GEAR FISHING: Herring

[John Pierce]

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 ) 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.

[John Pierce]

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.