How to Catch Sockeye

[Brandonkop]

The Fraser River Sockeye run has been opened to recreational and commercial harvest this year, 2018. My other boat is out of commission so I have been going out on my 16 foot aluminum Spectrum. It works fairly well out in this area, just have to watch out for the winds picking up and head in before it gets too messy out there. I fish four rods and stack dummy flasher below my rods. Check out my set up in the video. I go through everything in detail at the beginning. I am no expert by any means. This was from my third time out this year. Since then I have been out 6 more times and I think I have been getting better every time out with how to handle the fish on the line and even learning the sockeye flop. Thanks to all the help I got online. It really was a game changer for me out there.

The fishery is still open for now and there are still guys getting their limits of nice fish. So if you want to hit it come on down, because it doesn't happen for another four years.

https://youtu.be/vQ90NgzSqzs

[dodgeboy1979]

awesome vid, looks like alot of fun out there

[SNAPFisher]

Brandon, thanks for posting this. I've read about the technique but seeing the video really helps. To summarize:

- You have the 3 part flasher at the ball
- One more dummy single flasher about 5 ft from the ball
- Then the rod line, with flasher in-line, about another 5 ft up from the single dummy

60-70 feet down and bob's your uncle

I'm sure taking the motor out of gear would be bad for the follow-up tangle-fest so it looks to me like you kept some momentum going to prevent that.

Looks like all rods caught to and you did lose a lot. That was impressive to see you fighting 2 at once. Good work!

I might have to get me and wifey out there the next time this comes around.

[StupidityKills]

Yeah, sockeye fishing is a bit different than the other species. It's also usually insanely crowded, whether it's at the Fraser or Alberni Inlet so you pretty much have to stick to your course while you fight the fish.

It's not uncommon to have 4 on at a time if you hit a good spot, they do have a pretty soft mouth so with the barbless hooks there can be a few fish lost. It's a great fishery to take a bigger to because there is usually constant action, and they will be able to learn quite fast what they need to do to properly fight the fish.

[Brandonkop]

Originally Posted by SNAPFisher

Brandon, thanks for posting this. I've read about the technique but seeing the video really helps. To summarize:

- You have the 3 part flasher at the ball
- One more dummy single flasher about 5 ft from the ball
- Then the rod line, with flasher in-line, about another 5 ft up from the single dummy

60-70 feet down and bob's your uncle

I'm sure taking the motor out of gear would be bad for the follow-up tangle-fest so it looks to me like you kept some momentum going to prevent that.

Looks like all rods caught to and you did lose a lot. That was impressive to see you fighting 2 at once. Good work!

I might have to get me and wifey out there the next time this comes around.

Yup and I also clip a second rod about 8 to 10 feet about the first rod. So I put stops on my downrigger wire at 5 feet, 10 feet and 18 feet so I can easily place my clips on. I've lost two of those triple blades this season. One snagged on bottom. One the downrigger line broke on my buddies boat. So you can just run a single flasher off the ball too three feet behind. Works pretty much just as well from my experience.

Yeah they do have soft mouths and some days they kill the hoochie and they're hooked deep and you may lose one or two. Other days feels like they're barely biting and you can lose 50% or more. Thats quite typical sockeye fishing if you ask a lot of people.

My first time out with the wife and kids though I went 9/10. Then went out couple days later with a friend and I think we lost the first 8 hits in a row. Was bad that day.

[singleshotom]

Brandon, great video It appears you could use a lil help on the boat. Sockeye in my opinion are the absolute cream of the crop in the salmon world. I’m not a fish eating lover but sockeye are the ones I targeted in the Rupert area. Smoked or candied they are superb! Great job.
Tom

[Brandonkop]

Originally Posted by singleshotom

Brandon, great video It appears you could use a lil help on the boat. Sockeye in my opinion are the absolute cream of the crop in the salmon world. I’m not a fish eating lover but sockeye are the ones I targeted in the Rupert area. Smoked or candied they are superb! Great job.
Tom

Yeah this was the only day I was out alone... It is a little bit of a challenge running all this and navigating through boats and currents by yourself.