Northwest Fishing Reports

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In general you troll with the tide when the current is too high to buck against it. If your line angle is too flat and your gear is being overworked it is much harder to stay in the "zone" and present your gear properly. Now this in mind, I have caught tons of Chinook with my line almost flat and running the kicker on full against the current when trying to get back on top of a drift. I usually only buck the current like that if it is on a short drift, otherwise if it is too strong I will pull up, run down, and make a pass again.

Now if the current is not strong (small exchange, slack tide, or near the change) you can go in both directions. Again, I let my line angle dictate which direction I troll and whether I turn around or make runs. Sheeple will always get in the fleet and go the same direction and stay in the same location as the other boats around. There is no rhyme or reason, they just follow the heard and as you experienced often do not catch anything because of their lack of knowledge and lack of open mindedness to following what they know to work.