11-12-24 REELLIFE digital - Flipbook - Page 28
running tides can make it a
challenge to get an anchor
to set. Be sure to bring an
anchor with some bite, and
terminal chain so you’ll stick
in the rocky bottom. I’ve
seen anglers fishing out
of all manner of floating
devices on calm days,
including single person
pontoons and float tubes.
Be sure to have your life
jackets on and just don’t
venture too far off shore.
If you are feeling anxious
that’s your inner voice
telling you a fish isn’t worth
your life – pay attention to
it!
For boaters, the launch
is two miles south
of Hoodsport at the
Skokomish Park at Potlatch.
The launch has two
concrete lanes which are in
varying state of repair (read
that as back down with
caution!). There is ample
parking, and a restroom.
Once launched it’s a quick
run to either terminal
hatchery, faster to the small
Potlatch facility.
When you arrive, survey
the already anchor boats,
taking into account the
amount of anchor line you’ll
need to get a solid grip on
the bottom, as well as the
shore anglers. Anchoring
too close to the shore
bound anglers will earn
you a steady rain of lures
and weights at your boat.
Stay outside their casting
zone - you’ll have plenty
of water to work over and
opportunities to catch fish
the shore anglers don’t
have.
As to the type of gear
you should bring… you’re
going to enjoy a variety
of methods to catch
these Hoodsport chum.
Like chum everywhere,
chartreuse and green
are always great colors to
choose. Pink or cerise is
also good color choices.
For rod/reel setups I use
my steelhead gear, both
spinning reels and casting
will get the job done. I like
an 8 ½ foot medium action
rod. Line should be strong
enough to turn these
big brutes so as to avoid
massive tangle ups with
your fellow anglers. I like
18-20 pound test. Chums
are not leader shy in my
experience so keep things
hefty.
What technique you use
is up to you but here are a
few tried and true methods:
Floats and jigs , or floats
and corkies with yarn can
be deadly.
A ¼ or 3/8-ounce pink,
black or purple marabou
jig fished under a float is
deadly.
