That's how my too-light rod looked . . .

TM's thread about close encounters of the kingly kind while searching for silver reminded me of my unexpected experience the other day. I left at home half the tackle I intended to take, but had a few of the marabou jigs I wanted to float toward some silvers I'd heard about. The silvers were there, but few in number, compared to the serindipitous arrival of a herd (felt more like a herd of buffalo than a school of fish; they were all big) of fresh kings - fresh from the sea, but mostly colored up (for those who are concerned about that). What entertained me for the couple hours that my tackle lasted was the utter abandon with which these kings hammered the jigs. You've heard not to bring a sling shot to a machine gun fight. Well, it's pretty hopeless trying to land kings when 8 lb. is your heaviest line.

Yes, one was snagged in a pectoral fin (saw it jump), for those who care, but that jig was floating in the middle of the water column, and it felt like the fish attacked it. All but one broke off or pulled free, of course, but the one jig I did retrieve was pinned right in the corner of a big buck's jaw. I've learned that jigs can be good food for silvers, but never thought kings would get so excited about them.

I know jigs like Pt. Wilson darts are good king food in the Sound, where the jig looks like baitfish, but I never thought kings would be interested in marabou jigs in rivers because they usually don't chase lures like spinners and streamer flies like silvers do. Do kings commonly hit jigs, or was this just an odd day in more ways than one?

Sincerely,

Salmo g.

Salmo,

I've caught a few in the Sauk/Skagit using jigs for summer runs...or maybe I should say, hooked a few. There may not be as many springers left up there as there used to be, but there are still some hawgs!

Fish on...

Todd.

I caught a nice King on the Skagit last week using a maribou jig too. A nice surprise while trying to catch silvers.

While I know the chinook will hit jigs occasionally, I have never fond them to be a super chinook lure. Many years ago on the Vedder when we were having one of those days you remember forever, we hit chinook, or springs, as they call them all day long on eggs, spoons, spinners and wool ties, but they simply would not take the jig.

Isn't fishing grand? Whenever we know something for sure the fish prove us wrong. I used to think the spinners were a poor choice for chums, and often they are, but recently I am aware of a coupe of times when the chums just loved the spinners. Go figure.

Now Salmo…What have I told you about jigs

Jigs can be killers for chinook at the right time, in the right waters"

Can you repeat….I told so you so?

By the way, how does it feel to be a "little older"?

It bite me today…turkey!


Cowlitzfisherman

Happy Birthday to both of you.

CFM,

You can't say you told me so! You said jigs were great for steelhead and coho. You never said a word - that I recall - about using jigs for kings. They've been great on silvers, about 2 to 1 over marabou streamer flies tied the same color. I'm figuring this was an anomoly. At least I hope so. I don't own any gear that's really suited to chinook, other than a salt water trolling rod.

BTW, I'll be needing a few more of the 1/4 oz. to tie some coho bait.

I felt old enough to stay in bed this morning instead of heading for the river. The way it's blowing, my boat would be heading upriver.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.

Oh yes I can! you just weren't paying attention That's what happens when you turn the BIG 50!!!

Hey don't worry…I sleep in today too!

Cowlitzfisherman

Salmo g.

I primarily fish the rivers that feed Tillamook Bay including the Trask, Wilson and Kilchis. This fall I've had excellent success using a four color marabou jig made specifically for Fall Kings. I know that Kings like bright jigs so I tied up a jig using cerise, Shrimp and two different shades of pink. I finished it off with four matching colors of Krystal Flash. This is the end result:



This jig has worked great by itself or tipped with a sand shrimp tail. To increase the hook to land ratio, I tie these jigs on a big, strong 3/0 Owner jig hook.

Here is one 20 pounder I landed recently using this jig:



It's hard to beat good cured eggs for Kings but jigs can be an effective alternative especially when the water level is on the low and clear side.

Mark

One of my bigger springers on the Kalama was taken on a jig, fishing for summer-runs. Memorial Day weekend several years ago, floated from Pritchards to Modrow fishing springers in the mornings. So-so fishing, likely because of the crowds, so we stopped below the hatchery, got out, and hit it hard for summers, a good number were piled into a pool. Everybody going small and light for these fish when this 22lb springer hits my size 2 black jig, with 8lb test, on a light action steelhead rod. Fish could have left the hole any time it wanted, but didn't. Managed to land it after about a half hour fight.

Has never happened since, but I always load up with more gear than I can possibly use in any one trip!

First cast:

That is one nice looking jig! Ever try it in steelhead? I bet it would work great, mabey on a smaller hook.

Fishingjunkie15

On my last trip out I caught a summer steelhead using this jig while fishing for Kings. Other people have reported back to me that they've caught steelhead with it also.

I use a similar jig comprised of red, orange and pink for winter steelhead. It has worked well the last couple years I've been using it.

Mark

You can catch chinooks on 8# test.


This is part of a matching set of hens I caught earlier this year while trying to catch some silvers. If you're in a spot you can take your time, It's actually a blast.

I have had many springers in the columbia take jigs while I was shad fishing. I actually have a rock down there now where I can catch quite a few In a day. Caught some in the Cow to on jigs springers and fall run. dont have jigging kings down to a science yet but it definetly works