Plugs - How to run them for chinook

[fshnfnatic]

X2 on that,Rockfish. Another tip when fishing plugs is to put it as far back from your release as possible. When I
commerical trolled years ago,my skipper,who was a master plug fisherman,would run 5in. plugs 15 fathoms(or 90 ft.)
behind,and 7in. 20 fathoms (120ft.) behind. keep in mind that if your fishing close to other boats,this is dangerous as
when you make your turns,there is far more chances of gear tangling in other boats lines. When your off on your own
however,this tactic works very well as it allows the plugs to dart and dance in a much wider field behind the boat!

[blackvelvet]

Yep, those are les davis cutplugs. They stopped producing them in the early '90's.

You can run them naked or if behind a flasher you want to be at least 7' back. They have a super tight , fast spin, so the slower you go the more effective they can be.

Last August we ran out of bait fishing out of Ucluelet and I ran a 5" version with no flasher and had plenty of salmon action plus a couple halibut when I ran it close to bottom.

Personally, I'd much rather run real bait (herring or chovies) than a fake plastic cutplug.

If you're gonna run plugs then buy a few tomics, at least then you know you're using something that is well proven.....No flasher and about 40' behind the release or longer if you are not around a lot of other boats with gear in the water.

[Highliner]

WCVI - 7" Tomic Plug, #546. Fish 'em alone and fish 'em fast. 3 - 4 kn.
(Alone, as in only plugs) As Sea Ranger stated, if you're dragging plugs, drag plugs on all rods.

I just bought some tubby tomics but haven't tried them yet. Has anyone had success running the tubbies with other bait/gear (at slower speeds)? I hope so, that's why I bought them.

[hambone]

I'm pretty sure I remember some of Codfathers (the guy out of Nootka) posts saying he runs tubbies while also using spoons. He catches a ton of fish doing it as well..... So you should be good to go. The tubbies don't seem popular though???

[Little Hawk]

Think you are bang-on Rockfish on that green Mac-Squid plug. Back in the early 80's when my wife's folks still had their place on the Shuswap I discovered that the big Kamloops Rainbows in there couldn't resist my red/pink Mac Squid. Never did try one out on salmon. If memory serves, a few years back someone told me (maybe Trotac? Not sure.) they could still get those plugs for me but they would have to order them. Extremely well made and when set up right buy themselves with a 25' or more leader behind the downrigger they had awesome action, unpredictable, this way and that. Very cool! Caught the biggest Rainbow of my life on it.

[Hit em Hard]

wcvi - 7" tomic plug, #546. Fish 'em alone and fish 'em fast. 3 - 4 kn.
(alone, as in only plugs) as sea ranger stated, if you're dragging plugs, drag plugs on all rods.

yuuup!!!

H.e.h.

[r.s craven]

I wouldn't mix it up, plugs need to be trolled fast to get the proper action.
Spoons will roll rather than flutter if trolled too fast.

[trendsetter]

Tried out those plugs for a bit yesterday. They do have a tight roll type action. No fish though.

[Hit em Hard]

yep i understand craven, maybe im just lucky?, with that set-up i get hits on both the spoon and the plug, not traditional by any means, but it seems to work for me anyway...i try all sorts of strange/unorthadoxed stuff,lol..holmes*

I use to do the same and did well. I'm not sure why I don,t do it anymore except that I generally troll my plugs a lot faster these days - 3.5 to 4 knots. Perhaps I will slow down a bit and try the old method once in a while.

h.e.h.

[Derby]

I just bought some tubby tomics but haven't tried them yet. Has anyone had success running the tubbies with other bait/gear (at slower speeds)? I hope so, that's why I bought them.

I have found Tubby's work good with the mixed gear...fish good at a little slower speed ..that what I would fish....agree if you are fishing 7in Classic..speed and just plugs.....my 2 bits