we haven't done any salmon fishing and i just started hitting the green and puyallup with a buddy that has been showing me the ropes for rivers.

[Desert_Rez]

Superdown, up here on the Columbia for salmon fishing, people either use a downrigger, jet diver, or an 8-10oz cannonball weight.  I prefer the cannonball myself for ease of use.  use one of those sliding sleeves with a clip directly above the flasher.  Adjust the weight for trolling speed and/or current.

[lostbackpacker]

I don't have downriggers yet and wanted to know if anyone fishes for salmon in the sound without them? I have a 12' jon boat with a 9.5hp evinrude and 30pound thrust minnkota. does anyone have any techniques for semi close to shore salmon in the sound or lake washington and maybe when it's a good time to try?  we haven't done any salmon fishing and i just started hitting the green and puyallup with a buddy that has been showing me the ropes for rivers.

jet divers

[superdown]

what depth and lure set up would you guy recommend ?

[krzy4elk]

     Another option is a " Deep Six " diver. They come in various sizes & weights. It releases when a fish hits, so your not feeling as much weight as with the cannon ball.  I've had  good luck w/ them in the Sound, wont get really,really deep, but deep enough.  About $15. at Fred Meyer.   Green or Orange & I add the silver prism tape to the bottom of them.  Good Luck!!!

[CP]

I fished for years without downriggers using various weights, meat rods, various divers, rock releases, etc.  They all suck compared to a DR.  Get yourself a downrigger.

[h20hunter]

The most simple way is to learn how to motor mooch. After that...what CP said....get some basic clamp on and get to fishing.

[jackelope]

Not too sure about a 12' Jon boat in the sound. Even close to shore.

[LndShrk]

superdown,

You can certainly catch salmon in the sound without DR's for sure. Mooching Jigging etc..


What concerns me more is a 12' jonboat in the sound. 

I realize it can be done. I have run many of small boats in the sound myself but the thought of a 12' jon just scares me.. 


So in order to avoid seeing a post later on here about this boat going down to the bottom.
I am going to throw you an offer out and I will take you salmon fishing in the sound. We will run DR's and hopefully catch fish. 

Jackalope can attest to my credibility (I think  )
Drop me a line and we can arrange something. I fish winter blackmouth and summer.

[Button Nubbs]

Not too sure about a 12' Jon boat in the sound. Even close to shore.

This. Sketchy....

[wafisherman]

There are a few areas in the sound I'd be fine with taking a small boat like that out in.  I've been out in 12 foot row boats, canoes, and the like.  Just depends on the area.  Protected bays where wind and tide aren't an issue (or as much)...  You have to know how to read the time tables and keep an eye on marine forecasts.

As for the fishing, heck, I catch plenty of salmon from the beach with my spinning rod and fly rod.  Just depends on where you are and your strategy.  There are places where you can intercept schools of chum, slivers, and humpies close to shore pretty easily.  The kings and blackmouth are little more tricky, but the right places at the right times of day, with the right tides working for you, and it can be done.

[robodad]

Although I wouldn't encourage going out in the sound for salmon in a 12' Jon boat I will make you an offer on the downrigger, I'll send you one so you can find out for yourself if thats what you want to do, I don't use it but I'd just ask that you don't sell it and when the time comes for another person needs it you can pass it on or just send it back to me !!

Its not much but its a start !! 



Also I am convinced you would have a great time and experience if you take LndShrk up on his offer, He also has a really nice boat too !! 

[superdown]

Wow you guy's never fail at generosity on here.  I will definitely take both  LndShrk and  robodad up on their offers. I know basically nothing about salmon fishing so i could use all the teaching i can get.When i did not have a boat we would use our little single person pontoons and go crabbing no more than a couple hundred feet off shore with rings so i figured my jon boat would be ok comparatively  . my boat is a little wider than a standard jon boat i believe i saw a jon boat at lake meridian when we out for trout earlier this year that was the same brand and length as mine but only like 2/3rds the width.   

[wafisherman]

What are you powering it with?

One issue, if you are making any speed at all, is the flat bottom - will pound you like crazy.

The other issue is that most jon boats have really low sides.  A wake or wave you don't expect could catch you off guard and swamp you pretty fast.

Keeping close to shore may be doable, IF you dont' get caught in a current that has other plans...

[WAcoueshunter]

Maybe I missed it, but where are you at in the Sound?  I'd have no problem going out with a jon boat in many places in the south Sound.  Of course, catching fish there might be another story.  If he's going out in a pontoon, I doubt he's rowing out to Possession.

[Bullkllr]

Wow you guy's never fail at generosity on here.  I will definitely take both  LndShrk and  robodad up on their offers. I know basically nothing about salmon fishing so i could use all the teaching i can get.When i did not have a boat we would use our little single person pontoons and go crabbing no more than a couple hundred feet off shore with rings so i figured my jon boat would be ok comparatively  . my boat is a little wider than a standard jon boat i believe i saw a jon boat at lake meridian when we out for trout earlier this year that was the same brand and length as mine but only like 2/3rds the width.

Well, crabbing in a protected spot and salmon fishing around the sound are two totally different things.
Most of the more consistently productive salmon spots are nearer open/big water. Sure there are exceptions. To really do much good at all some traveling is in order. Tough to do with that set up. I know its already been said, but I would be more concerned with the boat and less with the no downriggers. Most regulars around Tacoma didn't know what a downrigger was until about 20 years  ago.

[superdown]

I am powering it with a 9.5 hp evinrude. I can't get it to go slow enough with two guy's @ 220lbs 4 anchors and five gallon bucket in the water to troll for trout. It fly's with just my dad and i in the boat with a small cooler and our trout gear.

[superdown]

The Down rigger showed up today    Thank you very much robodad  I am excited to get out on lake washington and atleast go after some of those big cutthroats

[Come Get Some]

I would not worry about going too slow. I fish for kings at 4.5 MPH. The jon boat is more of the problem than gear. I run a charter boat out of Lapush and Westport. I Fish 4 Cannon Digitrol 4's. If you would like to learn downriggers get a hold of me this summer. I will offer you a trip no charge just to learn. The only catch is we go Catching not fishing. We have had many days with 4 fish on at a time. The ocean can be addicting. Epic-fishing.com

[fishinmike]

I started fishing the sound back in the 70's in a 10ft jon boat. You just have to be smart. Watch the weather, especially the wind. There are lots of places that you can fish safely. I would be happy to take you out on the sound and show you different spots to launch and fish. I can hook you up with some extra gear if you need it.

[lokidog]

I'd like to hear how it went with the DR.  Ive put them on a 14' aluminum boat and had a hard time turning as they wanted to keep me going in a straight line.  I can't imagine being able to turn at all in a flat bottomed jon boat.   

[PolarBear]

I fished many years in the Sound in a 12' jon boat with a 9 hp Johnson.  You just have to be aware of tides and weather.  Motor mooching, apex divers (I prefer Apex over Deep 6), banana weights will all get the job done with a little experimentation.   

[superdown]

Thank you Come Get Some that's very generous of you  I haven't gotten the down rigger mounted yet but i will soon. When i do go out i will be very conservative with where and how i go about it.

[superdown]

I started fishing the sound back in the 70's in a 10ft jon boat. You just have to be smart. Watch the weather, especially the wind. There are lots of places that you can fish safely. I would be happy to take you out on the sound and show you different spots to launch and fish. I can hook you up with some extra gear if you need it.

Thank you fishinmike. The generosity around here never ceases to amaze me.