Humpies for dummies - or no fail technique for catching your first pink on the Skagit

[fishermom]

Caught my first pink salmon ever this week, and it was just a wonderful, fun time. So I thought I would pass on what I learned all week so that others can get theirs too.

Please excuse my lack of knowledge of fishing terms, because I'm certainly no expert, but think you can get the idea.

First is the spot. The hottest spot I've been is at Skagit River Park in Burlington. You take the freeway exit that goes to Skagit Valley College and go left after about a mile. Might have to look it up on the map, although there are street signs. When you get to the park, go toward the river. You'll see maybe 10 cars parked by a opening through the fence. Follow the path to the river, and find a spot to the right of the big log at the shore where the bottom is sandy, so there are not so many snags for the fish to tangle in.

Be sure to stop at Sportsmans Warehouse on the way to buy some small, lively sand shrimp - theirs are just the right size, and be careful because they pinch. Bring along some large red hooks, and triangular shaped 2oz weights, some swivels, and the bobbers, corkies, or whatever they call them, acorn looking things with wings, we used dark green with bright orange wings. Oh, and the little tube of stretchy string to tie the bait onto the shaft of the hook.

When you put the stuff on the line, the weight goes on the swivel, and make it about 15 inches lower than the lure and bait so that it stays on the bottom and the lure can spin. Oh, also used little orange beads to keep the lure in place. Hope you understand so far.

Now, cast it out as far as you can, and this is the SECRET TRICK, that no one knows about. Sit in your chair and hold the line. When you first cast it out, it will roll a bit on the bottom for a couple of seconds. THAT is not a bite. But after that, any tiny movement you feel on the line IS a bite. It feels like a goldfish biting the bait. Immediately set the hook. Then you can tell if you caught one or not. If you did, start reeling it in. It will feel heavy, and you won't see the fish jumping right away, it takes 20 seconds of reeling it in, and depends on how far out you are.

LOTS of fish are lost 2 feet from the shore, so use a net if you can.

[CRW]

Correction: Stop by Holiday Sports for your needed stuff ( support local shops first )

[CRW]

Oh, and the little tube of stretchy string to tie the bait onto the shaft of the hook.

Never heard of that method before

[fishermom]

Sorry, CRW - I named Sportsman's Warehouse (at least I think that is the name) because it is only a mile from the river in Burlington.

[fishermom]

And the tube container is spider line, or something like that. Comes in a little plastic tube, and after you've baited your hook, wrap it around the bait to hold it onto the shaft of the hook - it is elastic and doesn't have to be tied or anything. Keeps the sand shrimp from flying off the hook when you cast out.

[bcalvert]

Let me preface this with ... this is no way a slam on the original poster, and I do not work for either of the following companies.

Holiday Sports have recently opend thier new building. And it is great! but I just want to let folks know that the service and willingness to share knowledge far exceeds any other tackle shop i have been in. I have shoped Wharehouse Sports (old sportsmans warehouse) in Burlington and have asked for advice or questions of the staff - nothing, I got no useful tidbits to help me catch fish, and I don't even get the impression that they realy care if they can help or not. Not the case at the non-chain store. More than once, they have walked me through the isles showing me how a rig is set up and the technique used.

No offence intended, just my take on Skagit county tackle shopping.

[SAPIplate]

I've never had a problem with Sportsmans Wharehouse, granted, I've never been to Holiday Sports (always wanted to).They have a good selection with good prices. Also, the "winged Acorn" is called a Spin-N-Glo.

[curado]

i like winged acorn.

[big fish lite line]

lol now I'm calling them winged acorns!

glad to hear of your success fishermom. keep up the humpy slayin

[fishermom]

LOL, thanks for the right name for the lure. And will try Holiday Sports.

By the way, fished all week and limited out each day, so taking a break and leaving some Humpies for others.

[notagator]

Winged acorn, spin N glo? We always called them wing bobbers. What ever they are called, the pinks sure seem to like them.

[fishermom]

Yes, the pinks love them. We tried all kinds of other rigs and had no luck until one of the other fishermen on the river gave us one. So far, the people on the river have been great!

[noclothes1]

I think the acorns are technically called "cheaters" but winged acorns is more fun. What size is everybody using? (THIS IS NOT A REPORT) I fished for a few hours at Johnson's bar Sunday evening and saw zero fish hooked/landed. I blame it on my continued bad luck fishing in the rivers.

[Bodofish]

Cheaters are a brand and have no wings. She's talking about another branded item, the spin -n- glow. Made in Yakima! Or at least packaged there.

[noclothes1]

Well, cheaters have wings too. I have a brand that has mylar wings as well. I was thinking that they looked more like acorns, but I would say they are more likened to a "peanut" that an acorn. The Worden's spin n glo is more acorn shaped.


winged peanut (cheater)


winged acorn (spin n glo)


winged pistachio (birdy drifter)

[fishermom]

Yep, spin and glow. The color that worked best for me was dark green with orange on the end.