Northwest Reel Life August 2024 Volume 3 Issue 10 - Flipbook - Page 24
tide change. Targeting
tide changes early in the
morning often results in a
full cooler.
So, what gear do you need?
There are several different
ways to go. You can use
trolling flies, herring,
spoons, plugs, or spinners.
Sometimes coho can be
picky, so it's best to employ
a variety of lures. You'll want
to run your lures behind
a flasher. Many different
tackle companies make
flashers that work well.
Don't forget to smear your
flasher and lure with a bit
of scent! Coho are smart
and some scent can fool
them into grabbing your
lure a little longer. Most
days, coho just can't resist
herring. They're out there
feeding before going into
rivers to spawn, so they're
hungry! Don't be afraid
to add a herring strip to
any lure. You can brine up
herring strips ahead of time
and attach them to hooks,
tie herring bellies to your
plugs, or stuff your plugs
with herring and tuna.
Some fishermen dye their
herring during the brining
process, others don't.
Knowing the right spots
to fish is an important
part of your prep work
that you should research
ahead of time as well. The
fish start flooding into the
Sound through the Strait,
so fishing will be best up
north early in the season.
My experience fishing for
saltwater coho is within
Marine Areas 9 and 11, so we
will discuss those locations
here. The oil docks,
shipwreck, and Picnic
Point are all well-known
producers. You can launch
your boat at Edmonds,
Mukilteo, and Whidbey
Island. Just be mindful
that you don't accidentally
cross into another Marine
Area once you have fish on
board.
