Salmon on Fort Peck

[Glasman]

Been reading this forum for some time; lots of good information. I have searched around and have found very little information on chinook salmon fishing on Fort Peck lake in Montana. I was at Fort Peck over Labor Day weekend trying to catch salmon. I witnessed several very nice salmon being caught near the face of the dam. I asked different guys the depth and speed and color and finally managed to catch one by pure luck. I noticed this fellow in a Lund boat from ND that was doing very well as well as a boat from MT. All the other boats were like me, not so well. I have downriggers and was fishing about 80-85 feet with a Hot Spot flasher and a squid. Can anyone tell me how much line to let out before you hook it to the release? How long should the leader be from the squid to the flasher? Should I be running the flasher on the ball and using a stacker up the cable to run the squid? I did read an article about lead balls that are not shielded will cause a reaction with the steel cable and actually cause salmon to shy away from your bait. I checked mine and the plastic coating is all gone on the front of them from hitting rocks in the past. I know this is a lot to ask for a first post just thought somone might be able to share some knowledge.

Many Thanks,

[K Gonefishin]

Here is a little article on fort peck salmon I googled up.
http://www.fortpeckproperties.com/fi...iggers101.html


Can anyone tell me how much line to let out before you hook it to the release? This can vary from 5-100 ft, most common on lake ontario for kings is 10-30 ft. You just have to play around with it untill you figure out what they want, in super clean water start at 20 and keep dropping them back, in low light conditions (when kings bite best) you can run them closer to the ball.

How long should the leader be from the squid to the flasher? 2 1/2 times the Length of the flasher usually 20-24 inches but it can be from 18-30 inches, once again, let the fish tell you what they want, the difference in leader length will give the squid or fly a differen whipping action at different speeds, once you get it figured out and catch a few fish you'll get the hang of it. Salmon can be downright tricky, unlike stupid walleye

Should I be running the flasher on the ball and using a stacker up the cable to run the squid? You can run it clean right to your rigger release and run a fixed slider with a spoon or something, I don't know those fish so I can't give you a good answer, I'm sure landlocked salmon are much different from great lakes fish.

Probably no help but with riggers and salmon it's a play around kind of game, I've been playin it for a few years now on lake ontario and I come home scratching my head every trip even when I am very successful.

[walfshmn]

You might try using Cisco cut like you would Herring instead of the squid if it is legal.

[28shooter]

We run the squid 20 to 30 inches behind a glow and silver pro troll 11 in. flasher and run it 10 to 15 feet behind the ball. You were at the right depth 80 to 90 ft. I use Blue or green squid with a Grand slam bucktail in it.

Good luck

[Glasman]

Thanks for the reply's; do you run the Grand Slam Bucktail alone or do you put a squid skirt on it also?

[28shooter]

We put a squid over them. but my not hurt to try one alone. Let me know how you do might head back up in a couple of weeks.

Mike

[Glasman]

Salmon are a blast to catch for something different. Do you know the guy they call the Woodpecker? He's one squared away Salmon fisherman by what I here. I will let you know what happens.

[beeman]

Are these the fish heading up from Columiba in Oregon? What do they look like getting to MT?

[RDJ]

No Beeman, the salmon in Peck are landlocked Chinook that are planted annually. They are in the lake all the time and typically at 3 or 4 years of age they go through the spawn cycle in the late summer/fall which is when they congregate in certain area's of the lake (mainly around Ft.Peck dam) and for a month or two create a fun fishery for those that choose to chase them. Typical fish run from mid teen's (15+) to low 20's but both smaller and larger fish are caught. Mainly downrigger fishing in the open basin with flasher and trailers (bait or artificial).
Columbia is West of the continental divide, Peck is East of divide. No drainages cross the hump..

[beeman]

Dam sounds like fun