Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum

Fishing in British Columbia => General Discussion => Topic started by: Tex on August 14, 2013, 04:10:27 PM

Title: Incidental catches (or hook-ups) while fishing
Post by: Tex on August 14, 2013, 04:10:27 PM
With the pink season fast approaching on the Fraser (some might say it's already started!), I've been thinking about incidental catches while fishing for pinks on the Tidal Fraser River.

2011's pink return saw me have a run in with a large fish of some sort while pink fishing... I'm still fairly certain it was a Chinook, but having never seen it I can't be absolutely positive. 

http://www.fishingwithrod.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=27809.msg263431#msg263431 (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=27809.msg263431#msg263431)

Have you ever had a similar experience?  I wonder how often anglers hook other salmon while pink fishing the Tidal Fraser.

Tex
Title: Re: Incidental catches (or hook-ups) while fishing
Post by: Humpy on August 14, 2013, 04:26:36 PM
In the tidal, you never know what is at the end of your line, could be a pink or could even be a big northern pike minnow.
Title: Re: Incidental catches (or hook-ups) while fishing
Post by: cutthroat22 on August 14, 2013, 04:28:26 PM
Yup almost same situation as you.   Quite an adrenaline rush.  I always assume huge coho but really have no idea.
Title: Re: Incidental catches (or hook-ups) while fishing
Post by: Rodney on August 14, 2013, 04:33:02 PM
I have seen chinook salmon, big and small, being landed while fishing for pink salmon in the Tidal Fraser River a few times. Also quite often, the big salmon turn out to be a big coho salmon (~15lb) which are pretty common in September. Occasionally I've seen big wild coho salmon being misidentified as a chinook salmon, which pretty much sealed their fate as soon as they hit the rocks.
Title: Re: Incidental catches (or hook-ups) while fishing
Post by: Tex on August 14, 2013, 04:34:32 PM
Occasionally I've seen big wild coho salmon being misidentified as a chinook salmon, which pretty much sealed their fate as soon as they hit the rocks.

Or as the rock hits them.  LOL  ;)
Title: Re: Incidental catches (or hook-ups) while fishing
Post by: Rodney on August 14, 2013, 04:37:09 PM
Yeah that too. ;) Once awhile my inbox gets photos of "big chinook salmon" from excited anglers during the pink salmon season, and I had to break the unfortunate news to them. That's why I'll be focusing a lot on making sure people read this thread I started last night.

http://www.fishingwithrod.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=33431.0
Title: Re: Incidental catches (or hook-ups) while fishing
Post by: HOOK on August 14, 2013, 04:45:08 PM
was fishing beside a girl along a tidal bar, it was her very first time salmon fishing and she wasn't having much luck. So I gave her a few pointers on retrieval speed, she started to catch the odd one (missing lots of strikes) and then wouldn't you know she hooks into a STURGEON on a pink lure and little spinning rod !!

she handed the rod over to her father in law after the fish went airborne only 10 feet in front of her scaring the life out of her. He did land it and while myself and another guy held the fish in the water they came over and got pictures. It was about 4 1/2 feet long.


Wish that would happen to me but I guess I can settle with the odd Chinook once in awhile  ::)
Title: Re: Incidental catches (or hook-ups) while fishing
Post by: Humpy on August 14, 2013, 04:50:56 PM
^^lol, even the odd coho would do.
Title: Re: Incidental catches (or hook-ups) while fishing
Post by: wizard on August 14, 2013, 04:58:35 PM
like others, I've caught springs and cohos while targeting Pinks, but Hook's reply of a sturgeon reminded me of when my uncle hooked and landed a 5' sturgeon on a buzz bomb from my boat.  We thought it was a big spring until it crashed out of the water. 30 minutes later we beached and released it.  It was hooked nicely in the mouth proving sturgeon's are opportunistic feeders/hunters and that Buzz Bombs when fished properly can catch just about anything. 
Fish with care and treat ALL the fish you catch this season with respect! good luck
Title: Re: Incidental catches (or hook-ups) while fishing
Post by: yoda on August 14, 2013, 10:20:33 PM
Heh Hook, that was me and my daughter in law. Now i know who you are.
Wasn't that awesome? That sturgeon must have been cruising the shore line picking up roe from cleaned pinks.
That was so weird seeing the hook in his mouth. Must have thought it was a peice of roe.
Thank's for the landing job by the way. You and your friend were quite helpful.
Too bad i did not get approval for posting the pic from her. She still has the record for longest fish caught in the frser on the lightest
gear in this family.
Title: Re: Incidental catches (or hook-ups) while fishing
Post by: 1son on August 14, 2013, 10:24:21 PM
Giant NPM are my usual by catch for pinks but lets hope that changes this year ;D
Title: Re: Incidental catches (or hook-ups) while fishing
Post by: Johnny Canuck on August 14, 2013, 11:11:09 PM
No ones ever gotten a steelhead huh? I just looked at that thread you started Rodney its a great idea, may be an idea to add some pics of steelhead in it as well. Seen a few steelhead killed by people calling them springs in the past.
Title: Re: Incidental catches (or hook-ups) while fishing
Post by: Rodney on August 14, 2013, 11:16:33 PM
In 2007 I accidentally foul hooked a sturgeon when fishing for pink salmon. The line was 8lb test, only partially spooled on a Shimano Sustain 2500 spinning reel. It took pretty much all the line out down to the knot and for some reason I managed to gain my line back and eventually landed it. You can still see the little hole on the dorsal fin from the hook.

(http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/fishingwithrod/2013/130814-2_zps1789c8ad.jpg)

In 2010 I was targeting bull trout with my ultralight spinning rod (2 - 6lb). The reel was a Shimano Twin Power 1000 spinning reel, spooled with 6lb test. As soon as I hooked this fish in the shallow water by some reeds, I knew it was not a bull trout. It took awhile, but eventually this coho salmon was landed.

(http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/fishingwithrod/2010/101015-1.jpg)

No ones ever gotten a steelhead huh? I just looked at that thread you started Rodney its a great idea, may be an idea to add some pics of steelhead in it as well. Seen a few steelhead killed by people calling them springs in the past.

Yeah, was going to add a steelhead but don't have one from the Tidal Fraser, but will probably add one from another system in anyway, just for ID purposes.
Title: Re: Incidental catches (or hook-ups) while fishing
Post by: Bently on August 15, 2013, 12:19:26 AM
I was out at Deas Island a few years back casting spoons for pinks, there was two other guys there as well doing the same thing when one of them got into a large fish {obviously not a pink salmon}, it turned out to be about a 15 lb wild Steelhead, beautiful fish and the best part was the angler new the identity right away and released it immediately. Quite exciting at the time.
Title: Re: Incidental catches (or hook-ups) while fishing
Post by: Tex on August 15, 2013, 09:06:21 AM
In 2010 I was targeting bull trout with my ultralight spinning rod (2 - 6lb). The reel was a Shimano Twin Power 1000 spinning reel, spooled with 6lb test. As soon as I hooked this fish in the shallow water by some reeds, I knew it was not a bull trout. It took awhile, but eventually this coho salmon was landed.

(http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/fishingwithrod/2010/101015-1.jpg)

That coho is an incredible specimen!  Nice one, Rod!

I also love reading that report from you a few years back when you landed that pig of a Chinook on a small spinner (though it wasn't in the tidal fraser).  Awesome!
Title: Re: Incidental catches (or hook-ups) while fishing
Post by: NiceFish on August 15, 2013, 09:30:19 AM
Only ever caught a small coho by-catch in the chilliwack region of the fraser.
Title: Re: Incidental catches (or hook-ups) while fishing
Post by: wonder on August 15, 2013, 10:26:34 AM
Got a pretty big (8lb-ish) ho in early sept pink fishing in 2011. Good fight on a tiny spinning rod and 6lb test
Title: Re: Incidental catches (or hook-ups) while fishing
Post by: Ian Forbes on August 15, 2013, 11:32:16 AM
A few years ago on Vancouver Island's Salmon River, my friend was lackadaisical in landing what he thought was ANOTHER Pink salmon. It turned out to be a summer steelhead that was probably headed for the White River. It flipped off when he gave it slack near the beach and I never got a photo of it. It swam right by me and I saw the pink stripe along its side and all the black spots.

(http://gallery.flybc.ca/albums/album343/Salmon_River_14.jpg)

Title: Re: Incidental catches (or hook-ups) while fishing
Post by: Rodney on August 15, 2013, 11:41:55 AM
I also love reading that report from you a few years back when you landed that pig of a Chinook on a small spinner (though it wasn't in the tidal fraser).  Awesome!

Haha yeah... I didn't land that fish. It decided to swim up to the beach with the little spinner in its mouth and I just followed. ;D

(http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/fishingwithrod/2009/091015-1.jpg)
Title: Re: Incidental catches (or hook-ups) while fishing
Post by: Tex on August 15, 2013, 01:40:55 PM
Sweet mother of god, Rodney - every time I see that photo my eyes bug out of my head.

Even though I know you're not a massive dude, that fish just looks like such a beast!!!
Title: Re: Incidental catches (or hook-ups) while fishing
Post by: zabber on August 15, 2013, 03:46:56 PM
that fish just looks like such a beast!!!

That fish IS a beast. lol
Title: Re: Incidental catches (or hook-ups) while fishing
Post by: crab on August 15, 2013, 06:08:10 PM
I've seen someone catch a jack spring while fishing for pinks from shore. This was in Surrey.
Title: Re: Incidental catches (or hook-ups) while fishing
Post by: DanJohn on August 15, 2013, 06:17:39 PM
I've seen someone catch a jack spring while fishing for pinks from shore. This was in Surrey.

Saw that twice last pink season. Was kinda cool.

I caught a boot (not a chum, an actual wear on your foot boot) once while fishing for cutties. Thats my best by catch yet, even if its not tidal. Also, a beaver once. That was pretty cute.
Title: Re: Incidental catches (or hook-ups) while fishing
Post by: Rodney on August 15, 2013, 07:09:38 PM
Sweet mother of god, Rodney - every time I see that photo my eyes bug out of my head.

Even though I know you're not a massive dude, that fish just looks like such a beast!!!

I should have measured it before letting it go. By the time I landed that fish, it was almost dark and I was supposed to be on our way to the Sport Fishing Advisory Committee meeting, so a quick pose, sprint back to the car, get change and off to the meeting. ;D

Here's a chinook jack from the Fraser during the pink salmon season in 2007.

(http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/fishingwithrod/2013/130815-2_zps0858636f.jpg)
Title: Re: Incidental catches (or hook-ups) while fishing
Post by: Rodney on August 15, 2013, 07:14:14 PM
Here is a pink salmon that had the most battle wound I've ever seen. It actually fought really hard.

(http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/fishingwithrod/2013/130815-3_zps9d76be26.jpg)

I tried donate it to Fish Assassin as a charity fish but he refused. ;D
Title: Re: Incidental catches (or hook-ups) while fishing
Post by: DanJohn on August 15, 2013, 07:31:48 PM
Here is a pink salmon that had the most battle wound I've ever seen. It actually fought really hard.

(http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/fishingwithrod/2013/130815-3_zps9d76be26.jpg)

I tried donate it to Fish Assassin as a charity fish but he refused. ;D

Did you let him go? A fish that lives through that deserves a good meal (what you offered) and a peaceful life to spawn the rest of its days.
Title: Re: Incidental catches (or hook-ups) while fishing
Post by: Rodney on August 15, 2013, 07:33:37 PM
Yeah that fish swam away a few seconds after those photos. Nobody wanted to touch it longer than that. ;)
Title: Re: Incidental catches (or hook-ups) while fishing
Post by: DanJohn on August 15, 2013, 07:40:42 PM
Yeah that fish swam away a few seconds after those photos. Nobody wanted to touch it longer than that. ;)

aww thats why i love you rod!
Title: Re: Incidental catches (or hook-ups) while fishing
Post by: Fish Assassin on August 15, 2013, 09:20:19 PM
I tried donate it to Fish Assassin as a charity fish but he refused. ;D

Very funny Rod. Unlike you, I have standards. ;D ;D
Title: Re: Incidental catches (or hook-ups) while fishing
Post by: Rodney on August 15, 2013, 09:22:39 PM
Unlike you, I have standards. ;D ;D

Me think you're gonna be in trouble when Nina sees you next time... ;D Lucky you that we are not going to be around this pink salmon season. :'(
Title: Re: Incidental catches (or hook-ups) while fishing
Post by: Fish Assassin on August 15, 2013, 09:33:30 PM
What you're not going to be around for pink season ? Must be tired of getting whupped ;D
Title: Re: Incidental catches (or hook-ups) while fishing
Post by: Rodney on August 16, 2013, 12:46:36 AM
Must be tired of getting whupped ;D

Who's being the comedian now? ;D
Title: Re: Incidental catches (or hook-ups) while fishing
Post by: RiverRunner on August 16, 2013, 04:04:36 PM
 :o had a few Coho while targeting pinks, seen some jack springs landed aswell. Always a nice surprise in the fraser.
Title: Re: Incidental catches (or hook-ups) while fishing
Post by: zap brannigan on August 16, 2013, 06:05:01 PM
fishing the other day up in squamish i got a spring jack on the mam, kind of early for him to be there.
Title: Re: Incidental catches (or hook-ups) while fishing
Post by: Humpy on August 16, 2013, 06:13:47 PM
Can you keep them? How was the fishing in the mam?
Title: Re: Incidental catches (or hook-ups) while fishing
Post by: Rodney on August 16, 2013, 06:20:51 PM
Can you keep them? How was the fishing in the mam?

http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/rec/fresh-douce/region2-eng.html
Title: Re: Incidental catches (or hook-ups) while fishing
Post by: bkk on August 16, 2013, 06:54:04 PM
fishing the other day up in squamish i got a spring jack on the mam, kind of early for him to be there.

Early? Not at all. Squamish summer chinook start to arrive in late June and should be at peak right now. That being said, Mamquam population is basically near zero with less than 100 fish in the population.
Title: Re: Incidental catches (or hook-ups) while fishing
Post by: zap brannigan on August 17, 2013, 11:02:03 AM
Hmm wasn't sure on the run timing there, spunky little guy broke my tip, and no there's no retention on chinook.