Almost lost my trolling fishing rod yesterday!

[baz]

Subject: Almost lost my trolling fishing rod yesterday!

Yesterday (solo) after some 15 mins trolling for Salmon I got a significant bite. I say significant as the loaded rod's tip sprung up vigorously and then settled down, only to repeat this several times. This was while I was sitting lounging in the cockpit having a nice hot cuppa thinking I had the time when this caught my attention.

Before I had time to leap up and relocate my cuppa to a safe place, and get to the rod in its down rigger holder, the holder rotated dangerously to stern and the rod's handle was about to be hauled out. I was quick enough to grab the rod's handle and wrestled it out of the holder with a lot of effort. Whatever was on the line was big and fighting. I reeled in the line and sure enough it was a big Salmon fishery keeper. Niceeee. 😀

Obviously my down rigger's rod holder needs to be tightened up. 😱

My reason for posting here, is to get some thoughts from others on how best to deal with landing the fish when solo.

Retrieving a big fish to the side of the boat is one thing, but then to use the fish net in one hand and the rod in the other is quite a challenge, especially when having to leave the caught fish in the net, leaning dangerously over the side to examine what was caught and if necessary, releasing it back to the water. This activity is very strenuous & challenging, trying to be safe. What do other solo fishing people do for dealing with this challenge ? Thanks. 🙂

 

[Hamster]

I lost two coho fishing solo last Friday. Probably same place as yours. Best position is to use the railing for your net. Helps with leverage and harder for fish to see you and the net. Still, tough to do with long rod, flasher and leader. I lost mine when I went to the swim step to net.

 

[baz]

Hamster: I considered my self lucky as the two barbless hooks were secured in the fish's mouth/lips and obviously held while reeling in. I thought of using the swim step, but at times I have my very energetic dog Jake with me and he would use the open transom door and seize it as an opportunity, if you see what I mean. 😉

I find it relatively easy to net the fish and then placing my rod down and then having two hands free. However, the net handle needs to be secured when leaning over the side and examining the fish with my two hands. This is what I'm struggling with figuring out how to secure the net's handle when left unhandled. Maybe a line tied to the pole's end and secured to a point in the cockpit would suffice to avoid the net from being completely swept overboard along with the poor fish !

Oh.... sorry to read you lost two Coho fish.... bummer. Better luck on your next trip. It's Derby Day in Everett next weekend I believe. :lol:

 

[bob daily]

Berry (and Jake) isn't this fishing fun!
I love fishing solo almost as much as fishing with the grand kids. The best way that I have found to land (net) solo is to take your time and enjoy the fight, slow down and let that big guy wear himself down and wait for him to give up the fight. I have found that big kings are easier as after two or three runs they usually give up, and netting is easy, silver's like to jump a lot and the pinks go crazy next to the boat. I usually extent my net and have it just below the surface (sometimes holding it with my leg) and walk the big guy over it and then by pushing down on the handle the fish is in the net, give yourself a little slack on your line and place your pole in a secure location ie: rod holder. Then after my heart rate lowers to a normal rate, I either release or club (kill) the catch, and bleed and put in the box. I have to admit that netting solo on a R-21 is a lot easier due to the fact of the freeboard is so close to the waterline, but with a little practice and a few missed trys you will become an expert!
Berry, best of luck and am waiting for that picture of that 20 plus lb salmon!
Bob

 

[Hamster]

In Area 10, you don’t need to check. Wild or hatchery coho are good. Just stay south of Edwards Point. No Chinook will be that high in the water column.

Losing the fish stunk. I don’t have as much patience as Bob. Would have limited by 7 am. Still got fish later.

 

[baz]

In Area 10, you don’t need to check. Wild or hatchery coho are good. Just stay south of Edwards Point. No Chinook will be that high in the water column.

Losing the fish stunk. I don’t have as much patience as Bob. Would have limited by 7 am. Still got fish later.

Ah... Yes Area 10 is so easy for me being in Edmonds. I've fished that area but have had not much luck there.

Bob: Thanks for your insights.... very welcomed. 🙂

I'm loving the early morning hrs for fishing.... wind and seas are usually the best at that time of day.

As an aside, when I caught my 'biggy' yesterday it was when my aft cabin suspended Sonar/fish finding TV (plumbed with an HDMI connection to my primary Chart plotter that has the Sonar access) facing the cockpit showed absolutely no fish. I thought because of this I could sit/lounge about having my hot cuppa in peace. 😉 This 'biggy' was presumably employing some sort of Sonar sleuthing or some form of cloaking device for avoiding detection! 😉 😱 :lol: I am told that some Salmon have a real attitude and it's useful/beneficial to avoid trolling in a straight line. With this knowledge I'm now going to try a zig-zag course line using the Auto pilot's zig-zag mode. What do you think about this technique ?

I also have a question about what the Sonar/Fish display actually is showing. As fish objects appear sliding in from the right and progress to the left, at what point in this progression right-to-left are the fish under the boat and to its sides ?

 

[Annie Time]

It’s best to determine if fish are a keeper or not before netting. If close, release before netting. Fish that have been netted and released soon become seal food as they can’t survive once their scales have been knocked up with the net. Just my 2 cents. Learning to fish solo is very challenging. Congrats on the keeper salmon!


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[bob daily]

Mr. Berry, Concerning sonar (fish finder) depending on your cone angle and the location of your transducer, along with frequency and depth, a fish could be directly under the boat and not be picked up by your sonar! I find that most of my fish are caught when I'm busy trying to do other things ie: eat a sandwich, just opened a beer, or talk to the wife on phone! Zig zag maneuver is great and is a proven way to catch more fish. However they call it Fishing and not Catchen for a reason!
Bob

 

[baz]

It’s best to determine if fish are a keeper or not before netting. If close, release before netting. Fish that have been netted and released soon become seal food as they can’t survive once their scales have been knocked up with the net. Just my 2 cents. Learning to fish solo is very challenging. Congrats on the keeper salmon!


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My netting is covered with a slick/slippery coating that is supposed to lessen the affect of damaging the fish's scales. Also, if your handle the fish scales will fall off as well.

 

[bob daily]

Annie Time: You are correct about fish kill due to netting and handling! However you can minimize that by using a soft, knotless net or rubber mesh net that Mr. Berry was talking about. They are required in many areas by law! As per Washington state game department. Also by using a (dehooker) you can release without handling the fish.
Most of us try very hard to limit the effects of releasing fish ( required by law ) so that we may enjoy plentiful fish in the future, not only during my lifetime but for my children's.
If you would like I will send you a Dehooker and instructions on how to use it just PM me your address.
Thanks Bob