Humpies for dummies - or no fail technique for catching your first pink on the Skagit
Posted: Sun Aug 30, 2009 8:37 am
Caught my first pink salmon ever this week, and it was just a wonderful, fun time. So I thought I would pass on what I learned all week so that others can get theirs too.
Please excuse my lack of knowledge of fishing terms, because I'm certainly no expert, but think you can get the idea.
First is the spot. The hottest spot I've been is at Skagit River Park in Burlington. You take the freeway exit that goes to Skagit Valley College and go left after about a mile. Might have to look it up on the map, although there are street signs. When you get to the park, go toward the river. You'll see maybe 10 cars parked by a opening through the fence. Follow the path to the river, and find a spot to the right of the big log at the shore where the bottom is sandy, so there are not so many snags for the fish to tangle in.
Be sure to stop at Sportsmans Warehouse on the way to buy some small, lively sand shrimp - theirs are just the right size, and be careful because they pinch. Bring along some large red hooks, and triangular shaped 2oz weights, some swivels, and the bobbers, corkies, or whatever they call them, acorn looking things with wings, we used dark green with bright orange wings. Oh, and the little tube of stretchy string to tie the bait onto the shaft of the hook.
When you put the stuff on the line, the weight goes on the swivel, and make it about 15 inches lower than the lure and bait so that it stays on the bottom and the lure can spin. Oh, also used little orange beads to keep the lure in place. Hope you understand so far.
Now, cast it out as far as you can, and this is the SECRET TRICK, that no one knows about. Sit in your chair and hold the line. When you first cast it out, it will roll a bit on the bottom for a couple of seconds. THAT is not a bite. But after that, any tiny movement you feel on the line IS a bite. It feels like a goldfish biting the bait. Immediately set the hook. Then you can tell if you caught one or not. If you did, start reeling it in. It will feel heavy, and you won't see the fish jumping right away, it takes 20 seconds of reeling it in, and depends on how far out you are.
LOTS of fish are lost 2 feet from the shore, so use a net if you can.
Please excuse my lack of knowledge of fishing terms, because I'm certainly no expert, but think you can get the idea.
First is the spot. The hottest spot I've been is at Skagit River Park in Burlington. You take the freeway exit that goes to Skagit Valley College and go left after about a mile. Might have to look it up on the map, although there are street signs. When you get to the park, go toward the river. You'll see maybe 10 cars parked by a opening through the fence. Follow the path to the river, and find a spot to the right of the big log at the shore where the bottom is sandy, so there are not so many snags for the fish to tangle in.
Be sure to stop at Sportsmans Warehouse on the way to buy some small, lively sand shrimp - theirs are just the right size, and be careful because they pinch. Bring along some large red hooks, and triangular shaped 2oz weights, some swivels, and the bobbers, corkies, or whatever they call them, acorn looking things with wings, we used dark green with bright orange wings. Oh, and the little tube of stretchy string to tie the bait onto the shaft of the hook.
When you put the stuff on the line, the weight goes on the swivel, and make it about 15 inches lower than the lure and bait so that it stays on the bottom and the lure can spin. Oh, also used little orange beads to keep the lure in place. Hope you understand so far.
Now, cast it out as far as you can, and this is the SECRET TRICK, that no one knows about. Sit in your chair and hold the line. When you first cast it out, it will roll a bit on the bottom for a couple of seconds. THAT is not a bite. But after that, any tiny movement you feel on the line IS a bite. It feels like a goldfish biting the bait. Immediately set the hook. Then you can tell if you caught one or not. If you did, start reeling it in. It will feel heavy, and you won't see the fish jumping right away, it takes 20 seconds of reeling it in, and depends on how far out you are.
LOTS of fish are lost 2 feet from the shore, so use a net if you can.
