I fished sardine wrapped Kwikfish on the Bogey this last Sat. for the first time. I know this is a very effective method but I didn't even get a bump on them all day. I tuned them to make sure they wree running true and I counted out five passes of my line guide to get the distance behind my boat. I anchored at the top of each run and got the plugs working then very slowly backed them down the river. I didn't feel I had control over the depth of the plugs. How do you ensure they are deep enough? Also, I don't trust the factory hooks, I'm debating between getting 3/0 Gammy trebel hooks or 5/0 siwash....any suggestions?

I did end up catching a fresh brite 30# King at the mouth of the Bogey and the Sol duc on a Buzzbomb. I was running 30# test on my plug rods but only 12# test on my other rod for silvers. I hooked it on the 12# test and it took me half way down to Richwine bar

Overall it was an incredible day on the river

Mike

Kunan,
There are three ways to effectively fish a kwikfish and they all depend on depth, current and length of the run.
First, if you're fishing deeper water 8-15 feet I'd recommend a jet diver and run that off a sliding dropper that's about 5-8" long with a minimum 48" leader. Second would be to anchor in the tops of the run above the fish and backbounce the kwikfish off a 3-4 foot dropper and work them back into the hole. Your dropper length will be determined by current and size of kwikfish, use enough dropper to keep the plug from diving into the rocks.
Third would be to flat-line the plugs which it sounds like you were doing, and figure that a K15 will dive around 8-10 feet. I rarely flat-line a kwikfish though as you don't have confidence in depth with fluctuating currents.
Some problems you may have ran into in why you weren't catching fish would be line size and the size of kwikfish you were running. I'd recommend nothing larger than 20# test but prefer in lower clear water to run 12-15 with the kwikfish.
As an opinion, my first choice of tactics up there would be to backbounce or bobber fish eggs and eggs/shrimp then back it up with your wrapped kwikfish or herring.
Hope this helps,
Keith

Kunan,

Keith summed it up real well. To add, I almost always go with a jet diver first, lead dropper second. I try to use the lightest mainline possible to lesson the line drag from the current. Faster water, less need to go light. Be sure and add additional scent to your bait wrap as well. We either inject them, butter them, or both. We also change them fairly often.

Good luck,

Steve

There is great information in the current STS magazine on kwik-fish, recommend checking it out.

There are very few holes where you should EVER have to back bounce or use a jet diver on the coast. And those holes are ones you need to get straight down right away. 90% of all my fish caught on kwickies have been flatlined! You might want to rethink the water you are fishing instead. After all you did say it was your 1st time, what do you expect? A 20 fish day. Another good thing to do on the coast is let the fish come to you. Anchor in traveling lanes! You could also chalk up your poor result to just a bad day. I wasn't in the boat with you so I dont know what type of water you were fishing, I do however know there are tons of fish available right now. Out of all the O.P. streams I focus the least on the bogy. Watch what other who are catching fish are doing, I bet most of them are flatliners too.

[ 10-16-2001: Message edited by: BK ]

[ 10-16-2001: Message edited by: BK ]

Thanks for all the tips guys, I really appreciate it. It looks like I will be bringing a few plug rods next time and experementing with some different techniques. Unfortunately I won't be getting out any time soon. My weekends for the rest of Oct. are booked. It looks like the first weekend in Nov. Hopefully there will still be some brite fish around.

Thanks again guys

By the way, use nothing less than 20lb on the coast if you want a shot at landing a decent king. I've had 25lb snapped on the takedown...with a good smooth correctly tightened drag! There are BIIIIIIIG fish on the coast. I luv it! I luv it! I luv it!

BK,

I totally agree. That was my first time out to the OP and thoes fish are a different breed. They are amazing!! I'm hooked!! I grew up in Leavenworth and caught plenty of 20 - 30# fall run chinook on 10 LB test. They just don't compare to the stamina and sheer brute strength of thoes OP fish.

Don't forget that casting/retrieving them can be very effective, too. BK has good tips, and for the water I fish I usually flatline them too. I usually use 25-30 lb. test, and I've needed it several times. From my experience, dropping water after a blast of rain is the best time to use the Flatties/Kwickies. If fish are heading upstream and jockeying for position and you drop a Kwikfish in amongst them, it's going to get clobbered.

Just goes to show that there is more than one way to skin a cat, and I wouldn't be surprised if all the tips above are effective presentations.

I have lost a few good plugs on those Hogs. Thats why I recommend nothing smaller then 25lb test the most important reason is once you find a plug that catches fish you definitly don't what to loss it.

I love to flatline these on the lower Tillamook rivers when the water is dropping into that nice greenish color. For that I have taken to using 30 or 40 lb. superbraid mainline, small 30# black barrel swivel, 40" to 50" of 30 lb. Maxima Chameleon leader, and a mid-sized wire snap on the end of the leader (no swivel - this allows for easy fast changes to other Kwikies and Mag Warts, that I leave the stock snaps off of). The really strong braids are as thin diametered as 10 lb. mono and gets the Kwikies suprisingly deep. Keep the drag set moderately and don't use a 'backbounce' stiff tipped rod and you won't have any prob with the no-stretch factor with the braids. If the Kwiky is even slightly running off to one side it's important to tune them to dive straight - both for more diving ability and best action.

Another thing that is productive is to soak your sardine filets for a while in redish egg juice left over from the egg curing process. This gives it red color and the great scent combo of sardine and eggs. Deadly for the Kings. Fun!

RT

[ 10-16-2001: Message edited by: RT 1 ]

All right, all right, being that close to the ocean can call for some heavier line. Besides, tidal fish are aggressive, very aggressive I wouldn't be suprised with the right water conditions you couldn't hook them on rope! But out west here, we get to fight them monster hogs vertically in the deeper holes (20-45ft) with 10-15 lb test where the current isn't so strong and if they do run we can chase them with the sleds. But you must say in low water conditions that they can get a bit finicky if being pounded on and will tend to shy from larger diameter lines.
I want to get back out there, I'd still recommend backbouncing, or bobberfishing eggs or eggs/shrimp though.
Keith :p

[ 10-16-2001: Message edited by: stlhdr1 ]

Keith,

I hear ya, I'm used to fishing 10-15# line for fall kings. When I bought that Ande 30# I wasn't sure if I should anchor my boat with it or fill my reel Thoes cinch knots can be a real pain with heavy line. So a thin diameter braided line can help get the plug down while flatlining? I think I need to pay closer attention to the tuning also. I think they were running true but where they really? I'm used to drift fishing where I know my bait is down in front of the fish. The whole day Ijust wasn't sure if my plugs were in "the zone".

Thanks again everyone

Mike

No prob fighting kings with 15 lb. line in reasonbly clean areas. But those that have fought huge fresh kings right in from the nearby ocean in the lower ends of the narrow, strong current, and very branch snagy Tillamook area rivers know that it's about the biggest salmonid fighting challenge there is (and I've fought a heck of a lot of them up in AK/BC). You can always get lucky, but with less than 20 lb. line in those conditions most of them will spank your ass baboon red! The few fish that don't run for the tree branches along both sides of the river down there, and stay out in the middle, would still take you a very long time to land with 15 lb. Maxima line - some might even go find a honey and spawn while you goof around with that light stuff near T-town.

haha RT

Brand new to the game here, as a matter of fact I went fishing with Keith my first time several months ago!!! Anyway I was wondering if Kwikfish are as effective in a small river
like the Washougal....Does anyone have any advice for the new guy....Thanx
Chris

I've never really had a problem with them being leader shy on kwickies. I tend to run 25lb main with 40-60 lbs leaders and never really have a problem. Those big fish with rub there teeth right through the main Hate loosen plugs. Most of the time I flat line BK has some good advice.

Tight lines

Kevin

I just got back from an all-day KwikFish clinic hosted by The Really Big One himself!

What BK said.

We hit 17 fish.

It's all about reading water and knowing the river. Once the Kwikies are where they are suppose to be, the rest comes easy.

Man, if you people think the OP fish are mean and powerful, you really should book a trip with Bob on the Kasilof. Those OP fish don't have squat on the AK fish. Not even close.

Well looks like if I head out to the coast I will have to borrow some line from the weedwacker! Might as well bring my pool cue too, go catch some fish on it, then pick a game up at the local tavern. Anyone ever shoot a game of pool with a meatstick?
Keith