Mooching Rigs

M

marlinmikea

Member
exMember
Joined
Jul 14, 2009
RO Number
31533
Messages
116
For reasons too many to list I want to start making up my own Salmon mooching rigs. I, as usual, didn't do my homework and put the cart in front of the horse and bought (online) and bunch of hooks, leader and swivels which are due to arrive any day now.
During in interim I've been looking for some videos and diagrams on how to tie these babies up - the non-sliding variety. I thought there would be a bevy of different options - NOT!!!
Can anyone help me out here? I'm looking for a diagram or video on how to tie up a non-sliding mooching rig using the types of knots that wrap around the hook shanks. There are a ton of online instructions on how to tie a clinch knot but that's not what I'm looking for. HELP!!
 
That question almost brings me back home again.
I grew up in the South Seattle area, Salmon fishing from 10 yrs old to nearly 30 when I moved to Alaska.

At first I tied mooching leaders with a sliding upper hook. That would accommodate any size Herring.
That was OK, but some times, quite often in fact, the Kings would get the slider and drag it down to the trailer and that would sometimes break the knot at the trailer.

We started making the top hook fixed and had no more trouble after that. I had my best luck with the Green packages.
I don't know if you can get fresh live Herring any more, but that is indubitably the best bait going.
Forget that Dodger, Cannon ball sinkers on a winch and all that crap, learn to fish with the rod in your hand.

Whatever knot I used came in the tide tables book I used to get in Downtown Seattle back in the 50's. It's still around I'm sure.
Be sure to put a small Ball swivel in the leader about two feet up from the top hook. The Herring rolling around at different speeds can twist your leader. Dont make the leader longer than your Rod.

I've used soft, limp, and Hard leader material and I cant tell you any difference. Sometimes I just used a section of the main line.
The smaller the line, the better a weight will take you down to the Salmon. Stretchy line gives you the advantage by tiring the fish out.
Mooch slow. Real slow. Slow rolling Herring, right above the fish. Below the fish you get Dog Sharks.
I'll see if I can scratch out a drawing of my leader knots, and post it. That might take a while.
 
Thanks,

I found one on John's Sporting Goods website (in Everett).
I don't like the sliding type either for the reason you mentioned.
Silvers (Coho) are coming in now and will be good for 2 or 3 weeks.
I am fortunate enough to have Bud's Bait at my marina in Edmonds which sells live herring all summer long.
Cut plugs, turn the engines off and drift. Just you against the fish - fishing in it's purest form.
 
The top hook is snelled with either a separate line for sliding or snelled straight to the line for hard tied. The lower hook can be tied by any number of knots. Palomar is the quickest.

Depending on the size of the fish you are fishing for determines the size of the leader. After losing some humongus salmon, I use up to 30 lb now. If they're biting and dropping, use lighter leaders. I use 5-6 foot leaders with a banana sinker as light as will take the bait down.

Generally, I use a single hook with frozen bait and 2 half hitches, drifting the bait backwards with a small rubber band holding the gills closed.

Since the mandatory circle hook, in Ca, I've quit mooching. That's the STOOPID Ca F&G making regulations without having and knowledge of what they're doing.
 
That was a great knot site. However, that little tag end, that they snipped off, I kept and used it to hold the hook at an angle, point out, so the Silvers that slash at the bait, sometimes get hooked on the exposed point.
Lordy I wish I was up there to do some mooching with you.
Take some Video for me so I can see the straights there again.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top