Northwest Fishing Reports

So I am just getting in to this whole thing and wanted to know if anyone has success using the 8' shasta tackle sling blade for kings, silvers, or pinks on the salt. I found about 25 of them at wal-mart marked down to $3 a piece so I couldn't resist and I picked up 12 of them in UV pink and UV green. I also was able to pick up 24 Zak Tackle hootchies UV Glow with twinkle skirts and 3,4,and 5/0 hooks all marked down to ridiculous prices. I am mainly concerned about the Sling blades and if many people use these with much success.

I suggest if you are looking for a good deal on Gamakatsu barbless and some odds and ends for fishing to go check out your local wal-mart as they are all marking down stuff right now and putting in to clearance.

I have used them for sockeye.
Since you have to troll so slow for sockeye you can bend the blade to get more action out of it; this then gives more action to your lure of choice...

salmonkiller wrote:I have used them for sockeye.
Since you have to troll so slow for sockeye you can bend the blade to get more action out of it; this then gives more action to your lure of choice...

Any experience running them on chinook or coho?

bottombarrel wrote:

salmonkiller wrote:I have used them for sockeye.
Since you have to troll so slow for sockeye you can bend the blade to get more action out of it; this then gives more action to your lure of choice...

Any experience running them on chinook or coho?

I have not tried them for either... but I'm sure they would work. Just have to find the biting fish.

Good luck.

I use the sling blades in the salt every year for chinook and coho with only 10 to 16 inch leaders and do super well them. I actually prefer them over flashers. What I do to get an even better action is put about a 30 degree bend in the last two inches of the dodger and that helps alot also. You can play with the angle to get the action you want too. Hope that helps. Good luck!

I am wondering if it is by individual stores? I hit the one by me and the clearance area was packed with stuff but no Shasta anything... I was bummed...

TrackerPro16 wrote:I am wondering if it is by individual stores? I hit the one by me and the clearance area was packed with stuff but no Shasta anything... I was bummed...

Ah dang, I have noticed there is different stuff between the bellingham and the mount vernon Wal-mart. definitely some great deals to be had. only down side is that there are people that are buying everything in the clearance area and then reselling it on facebook classifieds pages. so things go fast.

Had to do some running around today so hit the Auburn Wallmart. They had three green Shasta UV Sling Blades in the 'closeout' area! Bought one of them for $3.50 (they were marked down to $5 but came up $3.50 at the register) and three 125 yard 10 lb spools of braid for $4 each. Next stop was Bellevue Wallmart. While they did not have too much in the closeout isle I did pick up some larger hoochie's They also had a WAD of fishing poles in a closeout barrel back by the fishing stuff. All were $9 and the original price was $35+. Most were medium power 7' but there were a couple 5'6" ultra lights. There were also three Ugly Stiks'! I figure at $9 I can let people use them and or give them away without too much heartburn so I picked some up. Not to mention I broke a pole last time out...

I have noticed the same thing last time I was at the local Puyallup Walmart, I picked up some other items for a great price. Now the Mac Lure bought Shasta tackle not sure what is going to happen with there stuff but the when in Cabelas a week ago all the Mac's Lures were bare? I picked up the last 4 lure set ups I needed JIC. Seems like the production or reordering is not happening, noticed this at other stores was my reason of stopping by to find my lucky set up.

TrackerPro16 wrote:Had to do some running around today so hit the Auburn Wallmart. They had three green Shasta UV Sling Blades in the 'closeout' area! Bought one of them for $3.50 (they were marked down to $5 but came up $3.50 at the register) and three 125 yard 10 lb spools of braid for $4 each. Next stop was Bellevue Wallmart. While they did not have too much in the closeout isle I did pick up some larger hoochie's They also had a WAD of fishing poles in a closeout barrel back by the fishing stuff. All were $9 and the original price was $35+. Most were medium power 7' but there were a couple 5'6" ultra lights. There were also three Ugly Stiks'! I figure at $9 I can let people use them and or give them away without too much heartburn so I picked some up. Not to mention I broke a pole last time out...

So do you use the sling blades for Chinook?

Hunter757 wrote:I have noticed the same thing last time I was at the local Puyallup Walmart, I picked up some other items for a great price. Now the Mac Lure bought Shasta tackle not sure what is going to happen with there stuff but the when in Cabelas a week ago all the Mac's Lures were bare? I picked up the last 4 lure set ups I needed JIC. Seems like the production or reordering is not happening, noticed this at other stores was my reason of stopping by to find my lucky set up.

Some stores still have some stuff but it has been pretty picked through. I got about $300 worth of hoochies, dodgers, hooks, and scents for around $40. pretty sweet deal. i normally dont go to wal mart unless I absolutely have to but after seeing some people getting some kokanee gear for next to nothing at my local store I had to check it out, and it was totally worth it.

Now comes the main question. Would you use the sling blade for chinook?

Yes I would, why not? They work great for Kokanee and also had luck with them for Sockeye. They are an attractant like any other dodger. You have nothing to loose by trying something new.

I know with different flashers and dodgers you use different leader lengths with hoochies, spoons, plugs, and herring. What would you guys recommend for leader length behind a sling blade?