Fishing Large Rivers With LongLiner™
By Steve Lumsden
My fishing for salmon in the Great Lakes left a deep appreciation for these inland freshwater seas. The azure blue waters off our West Coast, and the crystal shoals of the South Pacific bring back many pleasant memories. My very special love for those fabulous Kamloops trout lakes in British Columbia warms up those dark, wet days of a dreary Northwest winter, and brings excitement to my tying bench as I plan yet another trip north to B.C. But of all the places that I have fished over the course of my life, there is none as special to me as that big river right in my backyard -- the mighty, majestic Columbia.
The Columbia River offers something to anglers year-round. There are several resident species worthy of world-class attention (sturgeon, walleye, rainbows, and steelhead). Most sportsmen, however, will agree that the Columbia River Chinook runs are the Kings of the river.
In the spring there is a sizeable run of early Chinooks, called "Springers" that are the finest of the fine. They are immature, full of fat, and have an attitude. Catching them can be done a number of ways from Quickfish or Flatfish -- either naked or wrapped with sardine; spinners, plugs, wobblers, prawns, shrimp, eggs, and herring. The choices of lures and bait depend upon location, water temperature, and clarity.
The fall Chinook are typically greater in numbers and are caught with the same lures and baits, and in the same manner. Many anglers fish with a wobbler because it is so effective in the Columbia. Wobblers can be trolled, or as is most often the case, fished near the bottom while at anchor. I love wobbler fishing anytime; but in the late summer and well into the fall, it is hard to beat sitting at anchor, enjoying the company of friends, and basking in the beautiful weather while your favorite wobbler is working the depths of the river.
Wobbler fishing is particularly effective when paired with a LongLiner. As the big river currents swirl and vary throughout the day, affected by fluctuating tides and varying water releases from upstream dams, the wobbler will respond with wide, lazy swings, all the while continuing its fishlike throbbing. It drives the salmon mad. “The Original Egg Wobbler” is particularly responsive to variations in current speed, pulsing at different rates but always keeping its enticing large side-to-side swing as conditions change. Long leaders between the lure and the weight allows the wobbler to “search” in the current and cover more water. In areas where there is a steady current, I fish my favorite wobbler up to 25 feet, and a bit more at times, downstream of my LongLiner and weight.
My personal choice of hooks on my wobblers is the siwash type. I feel that my hook-ups are more secure than with a treble hook, and it takes less effort to get the fish out of the net. Also, when you must release a fish, hook removal is usually easier. Although my hook-size preference for Kings is 4/0, the Egg Wobbler seems to have its best action with a 3/0. Regardless of your choice in hook (treble or single) -- keep it sharp.
I always use scents when salmon fishing. Paste scents work well on wobblers. Place a small bead of paste scent along the outer edges of your wobbler. My favorite scents are Herring/Salt, Sardine, Krill, and last but not least: Anise. I also thoroughly wash my lures in Lemon Joy periodically to remove unwanted odors. Remember, salmon smell their home stream -- and you thought a bloodhound was good!
To fish, free spool your Egg Wobbler downstream while holding your LongLiner (it has to be in the unlocked or free-slide mode). When your wobbler is the desired distance behind your boat, lock the LongLiner in place on your line, then let it and your weight steadily drop until the bottom is reached. (If you don't know how to lock and unlock your LongLiner, read the instructions <here>.) Then slowly back bounce your rig until the weight stays on the bottom. Set your drag properly -- firm but not too firm; never more than three-quarters of your leader test -- place your rod in the rod holder and have a cup of coffee while you wait for the big bite.
Though this technique works very well at anchor, you can also troll if you prefer. Troll with a water speed of about 2 mph keeping the weight a short distance above the bottom. At times a spinner is excellent fished in this manner, as is the Lyman Lure Plug. Try Lymans in #4 to #6 sizes while trolling or at anchor.
Steve