Northwest Fishing Reports

I have a low profile baitcaster that will hold 120 yards of 12lb test. Is this large enough for silvers? I know it may not be ideal, but I don't want to have to drop more money on a reel until maybe next season (2010). I have an Abu ambassedeur that I'm gonna put 20lb on in case I want to go after some kings.

Simple rivers a big yes:-$ !!!
Off a downrigger in the salt no:-$ but you already knew that 125 yards of 12lbs with a good angler will stop a truck

Know that being said 3 or 4 snags/break offs of gear at 25 plus yards your done:cyclopsan :colors:

Casting any 20lb Mono can be a load as well I run 20 lb max in the Salt for kings, coho, tools and cupcakes:cheers: :chef: and if you watched my video with a 14 ft 6 noodle rod and 8lb test on a 200 curdado shimano baitcaster steelhead reel I landed 4 smaller Kings in a row in the salt off a downriggers.

It is the ability to press for more with less that adds to the pucker impact and makes more love and hate!!:bounce:

Where's the vid?

if you play a fish right you can take them on at least 80 yrds but if the fish is big an abu would be better

Sitting at your home e-mail!:-$

Hey Sweede,
Would it be feasable to load the baitcaster with one of the new braids (less diameter, more footage), then use a florocarbon or mono leader. As I haven't had any experience with the new braids I'm not sure.
What say you?

I use zero braids ever:-$ only on 200lb and up Sturgeron and Halibuts that it!

Oh and on monster Lings 60lbs and up North/due to teeth not size

I am the (Clear line Maxima Treasure Z guy) best multi Polymer mono going salt or fresh and Max Floracarbon leaders:-#


That being said use what works best for you:-$ from many water, river, ocean conditons and the number of hook ups and line failures:cyclopsan

true that i dont like braids un less its suffix performance braid 6lbs for leader for low low water metal and it works. but it is a pain to make a leader out of

Braid is great for bobber and jig fishing or bobber and bait, but not for drift fishing in the rivers. Why? Because if you get hung up and break off the braid stays in the river nearly forever. Anyone else runs mono through they get hung up and the braid cuts right thru the mono. For vertical deep jigging in the salt of in large freshwater lakes, braid is the best. Its lack of stretch and thin diameter give better "feel" as well as being able to use a smaller wt jig to get to bottom.

i have friends and they say i should use braid. i hate it in the rivers for bass yes

From what I have read braid is a PITA on a baitcaster, in terms of backlash. I hear it is nearly impossible to pick or winch out.

I use braid on a couple of my bass spinning rods since I fish in a weedy lake and it floats so it is easy to watch your line when fishing weightless soft plastics.

Theoretically if one were to use braid I think that a mono leader would be best as mono will absorb some of the impact since braid doesn't stretch (or break). Flourocarbon is low stretch. That being said though I use flouro leaders attached to braided mainline with a uni knot for bass. But, in the case of bass in WA not many are over 5lbs plus I'm using a MH rod for pulling them out of the grass.

Sorry to devolve this thread to talking about warm water fishing.

I have the reel filled with 120 yards of 12lb CX P-Line clear fluorescent. I think I'm gonna give it a try.

Thanks Sweed for the input to my question, Most (actually all) of my fish are under the 20# size, so no need for the braid.
Wolverine, I hadn't thought of the problems it could cause in the river instances you mentioned, I'll not be using the stuff for drifting for sure. Thanks

for plugs braid is good but drifting the braid has no strech so it is not as easy to work with. noclothes1 you are right my friend has braid on an abu and he backlashes and cant fish with that reel for the day

Fought a plus 60lber King Columbia River cert for plus 6 hours on the Columbia hooked at 12:45 pm landed at 6:45 pm almost dark and thanks for the Scottsman Scotty S who never quit on me as well and ran the tub while I braced and fought the game on very light Maxima Mono.

WE did this to prove it could be done on monster fish and the Kwickfish sardine wrapped fell out when we threw him in the tub he had the head in the net and I grabbed his monster tail with cotton Gloves.

The reel failed at 4 plus hours and I still have it but the drag and gear a toaster.

My longest battle on any fish and I would not try this again!:cyclopsan

9fter Lamai Glass:cheers: taken off the downrigger at 50 plus feet and landed right in front of Handford miles downstream

lets see that pic swede i know you got one thats nuts

Salty is up:-$

very nice swede now i got to get me a monster king i can keep. in the 07 season fishin for pinks on the sky 40 plus minute fight, 35 plus pound chrome native on 8lbs maxima my biggest to date.

Nah will get you a =40lber plus in the salt right North of the AT:-# bank on it with Sealice:chef: and a Keeper!

20lb = treasureZ and 9ft Lamiglas/Glass

hey when i want to go fishing somewhere new, i dont need a guide i just need the swede. lol.

For river fishing I would use Berkley thermalfilmet, it is not braided line. For lake or distance casting Power pro because is thiner in diameter and softer. The disadvantage of power pro is that it is very sensitiv for curb effect in the knot. The only situation I know for 100% knot is to tying PP using UNI knot to tie it directly to hook or lure. For example if you are gonna tie 15 lb test pp with leader line 20 lb, total strenght may be about 8 lb. I made such test at home tiying line to digital scale and pooling. The berkley line is bigger in diameter, stiffer, but knot very friendly.