Newbie Fisherman Wannabe Here Looking for Gear Advice

[MilesandMiles]

Hi Everyone,

I recently bought a 16-angler (now for sale) and quickly stepped up (or perhaps over) to a 22-cruiser. I'll be mooring it over in Seattle during the winter months, and then here at my place in Duluth, Mn during the spring/summer/fall.

I can't stress enough how much of a newbie I am in regards to fishing. This move onto the water is sort of a positive mid-life crisis (an early one at age 38 mind you) and I'm literally starting from scratch.

I'm seeking advice on: Poles, line, reels, lures, hooks, and anything else fishing related. My boat is already fitted with power downriggers and pole holders all over the place. I've never used a downrigger in my life, so advice or links to a get tutorial much appreciated.

It might be asked "where and what are you fishing for Newbie?" Well, I'll be fishing up and around the San Juans this winter, possibly the Columbia River as well, then The Great Lakes come Spring/Summer (Lake Superior and Lake Michigan Mostly)

I also would like to learn to crab (two pots were thrown in with the purchase) is that a whole other thread?

My goal is to become a decent fisherman by the time my 16 month old boy (Miles) is old enough to join me. I was raised "useless" and by God I won't let that happen to him

I know this is a broad question, but figure it's a good place to start.

Thanks,
Brenton

[Dreamer]

Brenton,

Looking forward to meeting you in the great North West. Tom Elliott (Starcraft Tom) and Roger Bumgarner (Roger Bum) are two of the greatest sources of fishing knowledge on our site, although there are lots of talented fishermen here.

Tom even has a web site dedicated to fishing gear and techniques. Contact them by PM or e-mail and you'll find out how great some of your new C-Brat friends can be.

Crabbing and Prawning is easy compared to the intricacies of Salmon and Halibut fishing. Even I learned that in a few years!

[Spike]

M&M
There is so much to learn when it comes to fishing, been doing it for 54 years and still learning stuff. Crabbing on the other hand is a piece of cake. Bait the pots , drop the pots , and crack a beer.

[hardee]

Roger (Dreamer), is right, Tom and Roger probably qualify as Catcher's not fishers, and there are others here too. Robbi, Peter (Jazzman) and Warren (Doryman), are a few other local examples. Come on out to the Seattle Boat Show CBGT (C-Brat Get Together) and you will get to meet and talk fishing with the best of them. Maybe even Ken, who is a legit fishing guide ---- sometimes.

Me, I don't fish. Learned a long time ago, if I care a camera, I will at least get to take something home

Harvey
SleepyC

[rogerbum]

Brenton - when will you be out here? I'd be happy to take you out fishing and (more importantly) take you to buy what you need to be successful in salmon fishing. Here's a thread I started a couple of years ago in which I and others discussed our favorite salmon fishing gear and methods. Gear and methods matter however, the most important factor is to be where the fish when there are high concentrations of fish. For that, the best thing is to be at the west end of the Strait of Juan de Fuca in mid to late August. Every fish that returns into the Puget Sound, the N side of the Olympic Peninsula, the south side of Vancouver Island and much of the coast of BC passes through that area in late summer. Catching fish is far easier out there than it is in the Puget Sound. While some above have provide flattering comments about me and my fishing abilities, the reality is that my "secret skill" is simply fishing in the right places at the right times. It's not all that complicated.

[Jazzmanic]

Harvey, thanks for the mention but I don't really fit the description as fish "catcher", more like fish wisher. That being said, there are a lot of talented fisher people on this board and Roger and you were right in identifying Tom and Roger as the go to guys. Both of them taught me the ropes on how to fish for salmon and I'm eternally grateful. Other good fisher people would include Kevin on Catch 22, Larry on C-ya, Dwight on Checkpoint II and of course Robbi of C-Run fame and of course our very own admin, Mike on Tyboo, just to name a few.

As for salmon fishing, once you have the basic gear, the rods, reels, terminal tackle, downriggers and don't forget the net for those who plan on catching , Roger's right, you just need to be at the right place at the right time. Although for me, it was better said than done this past season.

Good luck Brenton, it's great to own a C-Dory and fish these beautiful waters!!

[Noreaster]

M & M, I live in the U.P. (Menominee) and fish the Bay of Green Bay and Lake Michigan on a pretty regular basis. Drop me an e-mail sometime during the summer and we can plan a weekend to do some fishing for the local trout, salmon and walleye. It should be very similar to what you have in the Duluth area.

[chromer]

Hang around these two sites...They both have articles and videos.

www.saltpatrol.com
www.salmonuniversity.com

[MilesandMiles]

[C-Green]

Stannard Rock is an amazing destination. Pick your day; we picked the wrong day but I know people who picked the right day and had their best day of a fishing lifetime.

Jay

[rogerbum]

Brenton,

I don't have any outings planned for this week. I'm also a bit confused - are you flying out today and renting a car to drive around or are you driving the boat out this trip? We can probably get you into some fish sometime over the winter but I have to say that winter salmon fishing can be quite slow with 0 to 1 keeper salmon being the most frequent outcome for 2 guys fishing for a day. A 2-3 keeper outing would be a good day. Come back in July/August, and a 2-3 keeper day is more the norm. Do Neah Bay in July/August and a 2 keepers/person per day (a limit) is the norm. In addition since you have to release most wild fish most of the time at Neah Bay, we throw back 12-20 fish to catch our limit of keepers. When you are here, give me a call (I sent my mobile # via PM). I can probably find some time to at least show you around a good tackle shop or two.

[joefish]

Sir,

Maybe we are not as friendly back East or maybe there just aren't as many C-Dorys. What I'm saying is, if you can find friends or make friends to go fishing with, probably nothing could be better.

From a guy who finds it difficult to come across friends who will take him fishing I suggest that there is alot to learn from a professional fishing guide. Especially, one who fishes from a boat similar to yours. I would also add, using techniques that you enjoy, but it doesn't sound like you've had a chance to determine that yet. The great things about a guide are that they are out there almost everyday, that's real important as far as finding the fish is concerned. You can pretty much count on catching fish. And honestly, since I've been fishing long enough to know fairly well how to catch fish, what I really like to see is what a professional does when he's not catching 'em. What adjustments will he make. You can also ask inumerable questions to a guide without feeling too much like you're interrogating them, although I've come close.

There are other things that I enjoy about a guide, like taking my father along or splitting the cost with a friend. But mainly I believe it is money well spent. The best fishing rod and reel in the world is really worthless if you don't know how to use it. Stick with the winners. Hang out with guys that know how to fish. And spend time on the water fishing. There is no replacement for that. And yes, I do agree, it would be best of all if you could go fishing with a C-Brat.

Good Luck!

[Sea Wolf]

joefish-

THAT'S PROFOUND ADVICE, IMHO!

Joe.

[rogerbum]

I agree that going out with a guide is also a good idea. However, you won't find a lot of guides fishing in the Puget Sound in winter. There are some, but not many and there's a reason for that - e.g. most people expect to catch fish when they fish with a guide and it's hard for a guide to pull that off regularly in the Puget Sound in winter. Winter time, most guide around here are either fishing rivers for steelhead or taking time off to rest and prepare/repair gear.

If you want to book with a guide in the Puget Sound in winter, I know of a few good guides. I haven't used either of these guys but they get good recommendations from friends.
Keith Robbins is probably the best guide in the area for the Puget Sound. He fishes the sound exclusively and has been doing so for 28 years or so.
All Star Charters books winter blackmouth (e.g. chinook) salmon trips.

If you want to fish rivers with a good guide, there's a lot more options and I have personal experience with one excellent guide - Phil Stephens. I've fished with Phil a number of times and can highly recommend him. I've done mostly guided river trips in either sleds or drift boats since the C-Dory isn't ideal for most of these areas.

[starcrafttom]

Just found this post so here it goes. winter fishing can be hard in the sound and thins winter has not been a good one so far, thats why I have been staying home. well that and the holidays, work, etc... but if I ws going to go out it would be on the north end of 8-1 and 8-2 or area 7. which is the Sn Juans. In fact there is a salmon derby this weekend in friday harbor I beleive.

the early winter kings will be coming thur the sj over the next few months. So you can get local black mouth, which are kings that did not go to the ocean but stayed around the sound and islands, and fraser river kings all in the SJ. There are 20 to 40 lbs kings caught in the winter every year but not by me. I do manage to boat a 12 to 15 lber every year in the winter if I can get out. But its not hot fishing. One fish a trip if you are lucky is a good day. but dont for get the crabbing.

I wont be going out on my boat, either one, until after christmas.