Motor mooching is trolling with the same banana shaped weight and cut plug herring used by drift moochers (Photo 1). Older style fiberglass salmon rod used to troll with heavy weights or divers Motor mooching Most anglers opt for fly rods in the 6 to 8 weight range equipped with reels that have decent drags. Both floating and fast sinking lines are used depending on the feeding depth of the fish. Flies with large heads and/or eyes often increase the effectiveness of the fly. Many anglers opt to use weighed flies, often the “Clouser” type with lead "dumbbell" eyes. Fly size for these streamer type flies range from 2 to 5 inches in length. Successful flies include any of the bait fish imitating patterns with chartreuse and white, and pink and white being two popular colors. Often this activity is along the various tide rips. The observant angler should be able to detect this feeding activity by the wheeling birds, and splashes of the feeding salmon. The feeding coho that have chased one of the baitfish (herring, candle fish, etc) to the surface are the easiest fish to take. Typically the actively feeding coho have offered the best chance for the fly angler to present their fly to the fish. Coho salmon are the primary target for this fishing though Chinook, pinks, and chum can all be taken on the fly while they are in saltwater. With improving fly lines, more and more anglers are looking to take salmon on cast flies. They let their line out until they are at the depth they wish, then work the bait up down at that depth, or let the wave and boat action work the bait up and down. Other moochers prefer to fish at a particular depth. You can then start over again, or work the bait back up through the water column in the same manner. Some anglers will work the entire water column, letting the bait down say 10 feet, reeling up 3 or 4, letting down another 10, reeling up 3 or 4, etc. until they have reached the bottom. You can approach mooching a couple of different ways. Conversely, if the current is moving very slow, you can move forward in spurts until the correct angle is achieved. If the current is moving very fast, the angler can use their boat motor to “back” into the current until they achieve the 45-degree angle. If the line angle gets near vertical, the leader will tend to wrap around the mainline, leaving a nasty tangle and an ineffective bait. You can change the line angle by using a lighter or heavier weight. When mooching, you should attempt to keep your line angle at 45 degrees. Moochers raise and lower the bait in the water column using their rod and reel, causing it to spin, or they simply allow the movement of the boat and waves to impart an action on the bait. Level wind reel with direct drive feature Moochers will typically fish with an 8 ½ to 9 foot rod with a level wind or bait casting reel capable of holding 100-200 yards of line (Photo 4). Beginning moochers should probably purchase a miter box cutter to ensure the proper angle is obtained (Photo 3). The bevel is what causes the herring to spin as it is pulled through the water. A plug cut herring is cut with a bevel from front to back and from side to side. Most moochers use a “plug-cut” herring (Photo 2) which spins as it rises and falls. Mooching is essentially fishing with a light banana shaped weight (Photo 1) to pull a hooked herring down to the depth you believe the fish are at. Mooching requires a dedication to the sport and many years of practice to master. Die-hard moochers like the simplicity of the gear, the feel of the bite and the hook up, and enjoy the peace and quiet of fishing without a motor. The art of mooching is slowly being lost as most modern anglers prefer to troll. Historically mooching was the most popular form of salmon angling and began many years ago during the winter months in Seattle. Monofilament recovery and recycling program.
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