Northwest Reel Life April 2024 Volume 3 Issue 6 - Flipbook - Page 26
Let’s break artificial baits
down into 3 categories;
pipe jigs, dart type jigs, and
soft baits.
They each fish a little
differently:
Pipe jigs should be fished
straight up and down
in deeper water. (Unless
you are fishing for lings in
WDFW Marine Area 4 EastMarine Area 11 and Marine
Area 13 where fishing for
bottomfish is prohibited
in water deeper than 120’).
Meter around and find a
deeper reef. Either anchor
or set up a drift along the
side of the reef or from the
high point towards deeper
water. It doesn’t hurt to do
a couple of test drifts with
your chart trails on to see
how you’re drifting. Once
on station let your pipe
jigs fall to the bottom (it
helps to make sure they are
attached to your line), touch
bottom, and then wind up
a few cranks. Basically, you
want to fish just off the
bottom while occasionally
bouncing the jig off the
bottom. Don’t erratically
26 | NWFISHING.net
jerk your rod tip up and
down. For lings, you want a
slow deliberate motion.
If you go herky-jerky you
just attract rockfish.
When fishing dart type or
flutter jigs think salmon.
Free spool to the bottom
of your intended meter
mark and stop. Slowly lift
your rod tip about a foot
and then quickly drop it
again. The bite will almost
always be as the jig is
fluttering down. That said;
I have caught a few lings
casting and retrieving a
Point Wilson Dart. One of
my biggest San Juan lings
chased down and inhaled
a jig right at the boat up at
Point Lowrance in the San
Juans.
Fishing soft baits is my
favorite way to catch
lingcod. There is something
addictive about the
takedown when you are
actively working on an
artificial bait for lings.
My routine is to position
the boat then drop your
offering via free spool until
it hits bottom and reel up
a crank or 2. Then kind of
become one with the rod
and allow the current to
work the bait. Slowly lifting
the rod tip or letting out
line here and there to avoid
snagging the bottom while
keeping in the zone.
Lingcod are pretty hardy
fish but still be respectful
and quickly release any fish
not going in for a ride in
your fish box. To preserve
the table quality, make sure
to break a gill raker with
dikes or pliers and/or make
an undercut at the base
of its tail to bleed the fish.
Lingcod freeze very well
when vacuum bagged and
is great for a quick healthy
meal.
Start planning for next
year’s Month of Ling. Take
some time learning to catch
sanddabs and study a chart
for your select area. Look
for underwater rockpiles,
structures, or hard ledges
and mark them to explore
next season. Stock up on
gear well before the May 1st
opener and may your fish
box be full in 2024.
