Silvers from shore, Whidbey.

[h20hunter]

As we get closer to fall fishing season many people are looking for tips and places to catch some fresh salmon. Lot of our local rivers get full of people and the combat fishing can be kind of rough. I've had some good years fishing the beach out at Possesion Point Bait Company     https://www.facebook.com/pages/Possession-Point-Bait-Co/150883388385624   and wanted to share some info and tips.

The silvers run right past the beach and can be a blast to catch.

For gear I suggest a meduim action spinning rod with some length to it. You will be casting a long set up of gear and need the lenght to get it out there. Lets start there. Once you have the rod you are basically float fishing. I like a standard type steelhead float...the kind you run the line through the tip, wind it around once or twice, then out the bottom so it is inline wiht your line. Down from that I use a 1/2 oz trolling singer that has the swivel chain above and below. From there I either use a pre tied two hook leader or tie my own. The total set up usually has me fishing anywhere from 2 feet to 6 feet below the surface. They sell herring and I usually get 6 at a time. They have buckets to keep them fresh. I hook the herring through the snout and often leave the rear hook loose or just under and out the skin so the herring can still thrash around.

Okay, you are tied up, got some herring in a bucket, and are ready to fish. Don't just run up to the water and chuck it out. The regulars will give you the stink eye. Stand back, watch for a few drifts. What you will notice is everyone is casting out "upstream" of the current, working the drift, retrieving, and repeat. Get in line with them and follow suit. If someone hooks up reel in, help with a net, just get the heck out of the way.

On the retrive don't go to fast. I've had fish just explode 2 feet from shore. As you bring it in you are basically giving it a nice spin and trolling it towards you. Some serious pucker factor when it blows up with an angry silver.


If you are looking to fish with hardware I'm sure it would work. However, I've pretty much seen this as a drift fishing spot. Be aware that to the north and south is private property. DO NOT push it as the neighbors will let you know quickly as well as give some hell to the folks running PPBC.

[huntingaddiction]

Haha herring that's funny. Ill stick with buzz bombs and nail them.

[h20hunter]

If it works great. Please by all means post suggestion that are helpful.   Quick edit.   Great tips regarding how you work hardware.  Nice looking fish.

[huntingaddiction]

My suggestion would be buzz bombs but remember silvers are very aggressive fish.  Therefore instead of working the lure like the package says you want to work it more aggressively.  Hold your tip towards the water and rip.  It creates a vibrating noise in the water.  It will anger them and they will attack it.  However if you are fishing possession point you may want to use bait because people tend to get mad when they are using bait and you are casting over them.  Some people say to use green or yellow for silver however I stick with pink.  I fare pretty well in the salmon world usually getting well into my third card Catching my limit everyday I go.  As for them attacking close to shore that is true last year I had want beach himself.

[huntingaddiction]

My suggestion would be buzz bombs but remember silvers are very aggressive fish.  Therefore instead of working the lure like the package says you want to work it more aggressively.  Hold your tip towards the water and rip.  It creates a vibrating noise in the water.  It will anger them and they will attack it.  However if you are fishing possession point you may want to use bait because people tend to get mad when they are using bait and you are casting over them.  Some people say to use green or yellow for silver however I stick with pink.  I fare pretty well in the salmon world usually getting well into my third card Catching my limit everyday I go.  As for them attacking close to shore that is true last year I had want beach himself.

[CP]

I believe that is all private property there.  The bait company lets you fish off their property, IF you buy their bait.   

[Dmulcahy]

Live herring under a bobber is by far the most exciting way to catch silvers.  Lots of time you will see a big swirl by your bobber before it gets ripped down.  I've out fished lots and lots of people in my boat using the method H2O described.  Drifting in water so shallow I can see the bottom, and yes don't be the guy that goes to the bait box and tosses buzz bombs everyone will be giving you the stink eye.

[huntingaddiction]

I disagree buzz bombs you get to feel that hit...then it is on.  I have tried the herring idea don't like it and it is kind of boring.

[h20hunter]

Either way has merits and a time and place. Please please do not begin a  match. I'm getting a little irritated that you, huntingaddiction, seem to want to make snarky comments. If you are not going to be a positive influence in this thread, which you have been 98% in this thread, kindly bugger off.

I took the time to post simply to try and get a few tips out there for shore bound anglers that may be new to an area or looking for an alternative option.

[Old Man Yager]

Thanks for the tips H20

[baker5150]

great thread,  Thanks h20

[Dmulcahy]

I should have said in my own opinion about bobber fishing being the most exciting way to fish.  I'm not trying to start a pissin match either.  That was great advice you gave H2O I have lived less then 5 miles from the bait box my whole life. My brothers and I as kids would ride bikes down the hill almost every day of season and have caught probably hundreds of silvers using that same method.

I will pass on something I have also learned fishing there for so long.  If you go bring your own bucket also and if the wind is blowing or it is crowded then get your bait and go down the street to the state park and walk down around the point. that little area has produced fish for me in the past.
 

[h20hunter]

 

[luvmystang67]

H20, your method is terrible. 

I've fished buzz bombs my whole life and I've SLAYED the salmon (I think I have 3 to my name so far).  I fill up my catch record card, with doodles when my arm gets tired from casting.  The best part is that buzz bombs are only like $6 and have to be rigged with a separate hook than they come with to be legal in the salt, so when your line inevitably snaps you get to open a new package of both hooks and buzz bombs. 

Similar to what you guys have mentioned here, I hate it most when I'm buzz bombing with all of my friends and some jerk rolls up with a stupid bobber and a tiny fish on the end and casts that out to drift the tide.  Here everyone else is rippin and replacing their buzz bombs and some guy is sitting there like a 5 year old (or 90 year old) hoping to watch their stupid float sink.

H20, stick to rivers with your floaty bait thingy.  I'm going to get ripped and look awesome hurling lead.

[h20hunter]

Roger that Stang. 

[Slimdog350]

H2O, that sounds like a blast. I've never fished silvers that way but then again I've only fished the salt a handful of times. I might have to wander up that way sometime and check it out. I've also got a buddy that has fished with buzz bombs but it was on the green for humpies. It's my opinion that buzz bombs are for snagging. At least that's what I learned on the green. Just my . Great post h2o.

[jackelope]

You guys should try some top water for silvers in the sound if you think buzzbomb and herring bobbers are exciting. It can be epic on a flyrod if you are in the right place at the right time.

[Dmulcahy]

Top water for silvers? Jackelope please do explain.  I've fished live herring on a fly rod before, I just gently fling it out there and let the bait do its thing.  I've just never had he same luck as the bobber set up.  I'm always lookin for new ways to fish for silvers in shallow. 

[Stickerbush]

Would love to try this fishery

[seth30]

Great job!

[TheHunt]

I would love to try the fishery as well. 

[seth30]

My suggestion would be buzz bombs but remember silvers are very aggressive fish.  Therefore instead of working the lure like the package says you want to work it more aggressively.  Hold your tip towards the water and rip.  It creates a vibrating noise in the water.  It will anger them and they will attack it.  However if you are fishing possession point you may want to use bait because people tend to get mad when they are using bait and you are casting over them.  Some people say to use green or yellow for silver however I stick with pink.  I fare pretty well in the salmon world usually getting well into my third card Catching my limit everyday I go.  As for them attacking close to shore that is true last year I had want beach himself.

Glad to see ou have a duck commander shirt on.  It adds 40 yards on your shotgun spread

[_TONY_]

popper and a fly rod is my all time favorite when fishing silvers from shore...

[Gobble Doc]

H20,
Great thread.  Thanks for posting.  I'd like to try floating herring sometime. 

[7mmfan]

The topwater fishing for silvers is probably some of the funnest fishing on the planet! I did a fair amount when I guided in AK. Haven't done it with as much success around here but have been in bites where it would have worked no problem.

I have done very well fishing rotators and buzz bombs off the beaches. Some days, adding a small mini squid behind it doubled or tripled the effectiveness. Like was said by someone earlier, moving them fast can be key to getting strikes. Often I wouldn't jerk or jig it back but would hit the water and just start crankin super fast. They absolutely hammer it!

Also, as has been said earlier, fish it right to your feet, the suckers will almost beach themselves trying to get them sometimes. When they are really biting you will notice that the seasoned anglers stand back 6-8' from the waters edge so they can fish right into the break.
 
Here's a couple of my 12 year old nephew in action last year. He cleaned house!

[kiler]

H20,
Great thread.  Thanks for posting.  I'd like to try floating herring sometime.

[_TONY_]

 

[magnanimous_j]

Well, today I donated 15 bucks worth of buzzbombs to the sound, so I think I'll try the herring method tomorrow. What do you think the bare minimum distance between the float and hook is. I can't tell how deep the water is...

[singleshot12]

Buzz bombs,some call them "the dark side" for snagging in the river maybe ,but out in the bay salmon aren't THAT piled up in one spot. Buzz bombs if used correctly are great for casting long distances and getting it in front of where the fish are. A lot of silvers that are close to their destination will not feed thus making herring(bait) pretty much useless imo. Buzz bombs act as an attractant and most silvers will hit them out of frustration or anger not hunger.

[singleshot12]

My suggestion would be buzz bombs but remember silvers are very aggressive fish.  Therefore instead of working the lure like the package says you want to work it more aggressively.  Hold your tip towards the water and rip.  It creates a vibrating noise in the water.  It will anger them and they will attack it.  However if you are fishing possession point you may want to use bait because people tend to get mad when they are using bait and you are casting over them.  Some people say to use green or yellow for silver however I stick with pink.  I fare pretty well in the salmon world usually getting well into my third card Catching my limit everyday I go.  As for them attacking close to shore that is true last year I had want beach himself.

You sure those aren't pinks?

[BOWHUNTER45]

My suggestion would be buzz bombs but remember silvers are very aggressive fish.  Therefore instead of working the lure like the package says you want to work it more aggressively.  Hold your tip towards the water and rip.  It creates a vibrating noise in the water.  It will anger them and they will attack it.  However if you are fishing possession point you may want to use bait because people tend to get mad when they are using bait and you are casting over them.  Some people say to use green or yellow for silver however I stick with pink.  I fare pretty well in the salmon world usually getting well into my third card Catching my limit everyday I go.  As for them attacking close to shore that is true last year I had want beach himself.

You sure those aren't pinks?

O.K Really flip this one upside down ... I see this all the time in the SKAGIT ..When those fresh humpies show up and everyone is yelling how they caught silvers    Just remember one thing ...SILVERS HAVE TEETH 

[Dmulcahy]

Well, today I donated 15 bucks worth of buzzbombs to the sound, so I think I'll try the herring method tomorrow. What do you think the bare minimum distance between the float and hook is. I can't tell how deep the water is...

I have never ran the rig with less then a 3' leader.  You will be able to tell if your bait ia stuck on the bottom by the way your bobber looks.  Good luck I hope you have some action.

[Ripper]

H20 I applaud you for always trying to help people out. I would like to add a shore fishing spot that people might want to try. I have done real well at Fort Casey in the past. Like the Bait Box hole, the silvers pass right next to shore making it a great spot for the boatless. I have seen people use herring under a bobbler, but I have never tried it. I have done real good with 2" chrome buzz bombs, pink/pearl and pink. I have done the best with chrome and the 2" size has been the best producer. The nice thing about Ft Casey is there is a lot of room. A lot more than the Bait Box. If you can get a spot then the Bait Box is great. If it's crowded then head up to Casey, Its a blast.