Help a salmon noob! LOL

[mizm05]

So for my birthday, my dad picked me up a salmon rod/reel. Got my line, hooks, yarn and corkies and scent. I think I'm good.

But, I've never fished for salmon in my life. Want to hit the Puyallup River tomorrow morning at sunrise. So, I need help from those with experience.

* Where am I allowed to fish? The state pamphlet is very confusing and I'm not terribly familiar with the river. I've seen reports of "O'Reilly Distribution Center" , "River Road", "5th St bridge", "Behind the Kmart"...etc. Obviously these guys posting the reports are familiar with the river. But I need help...preferably with a spot where I can fish from the bank. If I can avoid dropping $100 on waders, I would prefer not to. At least for right now.

* I've looked up the rules, but again, I'm confused. Some rules say you can keep 6 per day, some say 2 adults and 2 additional pinks. I know to look for the clipped adipose fin. But I'm confused on the limits. Need help.

* Is yarn and corky the way to go? I already have the stuff for this rig, but if something else is more effective, I can go shopping. I got 20 lb braided line for my main line, the pre-snelled Gamakatsu hooks with 20 lb mono leader.

* I've heard some basic etiquette, like if someone up the line has a fish on, get your line out of the water...any other tips I should be aware of?

And anything else you think I should know...I guess my biggest concern is where I can go to do bank fishing. I guess if I absolutely had to, I could get a basic set of waders...but there will be hell to pay with the wife ($$$)...LOL

Thanks in advance! I hope I land a salmon tomorrow morning!

[Amx]

I don't know anything about salmon, sorry, but they do have fins and live in water, should be able to catch them, somehow...

[natetreat]

Give me a call. A lesson with me will save you hundreds on tackle and gas money. I'll put you on fish and give you the skills you need to bring home fis for your girl.

[mizm05]

Give me a call. A lesson with me will save you hundreds on tackle and gas money. I'll put you on fish and give you the skills you need to bring home fis for your girl.

Maybe in the future, Nate. I live pretty close to the Puyallup, and my dad geared me up for my birthday...so I really haven't had to shell out any dough of my own.

We just bought our first home a few months ago...so the wife is watching every dollar. One day when things settle, maybe I'll take you up on the offer.

For the time being, I'm hoping someone with experience will be kind enough to help a brother out at no cost.

Thanks!

[DavidA]

It sounds like dad knew a gift that would go over really well. Does he fish himself or has he in the past? He might be the ideal person to have along to give pointers and help out. Good luck tomorrow!

[mizm05]

It sounds like dad knew a gift that would go over really well. Does he fish himself or has he in the past? He might be the ideal person to have along to give pointers and help out. Good luck tomorrow!

Nope, he doesn't have any experience. He just knew it's something I really wanted.

[natetreat]

Give me a call. A lesson with me will save you hundreds on tackle and gas money. I'll put you on fish and give you the skills you need to bring home fis for your girl.

Maybe in the future, Nate. I live pretty close to the Puyallup, and my dad geared me up for my birthday...so I really haven't had to shell out any dough of my own.

We just bought our first home a few months ago...so the wife is watching every dollar. One day when things settle, maybe I'll take you up on the offer.

For the time being, I'm hoping someone with experience will be kind enough to help a brother out at no cost.

Thanks!

Fair enough. Good luck out there, I bet you'll do we'll with pinks. When you want some big kings or steel, give me a ring!

[oneshot]

You will learn more by just going down there than on here...

go find all the other people on the river.. that will be easy as what is open is where they will all be, and there will be a lot..
watch for a while, see what people are using and how they are drifting their gear.. and then when a guy is sitting down rigging gear go talk to them and ask questions.. generally most anglers are super helpful on the river and i bet you will learn a ton.

sounds like you have all the gear the puke fishers use.. so just go show up and learn from the guys that are there.

a quick search brings up this site.., http://puyallupriverfishingreport.blogs ... ks-on.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[chrome_chasin]

stay above the power lines across from Freeman Rd. Plenty of fish being caught at the Serta hole on Levee rd. As for techniques, well go down and see what they are using. It is a technique best not discussed on the board. Weight, swivel, leader and corkie(s). Figure out the size and length when you get down there. Remember to pinch the barbs and keep your line tight. Let em know you got a fish on so that they hopefully will not cast over your line. If you need to walk it down then do it so that the impatient ones can get back to fishing without tangling your line. Try to find some guys or gals that are are willing to help a noob and you will be alright.

[mizm05]

Thanks Chrome. When you say "walk it down"...what exactly should I be doing? Walking toward the fish as I'm reeling in my line?

[chrome_chasin]

Thanks Chrome. When you say "walk it down"...what exactly should I be doing? Walking toward the fish as I'm reeling in my line?

if the fish is pulling line or is fighting hard then yes slowly walk down river. Not that you should have to unless its a big guy headed back to the salt but there will always be that one guy that will either be to impatient to wait for you to land your fish or just be a jerk and just keep fishing. Happens all of the time. So if you feel like it is a good solid fish then slowly walk down river while fighting the fish.Take the fight to it until you get it close enough to net or beach. Please dont beach if you plan to release, either net it or tail it. Helpful tip: with pinks if you put your rod tip at water level and upstream a bit they will most times come straight to you.

[Brat Bonker]

my best advice would be watch what the other people are doing before you take your first cast and see where they are casting and what they are using. also 2 most important things to ask others fishing that spot is 1) how much weight are they using and 2) how long of a leader. normally it doesn't matter what you are using for pinks as long as it is pink but with the puyallups low visibility think bright stuff so they can see it along with some scent. like bright orange, red, pink, chartreuse corkies with contrasting yarn.

[mizm05]

Thanks guys. I will be on the bank under the 5th street bridge tomorrow morning at 5am. Maybe someone else will be out there. If you see a white guy with glasses, shaved head and tattoos on both arms, that's me. I'll hopefully be the one with beginners luck landing my limit. ;)

[FishBaitThe2nd]

Surprised no one else has mentioned this, maybe because a lot of people don't follow it but let the guy down river from you cast first.

[bugmasta]

you will do just fine. right now the puke has got fish in it. i landed over 30 yesterday, keeping just the last 4 hens of the day to take home. just follow what others are doing. make sure you cast in order where the guy down river from you casts first, then you, then the next guy. if someone calls "fish on" see where its at and pay attention to what they are doing. if they start walking down the line calling out "coming down" reel in and get your gear out of the water. you do not want your gear getting tangled with someone who has a fish on.

cast slightly up river and then reel the slack out of the line. then just let it tick down the river. you are going to want maybe 1/2-3/4oz cannon balls.

as others have mentioned, just watch what everyone else is doing and you will be fine. there will be plenty of other people out there to watch and you will quickly discover who you do not want to be watching as they are the ones getting yelled at and made fun of.

the last thing i would say is reconsider you leader weight. 20lb test is way to heavy for the puke. i never run anything bigger than 8-10 an i have landed kings that are in the mid teens with 10lb test. #1 or 1/0 BARBLESS hooks are your best bet too. do not get caught with a barb on your hook, BIG TICKET!

and last and certainly most important, HAVE FUN!!!!!!!

i fish the river a lot and would be willing to show you the ropes, i just fish it more mid week to avoid the weekend hooligans. after tomorrow, netting will begin to it may slow for a bit.

[mizm05]

Whoa...over 30 fish yesterday??? Where were you at? You must have found the secret holding spot because I was out there today from 5am to 10am today by the 5th street bridge and saw 2 fish caught in 5 hours. All of the more experienced guys all agreed that the run hasn't really started yet and to give it another week. They said yes, there are some fish here and there, but the big run has not started.

In the 5 hours I was there this morning, saw one pink and one chinook caught. No other action to speak of...and there were tons of guys up and down the line.

You must have found where they are hiding! LOL

I did chat it up with the guys that were next to me. They gave me lots of tips on what works for the Puyallup. Was still a good day. As the run picks up, you can bet I'll be back out there.

Lower section of the river opens up on 8/16. Can't wait. Next weekend should be MUCH better!

you will do just fine. right now the puke has got fish in it. i landed over 30 yesterday, keeping just the last 4 hens of the day to take home. just follow what others are doing. make sure you cast in order where the guy down river from you casts first, then you, then the next guy. if someone calls "fish on" see where its at and pay attention to what they are doing. if they start walking down the line calling out "coming down" reel in and get your gear out of the water. you do not want your gear getting tangled with someone who has a fish on.

cast slightly up river and then reel the slack out of the line. then just let it tick down the river. you are going to want maybe 1/2-3/4oz cannon balls.

as others have mentioned, just watch what everyone else is doing and you will be fine. there will be plenty of other people out there to watch and you will quickly discover who you do not want to be watching as they are the ones getting yelled at and made fun of.

the last thing i would say is reconsider you leader weight. 20lb test is way to heavy for the puke. i never run anything bigger than 8-10 an i have landed kings that are in the mid teens with 10lb test. #1 or 1/0 BARBLESS hooks are your best bet too. do not get caught with a barb on your hook, BIG TICKET!

and last and certainly most important, HAVE FUN!!!!!!!

i fish the river a lot and would be willing to show you the ropes, i just fish it more mid week to avoid the weekend hooligans. after tomorrow, netting will begin to it may slow for a bit.

[bugmasta]

feel free to ask any of the guys that were fishing around me, we were killing it. my buddy and i were casting deep into the slot and letting it drift with most hits on the swing. yes, people around us were getting pissed because we just kept releasing all the fish and they weren't really catching anything. we were just having fun and playing catch and release all day. when it would slow, we would go sit on the bank, have a snack, smoke a cigar, do whatever. then we would go back when we would see them rising and nail them every other cast. i think my record was 4 fish on 4 casts that day.

all hook ups were in the mouth and were very easy to release. would just get them close, then handline them in grab the hook and let them go.

you're right, they are not in thick yet, but they are there if you work all section of the water and dont just keep casting into the same slot over and over again. color does not matter right now, but most people are standing on the fish and dont even know it. hooked a nook literally 3' in front of a guys feet and he was all "wtf" but i tried telling him he was too far out in the river. wouldn't listen so i had to show him with proof.

if you can get out mid week, i can show you the ropes.

[mizm05]

I know what you're saying. I saw fish near me a couple times on Saturday. They were just a couple feet from me.

If I was able to get out mid week, it would have to be after work. I could probably be to the river by 4:15 to 4:30. Thursday is looking like it would work best.

I'm hitting sportsman's warehouse in federal way tomorrow to pick up some waders. It will be nice to be able to not be limited to a bank.

Thanks for the offer bro. Hopefully we can hook up sometime.

[Chucksrage]

Mizmo, Hit up sportco in Fife for the waders, They have breathable's on sale for $50...... there not simms or anything but there decent.

[bugmasta]

Mizmo, Hit up sportco in Fife for the waders, They have breathable's on sale for $50...... there not simms or anything but there decent.

this. waders and boots for under $100