Fish with JD » Ask JD

Ask JD: Is there a 4-in-1 rod?

JD — Mon, 16 May 2011 16:13:31 +0000

Going bendo with a Lamiglas X711 MTS

This round of Ask JD comes from Kevin P. who’s looking for a 4-trick pony rod that will cover several fishing situations.

JD, I’m looking for a spinning rod that I can to use for side drifting, boondogging, drifting minnows, and maybe some swimbait action. I guess I’m looking for a jack of all trades…It’s kind of hard choosing a rod when you have never fished with it. I really like the Rogue Rod Hot Shot series but then again those are the rods I have the most time on and, at $250 a pop, they might be a little steep for me. Do I really need that? I do want something quality that is built to last…so where is the happy medium? Am I asking to much for a 3 or 4 in 1 rod? What would you spend your money on? Thanks for your help!

–Kevin P., Auburn, CA

Kev, well…yes, it’s definitely difficult to find a rod that that’s perfectly suited for several techniques. Most of the time when you try to find one of these multi-taskers you end up with something that does a bunch of things okay but nothing well. It ends up being, as trusty sidekick Reilly often says, “A little bit pregnant.” But there is one stick that I can think of that just may cover ya pretty well…

The X711 MTS from Washington State rodsmiths Lamiglas would be an excellent selection. I use them to throw swimbaits, plastic worms and ripbaits for stripers, side-drift for steelhead on larger rivers like the Smith and to drag bait for kings on the Klamath.

These sticks are 7’11″ and are in the company’s Certified Pro lineup. Rated for 8- to 12-pound line, the X711′s have soft enough tips that you could drift minnows for stripers like you were talking about — yet enough backbone to handle big fish (had a client land a 40-pound striper on one this spring). The big drawback for ya is going to be the price.

And there’s the rub…you really have to get into the higher end rods to find one that will adequately handle several different techniques. Cheaper rods usually don’t do the jack of all trades things very well.

Ask JD: How are the Shad doing?

JD — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 09:48:02 +0000

Like most fish that have to swim through the CA Delta, shad numbers are on the decline

This round of Ask JD comes to us from Dave E., who’s obviously got spring on the mind. His question pertains to American shad and it’s relative health in the rivers of Northern California.

JD, How healthy is the shad fishery in Northern California? I fished for shad a good bit 15 to 20 years ago and remember great runs. Has the shad fishery suffered like the salmon collapse? Thanks, Dave

Dave,

Well, I assume you’re talking about the rivers of the Central Valley — the Sacramento, American, Yuba and Feather, right? While there are mini runs in the Klamath and Eel rivers and a remnant population in the San Joaquin River, most of California’s shad come from those listed above.

Overall, nobody really knows about the health of the shad since DFG doesn’t monitor or manage for them…as they are are a non-native species that isn’t officially recognized as a gamefish.

I can tell you from empirical data, however, that the shad runs in the Central Valley have been on the slide lately as well. The fishing the past few years has definitely been down and I’m seeing fewer fish in all the rivers than in seasons past.

The general health of the estuary (the Delta) is in a steep decline and when you pair that with those same poor ocean conditions that the salmon faced, you’ve got yet another California fishery on the verge.

Sounds like even the largest American shad runs in the world — on the Columbia River — have been down in recent years as well. Now, the term “down” up there is relative since the river gets millions and millions of the overgrown herring, but the fact that they have been off a bite again points to the common denominator — something’s not right with the ocean.

That all being said, however, we’ve still had enough shad around in Nor Cal in recent seasons to sustain a solid fishery — it’s just not like the “good ol’ days” which you referred to.

Ask JD: What about kickers for the Drift Boat??

JD — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 09:17:47 +0000

It's been many moons since I ran this boat, but I still have that good ol' Honda kicker!

This round of Ask JD comes from Vince who just made the tragic error of purchasing a drift boat. A terrible error in judgment, indeed! No, not because he bought a Willie (those guys build one of the best boats on the market), but because he didn’t let a buddy buy one instead! Now, Vince is going to be stuck on the oars playing guide while his buddies sit up front and do all the fishing! But he is talking some sense…Vince is considering a kicker motor. Here’s his question:

JD,

I’m getting a 17×54 willie drift boat. Any opinions out there on outboard motors. I will be on the lower Sacramento River mostly. Do you think an 8 HP Merc 4-stroke would be good? A ny help would be appreciated. Thanks, Vince

Vince, I have owned ‘em all and have had zero trouble with Yamaha and Honda. They’re both so stinkin’ reliable it’s stupid! What size you get all depends on what you want to do with it…

For the Sac, you’re probably just going to use it to motor through flat water, I’d guess…though I use mine there to side-drift as well sometimes. If you just need transportation from spot to spot, go small and light like a 4 HP…your back will thank you when you have to schlep the thing on and off the boat and in and out of the truck each day. Also, go with one that has an internal gas tank (but with a connection for a jerry jug as well). A little 4-stroke 4HP can put all day (all week sometimes) on the internal tank…which is nice because you don’t have a red jug and hose laying around.

It's all good when you get to this point...whichever motor you use!

But, bump it up to an 8 HP if you think you’d like to motor upstream a lot. I used to launch my 20-foot Willie at the Outlet on the Feather River, drift several miles down to Palm Ave and then kicker motor (8HP Honda) back upstream to the launch. Took forever but I didn’t have to do a shuttle. For that kind of stuff, you need more power.

If you’re into that motor back upriver program, check to see if your boat has a transom cut-out or not. If so, you may want to go with a short-shaft so you can creep back up riffles (measure first, though!). Also, a planer fin on the motor makes it so your ass end doesn’t sag as much as you’re trying to power up the shallow stuff.

Ask JD: How do I fish steelies solo out of a boat?

JD — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 03:39:40 +0000

Fishing solo out of the boat is a challenge but it can be done!

Here’s a good Ask JD question, coming to us from Rob, who’s looking for a way to catch some steelies while fishing solo from boat.

JD, I’m looking for a solo technique to fish for steelhead from a small raft on the Smith in Northern California. What do you think about adding a float to the side gliding technique and bobbergliding? I was thinking of using a 10′ 5″ rod with power pro and setting my rod holder to be almost vertical to keep as much line off the water as possible while I row. Since there are too many boats to anchor up whereever I’d like, it would be nice to have a solo technique to cover the runs in between where I stop to float fish or throw spoons.

Thanks for any advice in advance, Rob.

Rob, my best advice would be to talk one of your buddies into buying a drift boat and have him row you around (you never want to be the friend who owns the boat!). Short of that, what you propose, “Bobber-gliding” sounds like it could work, but I’m a little concerned about line control, even with the long rod pointed high. On a trip to BC, I tried side-drifting and bobber fishing from a one-man pontoon boat and it was kinda a cluster-fugazzi most of the time. I ended up pulling over and bankin’ it more than anything. I did hook some fish, however, “back-bobbering” in which I’d throw my float directly downstream and then drift through the runs, using the oars to keep the boat away from the float but the trick was to also keep it close enough so that there was no drag on the line.

The problem with that on the Smith, of course, is you’re going to be drifting your boat over the fish, which will make the flotilla of guide boats that are side-drifting a wee bit cranky…unless the water’s got enough color to it…

I’m not sure what sort of raft you have, but if it’s a small pontoon kick boat, you could always throw so fin on and control it that way…so your hands are free. Then, just jump into the lineup of side-drifting boats and you’re golden.

Good luck!

Ask JD: Kwikfish…To Wrap or not to Wrap?

JD — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 05:08:55 +0000

You can't beat a fresh sardine!

Our latest Ask JD question comes from Rob Y. who’s looking to make some sense out of scents when it comes to fall salmon fishing with plugs. Rob writes:

JD, I have a quick question about fishing with Kwikfish for salmon. I heard or read somewhere that instead of doing a sardine wrap you can put some self-stick Velcro on the bottom of the plug and then smother it in gel sent. How well does that work? And, do you think a sardine wrap really works since the fish are on the move anyway? By the way, loved your steelhead book!

Thanks, Rob

Hey Rob! There have been several methods devised over the years to avoid having to wrap plugs with sardine or herring fillets…some guys have done the Velcro thing, while others have glued sponges or stuck scent pads to the bottoms of their plugs and then doused everything in some sort of scent. Then there was Pro Cure’s Bait Butter, which was a scent concoction with a peanut butter consistency that you could just lather your lure in. All of the above worked, but…
There’s simply no substitute for a fresh, bloody sardine fillet. Commercially produced scents work great but I think of them more as an additive than the “main course.” I can’t stress it enough: good quality bait wraps are the key to success!

I did a little testing of this theory in Alaska and ran two identical plugs — one with a bait wrap and one without. It was close to 10 to 1 on the wrapped lure. Enough said!

As a beginner salmon angler, I shied away from bait wraps initially — only because I really didn’t know how to do it. Well, I say don’t fear the ‘dine! If you’d like to learn how to do it, check out these two simple how-to videos:

How to Fillet a Sardine

How to Wrap a Kwikfish

And one other thing…the main problem with the Velcro and sponge method is you can never get the funky smell off your plug. At the end of the day, it’s easy to clean your plug (with a little Lemon Joy) so that it doesn’t accumulate any salmon-repelling smells.

Ask JD: Which waders should I buy??

JD — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 03:35:32 +0000

Well, I admit, I kinda just needed an excuse to post this classic shot of Ava Gardner, the original “Woman in Waders from filmnoirphotos. Seems like the Hollywood hotties back in those days were a little more willing to get a little fish slime under their nails than they are today. But I digress…It’s time for another round of Ask JD. This one comes from Chris L, who’s looking to emerge from the dark ages :)

JD, I’ve had my current BARE neoprene waders for about 10 yeas now and I think its finally time to retire them. I was looking into getting some breathable waders but don’t know what brand to get. I’m sure you have gone through your fair share and wanted to see if there was a brand that you favor over others. I’m also a pretty big guy (6’7″ with a size 15 shoe) and might need to get some custom made so if you have any recommendations I would really appreciate it. Thanks!

Hey Chris…ten years outta one pair, eh? Either you don’t get out much or BARE makes some seriously bad ass waders!

Seriously, you’ll love breathables…once you try ‘em, you’ll never go back. Say goodbye to SUS (Sweaty Undercarriage Syndrome)!! Anyway, I’ve pretty much tried them all and have had some pretty good luck with Cabela’s Guide models but they really only last me a season or two. A few years back, I took the plunge and spent the $$ and tried some Simms. Best waders I’ve ever had, bar none. Pricey yes, but they fit right and are super durable. I didn’t go for the super top end G4′s but instead went middle of the road and have been very happy.

Also, Simms will custom build them for you to your size. Give breathables a try…and welcome to the 21st Century!

Ask JD: What size oars do I need for my drift boat?

JD — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 14:56:05 +0000

Shorter oars help in these situations...

JD, I have a 16-foot wide-bottom drift boat. I have 9-foot wooden oars and am considering purchasing new ones. What do you think about 10-foot oars on a boat that size…will they give me more power or will they be too long?

Thanks, Lee

Hey Lee, I used to run 10 footers on my 20-foot Willie drift boat, which had a 72-inch bottom and they almost felt too long on that beast of a boat, so I’d stick with the shorter ones on your 16 footer. Yea, you probably get a little more torque when rowing with the longer sticks, but you’re also going to kinda feel like a robin with eagle’s wings…I donno…maybe I’m just not coordinated enough but I always felt awkward with the long ones. And they were definitely a pain in tight spots!

If you’re looking for better performance, sometimes all you need to do is switch out your old oar blades. HERE’S HOW

Know of any good bass ponds??

JD — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 07:04:23 +0000

Hi JD-

I just read the article about your experience at Bruin Ranch – sounds awesome. I’m a big fan of bass fishing on such smaller lakes/ponds with no motor boats and the local example I really like is Lake Francis near Oregon House/Dobbins off Hwy 20 between Nevada City and Yuba City.

I’ve long been looking for something similar to Bruin Ranch or Lake Francis where the bass fishing is good and it’s great for a float tube or maybe my Seyvlor inflatable Fish Hunter with a small electric motor – no motorized boats allowed.

Question: Do you know of anything similar to Bruin Ranch or Dobbins’ Lake Francis, within 150 miles of Sacramento?

Thanks and take care! –Jerry

Hey Jerry, have you ever tried Rancho Seco Lake? Some HUGE bass in there and no motors!

Southern Cal beach fishing options?

JD — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 15:45:18 +0000

JD, I just moved to southern California and I looking for fishing suggestions at the beaches. I got no problem with getting wet, was even thinking about a kayak. What do you think?

–Damon

Well, there’s some pretty darned good perch, corbina and croaker fishing to be had on the beach right around the Santa Monica Pier if you can believe that. It’s more of a summer thing, but you can get halibut there too. Just north of Malibu are some nice beaches and Leo Carillo is always good. If y ou get a kayak, head for Newport Harbor/Balboa Island for some sweet sand bass action on plastics. Good luck!

How do I become a guide in CA?

JD — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 06:29:09 +0000

JD,

I would like to start a guide service for folks with limitations on Shasta Lake…can you tell me where to start with permits or what is needed to start such a service?

Thank you, Cat

Cat,

Start with a boat, then get a guide license through the Department of Fish & Game, a $10,000 surety bond, insurance and you’re good to go. I don’t think you need a Coast Guard License for Shasta, but I’d check to be sure. Good luck!