Shore fishing for salmon on Sakakawea.

[guywhofishes]

I suspect it won't be your last. Quite a thrilling tussle I imagine?

 

[svnmag]

These fish are a fine battle Guy. Very hard mouth, sharp/quality hooks are a must.

 

[JB_24]

It seems after this last weekend some of the fish have started moving up shallow. Talked to a few guys at the cleaning station Saturday that had 4 & 5 fish respectively lone lining #9 shad raps down around the spillway area. But my best luck over the weekend was still down 95'-115' with herring.

 

[DirtyMike]

I suspect it won't be your last. Quite a thrilling tussle I imagine?

There were a lot of emotions during both fights. Wasn't sure what I had on the first time, until it jumped out of the water. Then I got really excited. The moment of weightlessness on the end of the line was heartbreaking. As I gathered myself with one rod still out, anger and sickness evaporated into excitement once again. What's great, Wrigley would whine and bark the moment the rod would tip pack. It's like a 40 lb. tip up flag bouncing around the boat. Not going to lie, I missed the first swipe with the net, allowing the fish to peel off 30 feet of line in an instant. The second attempt went much better. Wrigley licked the fish, then me, then the fish again in approval. Can't wait to head back.

 

[JayKay]

This is so much fun. So much. Sluggo got me into a couple of them last fall, and my heart is still pounding a bit, just reading about it. They truly do hit like a cross between a gazelle and a bulldog. Super fast.

Do be aware though, downrigger guys, that when you cut in behind another boat, you may be cutting their long lines. I had that happen only once, and I'll take some of the blame, but "there goes $10". I saw the guy's cable jump and I would guess when he pulled up the balls, he had a bonus lure.

Also worth noting, any fish that is missing its adipose fin (the soft fleshy small fin behind the dorsal fin, yet above the tail) is very likely tagged in the head. If you clean the fish, keep the head, and turn into G & F. It's worth the trouble.

 

[Bfishn]

I used to fly fish in my float tube for Salmon back when they used to put the ladder in up at Scoria Bay. We used to have ok luck using 8 weight rod with fluorescent red and yellow streamers. Wasn't fast and furious but we would catch 3 or 4 between 2 of us in a few hours. They pull you around pretty good in a float tube. Best time for us was right before the sun came up.

Did you throw floating line and strip or kick(troll) around with sinking line?

 

[Blitzkrieg]

This is so much fun. So much. Sluggo got me into a couple of them last fall, and my heart is still pounding a bit, just reading about it. They truly do hit like a cross between a gazelle and a bulldog. Super fast.

Do be aware though, downrigger guys, that when you cut in behind another boat, you may be cutting their long lines. I had that happen only once, and I'll take some of the blame, but "there goes $10". I saw the guy's cable jump and I would guess when he pulled up the balls, he had a bonus lure.

Also worth noting, any fish that is missing its adipose fin (the soft fleshy small fin behind the dorsal fin, yet above the tail) is very likely tagged in the head. If you clean the fish, keep the head, and turn into G & F. It's worth the trouble.

That goes both ways JayKay, this weekend some yahoo in a Yarcraft tiller was back trolling Dipsey Divers amongst all the downrigger boats and kept cutting everyone off. You pull the long lines and cut off the downrigger guys expects some evil looks and some missing lures. Respect the other fisherman out there no matter your fishing method.

 

[guywhofishes]

Sounds stressful

 

[DirtyMike]

As I pulled over the hill by Gov't bay, I knew I'd be staying far out of the way. That many boats was a sight to see. I can't believe how many strictly salmon rigs are out there. Friend of mine was up there as well. He texted me a picture of what was left of one down rigger as the base cracked (I think) and the whole lot went over the side of the boat. I feel awful for the guy.

 

[JayKay]

That goes both ways JayKay, this weekend some yahoo in a Yarcraft tiller was back trolling Dipsey Divers amongst all the downrigger boats and kept cutting everyone off. You pull the long lines and cut off the downrigger guys expects some evil looks and some missing lures. Respect the other fisherman out there no matter your fishing method.

Right you are. I wasn't driving when we got cut off, and I don't think we were turning, yet we WERE out there amongst some boats rigging. That's absolutely why I said I take part of the blame.

The guy who cut me off was darn near close enough to toss a lifejacket in his boat though. Plenty close on that big lake.

You hit the nail on the head though. Respect your neighbors, and 9 times out of 10, nobody has to get mad.

 

[Fishmission]

Sounds stressful[/QUOT



if a guys up shallow wouldn't the crowd be avoided?

 

[tikkalover]

if a guys up shallow wouldn't the crowd be avoided?[/QUOTE]

My guess is when the salmon start to move, there will be just as many :fishon: up shallow, if not more!! ;:;boozer

 

[svnmag]

You don't HAVE to run shallow. It's only one year class coming up.

 

[Lostlunker]

Did you throw floating line and strip or kick(troll) around with sinking line?

Yep regular floating line with I think x2 tippet. We stripped line and I don't think it's all too deep in that bay they were all pretty much on top of the water column. I don't fly fish too much anymore but I've been eyeing those $100 dollar spey rods on aliexpress with the idea of casting from the face of the dam with some sinking line to see if I can catch any, might be worth a shot and either way if it didn't work out a guy could use it on the Mighty Mo around Heskett,Bernies Banks, or Eckroth for walleye.

 

[NJL]

It's funny, every where else i've fished with people trolling everyone just kind of gets in the same race track type pattern. But out here, everyone just kind of does there own damn thing and most like playing chicken i guess. Plenty of times there was ~50' between me and another boat going the same direction and some jackwagon decides it's big enough to go between. I haven't been tangled yet, usually because i'm the guy who gives in and goes to the outside of everyone. Man does it piss me off though, almost worse than bad drivers on the road!

 

[dean nelson]

You don't HAVE to run shallow. It's only one year class coming up.

Of females maybe but last year many of the males were only one year fish and yet tiped the scale at 5 pounds during the spawng operation.

 

[svnmag]

So the lake is dumping all salmon?...No.

 

[dean nelson]

Well you can call the game and fish an debate it with them if you want but according to them last year the spawng run was made up of two year classes of females averaging 11 pounds and the bulk of spawng males were one year old fish averaging 5 pounds.

https://youtu.be/v7QPwKHT14U

 

[Fishmission]

Well you can call the game and fish an debate it with them if you want but according to them last year the spawng run was made up of two year classes of females averaging 11 pounds and the bulk of spawng males were one year old fish averaging 5 pounds

i suspect I was catching the one year olds and an occasional bigger female in early March of 15
The males were about a pound and a half and the females were about 4 to 6
So these grew in an amazing fashion from March to October 2015

 

[Up Y'oars]

Where do you catch salmon while ice fishing here in NoDak?