05/05 - 05/06 - Lopez Is. Opening Week-end

[starcrafttom]

Sorry guys I could have sworn I signed up months ago. we are In for sure. I know I call lopez and got a spot a long time ago but for got to sign up here. Well Do I make it a keg event??

[C-Time]

Just called in for our reservation. Does that make it 19 now? Need one more for that keg.

[rogerbum]

OK - we're in too! That makes 21 by my count. Dusty has convinced me that there are shrimp to be had up there and we've never been out to the San Juans in SeaDNA. I'll be bringing some wine to share.

Roger

[Alyssa Jean]

Okay, okay, Pat and I are in for a pony keg. 21 registered. If we hit 25 we will also bring along a case of porter to go along with those oysters.

[john schuler]

I'll get there the week before if all goes well. It snowed again yesterday
so no known C-Dory activity in Montana. OH how badly i"m looking for
SPRING.
john schuler

[Sawdust]

Shrimpin ' 101 for Lopez -

Okay folks, if this were really 101, Sensei Roger would be giving the lecture and I'd be flipping the charts. BUT - just for a teaser I'ill start the ball.

We picked a good weekend for the Lopez bash because of the nice early morning neap tides. Shrimp pots and strong tides require lots of heavy metal, and unless you are a commercial you will lose pots and catch very few shrimp if the current is strong.

Some basics: I was going to give "numbers", but that really doesn't work very well. Shrimp, like salmon, move around a lot and todays numbers aren't usually good tomorrow. But the areas don't change -- there are several good shrimp areas close to Lopez - I'll name two of my favorites - and others for those who are really adventurous.

Jones Island. This is my #1 choice early in the season. 260-300 ft. of water, from directly North of the island CC all the way around the island N-NW-W-SW-S is a good shrimping area. There will be lots of pots there on opening weekend. If the current gets too strong (good tide info for Spring Passage on you tide charts), you can get shrimp in 240 ft. of water due S. of the island. This is the easiest area to shrimp.

Iceberg Point. From Iceberg eastward along the lower Lopez Island coastline in 250-300 ft. of water. Excellent shrimp country, but watch the current. Lots of pots lost!! Some of 'em mine. Sensei Roger and Dusty shrimp this area a lot!

Tips: (1) let pots soak 45 minutes to 1 hr); (2) avoid strings of commercial pots - sometimes 20 or more pots on the same commercial line, and it's not unusual for them to snag one of yours -- the nice guys will cut your line and tie your float back on, the not-so-nice guys just cut your float free.
I make it a point to stay well away from the commercial pots - they bait heavily - and get lots of shrimp.

Shrimping 102 next if any interest.

HTH,

Dusty

[starcrafttom]

yes interest, What part of the tide is best, what bait do you use?, is it ok to use more then one pot per string in this area? how do you rig your lines? how much weight.? will you pull my pots for me? which pots do you us? which bouys? etc.....

[Pat Anderson]

Make that 23 signed up...so, Brock - what shall it be?

[Island Ranger]

OK - we're in. And Linda says she is coming too. Does that count double?

mac

[Alyssa Jean]

No Mac, Linda doesn't count as double. But knowing how much beer you can drink, you do!

Okay, that makes 24. Do I hear 25, ...26,...27..., let's break a record here.

Pat, I suppose we have to bring something special for Brock. Maybe warm kitty milk mixed with porter.

[starcrafttom]

Sark is going he just does not know it yet!! just wait untill he finally gets that boat, he'll be there. Just have to tell him about the shrimp.

[Sawdust]

Tom -

What I use for shrimping is just like computing the price per pound for salmon!!

50# Stealth Commercial pots. (blueoceantackle.com)
350' of leaded line.
Puss and Boots catfood (fish flavor)
Gold Seal prawn bait
Copper River prawn scent
(a mixture of all of these) in Scotty bait jars - 1/8 inch holes for higher current, 1/4 inch holes for neap tides and short soak times. Sometimes both 1/4 and 1/8 jars in the same pot.

If you have a butt carcass (I keep mine in the freezer) it usually helps to drop one in the bottom of the pot.

My float size varies with the expected current, and I use an addional float on 30' tag line if expecting more than 1 knot of current.

For 1 knot + of current I use the smallest Danforth anchor ahead of the pot -- and to prevent the float from moving the pot I use a weight ahead of the pot about 10'... if the pot moves at all -- no shrimp.

I use one pot per float and line, but I THINK that if you stay close and tend your pot you can put two pots on one line. Done all the time in Canada, but the regs are not clear in the US. Many of my friends put two pots down -- I use an electric puller, and two 50# pots + shrimp + anchor could be a real grunt.

Because I can see the shrimp (pod, herd, flock, huh?) on the depth sounder, I can drop the pot up current so the pot will leave a scent trail -- and hopefully drop near the shrimp.

HTH,

Dusty (sometimes I even get shrimp)

[starcrafttom]

I think that my problem in the past has been not weighting down the pots and having them move on me. I will be re-rigging my 4 pots before we go. I picked up some bait jars at the last boat show but have to drill the holes. My little brother, all 6'2" and 260 lbs of him< is building me a pot puller as we speak or type. I tried both spots you mentioned last year but only got a few shrimp. I have been leaving my pots down to long and surning the whole tide.

I have the same fish finder you do, so what do you see on the screen that tells you shrimp, over lets say herring or sand lance?? sorry herring are off the bottom more but you know what I mean.

[Susan E]

is it lopez yet????

JOB? who needs no stinkin job

[Sawdust]

Tom,

East to tell the difference - the prawn carpace has white spots on the side.

Dusty