20180408 Fished for Herring for first time since a kid, caught one small Herring. Notes:
- Fished from East side of middle of Craigflower Bridge starting 7:30PM, using 3m telescopic rod with spinning reel, hook size 4 Sabiki rig (as recommended by guys fishing 10" herring in Newport docks, Oregon), and 1 ounce weight, but current dragging rig under bridge.
- Changed to West side of bridge, S end, still dragging 1 ounce barely enough. Lights came on at dusk ~8PM.
- Second fisher person Ronald arrived, fishing from same location.
- Caught 1st and only ~7" herring using jigging technique, Ronald proceeded to catch six ~7" using two rods/lines, no jigging, just cast and pull in until top flasher at surface, and wait until fish on. Stopped at 9:30PM.
Notes and photos from chat with Ronald:
- Use two 2 m 2 piece rods with spinning reels.
- His rig is based on what other guys using and works.
- Rigs used heavier weight (spark plug ;D) as sinker.
- Flasher on bottom at sinker.
- Sabiki rig is Sea King brand from Trotac Marine with green glow beads, much smaller size 8 hooks.
- Above Sabiki had another flasher and small sliding float as indicator. In dark could see top flasher not float.
- Flashers were hand made from very thin tin (soda can?) with flasher sticker on side.
- Last night (Saturday) were 5 guys fishing same spot vs just us two tonight, Ronald caught 24 last night.
- Herring started last week of March, guy in late March caught 100 one night, was big run 3 years ago, less last couple years.
- Best fishing is in dark from dusk until 10PM.
- Caught fish stored in water in small half gallon bucket.
- Cook by removing guts & gills and then wash in little vinegar and roast in oven or put in crockpot after which bones soft and can eat.
20180420 Went herring jigging for second time from Craigflower Bridge on The Gorge from 7:30-10:30PM, caught 16 small herring, left as late not because stopped catching. Met GRR Member Ken Evans there and Ronald again. Notes:
- 7:30PM is too early, dusk and bridge lights on around 8:15PM.
- Initial rig using ??? brand hook size 8 Sabiki Rig and two store bought 5" flashers at top and bottom of sabiki with 2 ounce sinker weight not catching fish.
- Moved bottom flasher to middle, still not catching.
- Ronald gave me sliding float and Sea King brand size 8 Sabiki which has no glow beads and small fin as should work better, also recommended move flasher back to bottom.
- Started catching herring around 8:15PM dusk.
- After handling 16 herring, scales everywhere, pants and rod, need rag to wipe hands or tongs to pickup herring into water bucket.
- At home gutted and head/tail and dorsal fined herring with scissors, and washed rod.
- Pan fried in salt and butter for dinner next day.