How To Fish With Riptide Lures

Since the first braided lines came on the market, they have added to the pleasure of the avid JIGGER. These lines make it perfect to feel the bite of a fish that is as deep as 400 feet. When fishing at these great depth's it is a must to allow a little slack in the line. By doing this you will be adding a little bow in the line, and the fish will be solidly hooked on the strike. When a fish strikes at these depths you will just see the line stop as if it was sitting on bottom. The Riptides you will want to use this deep are all the Glow Colors (Pink, White, Tiger Prawn, Glow Green) Sizes 6-8 ounce Needlefish and Originals.

Chinook Salmon like to run deep. For most of the year they will be caught at around the 200 foot range and some have been caught as deep as 350 feet. What do we blame this on? El Nino. Actually one of the biggest reasons that chinooks are being caught deeper is they choose to be deeper. One of their favorite foods is the Needlefish, and it is always near bottom. In fact in my guide service I have found many chinooks with their cheeks rubbed raw. I do not know the scientific name for the so called disease they may have, but I will give my opinion.

If you fished my home waters fifteen years ago, you would more than likely be mooching with herring. You would time your trip to start as the tide picked up strength. At that time the Chinooks or Coho would be feeding on herring, and the bait would be suspended off bottom. The difference between then and now, is that in this day and age you would want to be fishing near the slack tide. Needlefish are buried in the sand or mud during heavy tide flows. Once the tide slackens they come out of the sand and that is when the Chinooks feed ravenously on them. Sometimes the bait is so close to the bottom that the Chinooks have to turn sideways to grab them. One thing that is sure, even when their is an abundance of herring, Chinooks stomachs will be full of Needlefish.

The key to vertical trolling (Jigging) for Chinooks is to find a hump or reef. Ten chances to one there will be bait near. Start your drift on the top of the reef or hump and keep finding bottom as you go deeper. Make sure that you have found the crest of the reef or you will hang up as you shallow out. The key to good salmon fishing is to keep your line as close to vertical as possible. If your line starts to lift, you must back down on the line to keep it vertical. Keep working the lure because many bites occur while backing down on the line. If a strike occurs at this point shift to neutral and the line will lift thus taking the belly out of the line. Reel as fast as you can to catch the fish, and then hit him once again.

Sometimes it pays to vary your jigging motion with a one two drop technique. Lift the rod rapidly 6"-12", and then repeat the same quickly. This sets the lure up for the fall, and aids in your timing. On the drop make sure the lure has just a little crinkle of slack. This will release the lure and allow it to fall properly. All salmon strikes will occur on the fall.

Beginners Technique

Hold left hand under the rod so that the rod is balanced. With right hand push rod butt down quickly to lift lure 2-3 feet. Let Butt up gently and make sure there is the proper amount of slack line created. This will very quickly show the proper timing, and is a very easy way for woman and children to learn to jig.