08-24 REELLIFE print digital - Flipbook - Page 23
gear
Grab your rods and coolers,
it's time for Puget Sound
coho! As far as saltwater
salmon go, coho tend to be
aggressive and eager biters.
You can find them in most
areas of the Sound, and the
bite will only improve as the
season progresses. Coho
are plentiful and tasty! They
taste good when caught
in rivers, but you can't beat
a chrome coho fresh from
the salt. Having the right
strategy, the proper gear
and good preparation will
help you get a boatload of
coho this summer!
Trolling is the most popular
way to catch these Puget
Sound coho. It's a great
way to cover water and
adjust your depth based on
the fish's location. Having
the right gear is certainly
important, but having a
good strategy makes all the
difference. I recommend
getting an early start and
fishing shallow. As the day
progresses, fish deeper.
Watch for marks and don't
be afraid to drop your gear
right down into the fish.
Pay close attention to your
fish finder.
Coho will school up most of
the time, so don't be afraid
to circle back to wherever
you get bites. Coho like a
shorter setback than you'd
think. I usually use a 50
to 75-ft setback. Trolling
speed for coho can be a
controversial topic. Speeds
anywhere from 2.5 mph
to 3.5 mph will work. Here
again, is where having a
fish finder is crucial. In
addition, study tide tables
ahead of time. It's no secret
that coho love a good