Heading to Deer, but some fishin' on the journey

[Nehalennia]

Ok, so I'd like some advice on fishin' in the San Juans.
Like I've mentioned before I don't have downriggers or the ultimate setup for trolling, but I'd like to at least try what I have and let the kids dip a real pole in the water and see if we can get lucky.

I've got two flashers and a couple of coyote spoons.
I've got a buzz bomb or two.
I've got a few other things too, but I'd like to hear any thoughts?

[Go Aweigh2452]

Since silvers are coming in, I would get a couple of:
trolling divers
http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/salmon/graphics/howtocatch/troll6.jpg

Some smelly jelly (Special Mix or shrimp flavor):
http://img.tacklewarehouse.com/ProductImages/SL.JPG
Use the spoons not the buzz bombs to troll with. Lay the smelly jelly on the flasher and the lure. If you can, put a piece of herring on the hook as well. Small sliver is fine... lure should be about 30-35" behind flasher. A spoon can be used without a dodger or flasher and the fish caught tend to fight better because they aren’t dragging the dodger/flasher through the water.

The trolling diver will bring the set up to about +30' below the surface at idle speed which is fine. Straight line troll is fine but side to side wander is better. If you can, go against the current. Fish, like birds face into the wind/current and can see your bait presentation better. (But this is not critical) Also, don't worry about not being too deep with the bait. Fish look up, not down.

Make sure you have set the reel drag low so the fish can run. It should almost peel off the reel with just the setup on the pole dragging in the water. Set the reel so you can hear it click off the reel. Now watch and drink some soda...

[Nehalennia]

cool. I just need a diver and some smell.

[Fred P]

Last week we got into the humpies on the south end of Henry Island. 75 feet of water.

Fred P...............

[SomeSailor]

The humpies are THICK right now. I brought home 12 this morning. They're a cinch to catch.

Easiest without a downrigger is simply a cannonball tied to some clothes line. clip onto it, lower it over the side and presto... redneck downrigger.

Crescent weights and planers like above work well too.

[Nehalennia]

We tried without a "diver" west side of Cypress yesterday for just a little while. No joy. I have some 8oz crescent weights that seemed to do ok, and the current was working with us. There were quite a few fish on the sounder and about 6 boats in that area but no-one seemed to get anything. Maybe today we'll try over near Henry before we head back. It really nice this morning.

[SomeSailor]

You want to move WITH the current. The fish are facing into it and you'll run right into them :)

[Nehalennia]

We haven't left Deer yet. It's simply too nice and relaxing. I'm even contemplating staying one more night and leaving here at the crack of dawn. I can get back to Swinomish in an hour and still get to work on time. Deer emptied out around 1100 and it's been quiet, sunny and extremely relaxing.

So Mo's on the end of the dock fishing with Luke's "Lightning McQueen" pole and the twins are hanging on the dock trying to catch "Sushi". I was back online to check my schedule in the AM so I don't miss anthing too important in case we stay.

......so not much of a fishing report, but the weather is ideal.

Well we were considering staying in Deer last night and making an early AM departure this morning to get bcak home and to work. The weather was perfect and the marina had emptied out so it was simply perfect and relaxing....glad we didn't
http://islandcam.com/camimages/fhcam.jpg