Northwest Fishing Reports

I picked up an old Penn 209 reel. I'll use it for mooching salmon in the Sound, or maybe for a downrigger reel for salmon in the Sound or Lake WA (sockeye, whenever it opens again).

I'm not much of a boat fisherman. What pound-test mono do folks usually use for mooching or downriggers for salmon? 30-lb test? Heavier? Lighter?

I've used 15 lb test, and up past 25. I know people who can't use anything less then 30lb, not sure why, it's a pain in the butt to break off if you snag up...

I like 15 or 20lb test. 15 lb leader...
P-Line CXX Moss green

20-25lb Maxima UG

my salmon reel has 20 lb test Maxima chameleon on it.

I run 50lb only because i fish in the straits where you can get 40 lb salmon

FM explain a little more cause ppl here dont expect you to be a salmon fisherman, even though i know

How could you use this reel as a downrigger? Would you just use a short, stiff standup rod and a small wieght then clip it like normal to your line?

I use 50 lb line on a levelwind reel on a 9foot rod and attach that to a downrigger and run it down anywhere from 10-145 feet

I run a 15lb main line and a 12lb leader. For my buddys I give them 20lb main and 15lb leader. Most of the time I dont use leader, because I like the good ole fashon cut plug, I just use the leader that comes with the hooks.

Woah i was really confused for a minute. But i just reread it and now i under stand..
When we run DR's in the sound and Neah Bay (dont use them at ilwaco), we have these four okuma level wind line counter reels spooled up with 20lb test on 8'6" Medium Heavy Berkley's and these older Shimano TDK's. Its fine and never broke on us.
Anything over 30 isnt neccesary. IDK what type of fish there trying to catch, LOL.

fishingmachine wrote:I run 50lb only because i fish in the straits where you can get 40 lb salmon

I've played 15+lb silvers from the beach with 6 lb test and a 5'6" UL rod...Not very courteous to the guys standing next to you, but it's darn fun...

My .02: you don't need a lb test higher then the fish you intend to catch. With a properly set drag and properly fighting the fish correctly you can reel in fish that weigh more then the lb test you use...

Sam Kafelafish wrote:

fishingmachine wrote:I run 50lb only because i fish in the straits where you can get 40 lb salmon

I've played 15+lb silvers from the beach with 6 lb test and a 5'6" UL rod...Not very courteous to the guys standing next to you, but it's darn fun...

My .02: you don't need a lb test higher then the fish you intend to catch. With a properly set drag and properly fighting the fish correctly you can reel in fish that weigh more then the lb test you use...

Oh ya I caught a 23 pound steel head on 8 lb. test (Clackamas River Or.)

we always ran 20# on my dads boat, i like fightin with the fish, not just crankin it in

From the boat, I use #20 max for salmon. You have the advantage in a boat as you can chase the fish if needed if you should hook into something really large.

20lb izorline is all you need ....you could pull a boat with that. I use my salmon gear with the 20lb izor for my halibut fishing too as I fish pretty shallow water in the Port Angeles area with just 5 oz of lead. I do alot of jigging for salmon as well as the motor mooching and you could probably even get by with 15lb. Hope that helps..........Les

Moosestock wrote:20lb izorline is all you need ....you could pull a boat with that. I use my salmon gear with the 20lb izor for my halibut fishing too as I fish pretty shallow water in the Port Angeles area with just 5 oz of lead. I do alot of jigging for salmon as well as the motor mooching and you could probably even get by with 15lb. Hope that helps..........Les

You must be a "Green Point" boy. I have caught some of my biggest hali's along that stretch in about 50 ft of water.

Not really Green Point but at times pretty close. Morse creek, but that is usually a 90-140 ft depth. Mostly though, Freshwater Bay on the outter part between the bay and the big tower in 60 to 105 ft. Both areas can be good at times and i consider them "Flyrod Flattie" areas or in other words normal Salmon gear....ala 20lb Izor................Les