northshore trolling

[evntam]

Hello all.
Weather permitting, I'm planning a trip or two this coming Sunday and/or Monday to the Bluebird landing. I finally got time to get the boat up and get the boards out, etc.
Anyone been out at all? If so, what's been working? Appreciate the reply. I'll post a response if the weather allows us to get out.

[MikeR]

evntam, Have not been out but with the weather around here it sounds like you might have some fun. I've been thinking about going. Please post a report if you go. Mike

[evntam]

Went out trolling from Bluebird landing yesterday from 11AM to 2:30PM. I could only get out for part of the day due to limited daycare options. But it was fun anyway.
Used trolling boards, and the waves were 1-2 at the worst. We caught two salmon: one coho, and one King, both on small orange jointed Rapalas. We lost one nice fish on a purple bomber with yellow dots, as it broke the line behind the boat. In all my years trolling the big lake, either with my big boat, or my 16 foot boat, I've broken my line on fish only two times. I assume that the bomber was bouncing off the bottom too many times, and I'd be wiling to bet that the line got nicked somewhere.
As I told my nephew, you have to be willing to lose every lure you fish with, otherwise you might as well keep them in the tackle box. I'd encourage anyone to give trolling a whirl on a warm day.

[Xplorer]

Evntam,
Nice to hear you got a couple.
A couple of questions if you dont mind. How is the landing right now? Did you troll downshore or upshore, and how deep of water were you trolling?
Gotta say I'm envious, cant wait to get into a couple of salmon for the grill/smoker!!
With todays weather it may be awhile before I can get out now.
thanks for any info. Xplorer

[evntam]

No problem with the questions. It good to share stuff like this. I'd never been in my boat in February before....
I'm not sure if you've seen it or not, but the landing really isn't a landing as most people see in the state, but it does provide a decent enough access to launch a boat as long as you're boat isn't huge and you have a 4WD vehicle. I have a 16 ft Alumacraft Lunker V-16 with a 25hp. I had no problems pulling the boat out while in 4WD, but the front wheels did slip once or twice on the rocks. I'm usually pretty protective of my gear, as I'm not independently wealthy, and will have to live with this boat for a while. But its worth it, if the waves aren't rolling.
The wind was from light the SW, so we trolled to the NE to set up, trolled Sucker Bay and then turned around and trolled down about a half mile short of the French.
We usually stayed in water from 9 feet to 17 feet deep, with an average of 13-14 feet. That was far enough out for the trolling boards not to interfere with the folks on shore. The bigger fish we hit(and lost) was out when we were closer to the French and we were in about 20 feet at the time (and it hit an outside line, so I suppose it was in 25-30 feet at the time).
Its wierd to be out in 15 feet of water trolling while looking overboard and seeing the bottom just like you're in 5 feet of water - very clear water now.
By the way, the salmon were broiled that evening with a bit of lemon pepper, and I'm drooling just thinking about getting out there to do it again.
Go get em.

[Xplorer]

evntam,
Thanks for the info. I have used bluebird in the past with my previous boat, a 16ft/30hp rig. A couple years ago i moved up to a 17.5 with 90hp and much heavier. That "landing" (a generous description!) always seemed to be icy and somewhat of a chore even with 4WD, so I'm thinking I probably won't chance it with this heavier rig. May have to see if I can talk my neighbor into going out in his old beater for a day. I know what you mean about the clear water, kinda cool running along and seeing everything underneath you, almost like a glassbottom boat!
Really hoping the spring season starts early, a couple years ago I was out the first weekend in March along park point and picked up a couple coho's every time.
Good luck if you get out again, let us know how you do.
Xplorer

[Guest]

When the loopers aren't hitting, and salmon are around, one just as well may want to launch in T.H.- troll toward knife river or even to stoney point. Occassionally you will pick-up a steelhead up there, but the coho potential is just as good. By the way - I rarely troll as shallow as the guy who posted earlier. During the day, 10-15 feet, I think, is too shallow. Never caught a looper in boat that shallow. I think the motor spooks them. 20 - 30 feet of water is fine - and even deeper, running the lines within 15 feet of the surface.