Hey Gang,

Newbie to the board.... Been a hard core fly junkie for the past 25 years. However, since the rest of the family just can't seem to get the hang of it, went out and bought a boat last year- 16' Northwood. Completely "tricked out" with the lastest and greatest. I am certainly not a novice (mid to upper intermediate skills) when it comes to gear and the South Sound but, this is the first year I have been trolling spoons behind a flasher. My question is: How deep are you folks fishing these spoons and what is the deepest you have caught fish on spoons? I have been doing extremely well since the 16th (10 keepers and tons of shakers)in the 65' to 85' (with 70' the best depth) range. When a good size bait ball shows up on the "finder" in 135' of water, I drop down just over the top of the bait and can't, for the life of me, get a hit. I'll even work the bait for a couple more passes- nothing. Just seems when the "finder" is empty and quiet, the rod pops off the release. Maybe I am just having a hard time believing I am catching suspended fish this time of year. TIA

For B'Mouth keep your gear within 15 ft of the bottom, the closer the better. As for the bait balls, park your gear just UNDER, not over the top of them. Make it so your offering is one of the first things the fish sees, not the last. As for the spoons they work at all of the depths. The ones that work best for me is the chartreuese/glo and the army truck.
Good luck and tight lines, Jeff

I am with Jeffhaed on the under the bait thing. Try big orange pink hotspots with "cap car" black and white spoons. One of the blackmouth columns below debates depth.

Jason

Jeffhead/Jason,

Reviewing my post, I meant to also discuss the depth vs color theory with spoons... I assume spoons (color and/or glo versions) would be the same as hootchies, e.g,. deeper water- glo versions ??.

Since I haven't been successful with the silver/green spoon deeper than 85', maybe it's my confidence factor thinking for me. Maybe I'll give the Chart/glo a go this weekend. Then again, since I have been doing well, maybe I'll stick with success and still fish suspended.

As far as depth, I am always within 10'-15' of the bottom. Sorry if my question of depth came off wrong. I guess the question should have been, "What's your most sucessful depth?" or something to the effect.

New to the spoon game and trying to learn all I can. Have the plugs and hootchies mastered! Truly appreciate the help as I am sure more spoon questions will arise from me eventually.

Thanks again from the South Sound!

Here's a little tip...blackmouth aren't always on the bottom, actually they spend most of the time in the top 45' of water, (that goes for all salmon), and they're not always in deep water. This contradicts everything I, and most everybody learned about blackmouth. I've only been filming salmon for 5 years but I've been fishing them the greater part of my life. Give this a try next time your out, it doesn’t matter what you use, plugs, herring, squid, spoons, or what time of day, or what tide. Start your troll about a half mile from a point, any point in the sound, close to shore in between 20' and 75' of water and make slow "S" curves between those depths with your gear any where from 20' to 50', (and change depth frequently), troll up the shore and around the point for about a half mile and turn around and do the same the other direction. Don't knock it till you try it. Just since the Feb 16th opener I've fished 9 times in area 8-1,8-2, and 9 using this method and my boat has landed 1- 18lb, 3- 16lb, 1- 15lb, 6- 12lb 2- 11lb and approximately 27 from 24" to 10lbs most of these were released as of I do not need that much food. Not one of these fish was caught deeper than 45' in more than 70 ' of water. The 18lb came from 35’ of water at 20’ deep. I'm not bragging just trying to show that it works and I don't have a problem telling people because most won't try it. I’m not saying fishing on the bottom is worse I used to get my limits that way but fishing shallow is like seeing the light for me, if I hadn’t started my catch and release ways I’d be off the water a half hour after I started fishing. The most successful setup the past few weeks has been a 4” green/chrome coyote spoon with the stock hook removed and a 2/0 circle hook in is place, 32” behind a green, blue, or orange hotspot depending on water color (you want to match the color with the water color). Also troll between 2 and 2.5 knots and use some kind of scent or scent remover, (WD-40, smelly jelly) and put it on everything the first 6 feet of your line including the line. This is just my advice and I offer a full money back guarantee.

AB,
Interesting theory, I'll have to try that one next time out. Your right it does contradict everything and everyone I have learned B'Mouthin' from. Couldn't agree more when the target is returning spawners. Up high early in the morning, drop down to 80 - 120 by mid-day and back up top as the sun sets.
DR,
As for the color question depth makes a huge difference as to what color to choose. The reds, yellows, and violets of the color spectrum are pretty much gone by the time you hit 35 - 50 ft. The colors that will show in depths of up to 120 - 150 ft are the greens, blues, and blacks. The reason that glow works so well is that it gives off a green tint. As for what depth 80 - 120 ft has been where I have caught most of the B'Mouth.
Good luck and tight lines, Jeff

Hey Downriggin',
Shoot me an e mail, I don't see yours listed in your profile line. jwhitehead37@attbi.com

I whole heartedly agree about not always being deep. (fav depth in the morning is 32ft) In the first Balckmouth on fire thread you can read some of my comments about it. As far as glow goes I don't much know as it matters too much. BUT I always use a glow flasher. Not always on the spoons though. Currently for Blackmouth the best color lately for me has been the "cop car" half black and white with a silver back.

Jason S

I have been successfuly trolling the coyote spoon for quite a few years, for both returning spawners, and Blackmouth. I agree with most of what has been said. some people dont understand that there are two kinds of Blackmouth, there are the ones that move in and out with the bait, and the ones that stay in an area for long periods of timeregardless of bait present. the free ranging "bait herders" are usually the fat football fish, always having bait to feed on, and then you get the skinny fish, which feed oportunisticly (sp?) on whatever happens to be around.
I have caught Blackmouth as deep as 190 feet on the spoons, and as shallow as 50 feet.
I think its where you find them, and where you spend the most time fishing.
personaly I fish the ledges and drop off structure, adjacent to deeper water, staying on or near the 90-120 foot mark. with bait either suspended, or on the bottom. the green glow hot-spot, with 36 inches of leader(48" for adult Kings) back to the spoon Jeffhead mentioned (green chart.-glow) is what I always start with. smelly jelly herring on everything from the spoon to the flasher, and ten feet up the line. twelve feet from the release, the release three feet up the cable from the ball, and then drag the ball in the mud.

Fuzzy