A Complete Guide to Mooching for Salmon

Mooching is a highly effective and exciting fishing technique used to target salmon in saltwater. This hands-on method involves drifting a bait rig to attract reaction bites from salmon feeding below. With the right gear and techniques mooching allows anglers to zero in on salmon hotspots for an action-packed day on the water.

For beginners, mooching can seem complicated at first glance. But in reality, it just takes learning a few fundamental skills to master this productive fishing method This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about how to mooch for salmon successfully

What is Mooching for Salmon?

Mooching refers to slowly drifting a baited rig in a boat and working it by hand to catch salmon. This technique is popular in the Pacific Northwest for targeting prized king and silver salmon in Puget Sound, British Columbia, and Alaska waters.

The term “mooching” comes from the salmooch or kokanee salmon that were originally targeted using this tactic along the Pacific coast. The words “mooch” and “mooching” originated from the Chinook Jargon trade language used in this region during the 19th century.

Unlike trolling, where fishing lines are drawn behind a moving boat, mooching involves drifting with the current and manipulating rods by hand. Mooching rods are held over the side of slowed or stopped boats to present bait rigs right in the feeding lanes of salmon.

Benefits of Mooching for Salmon

There are several key advantages that make mooching effective for salmon

• Precise Control – Anglers can work their baits at exact depths and locations where salmon are feeding.

• Light Lines—Mooching rigs let you use lighter lines to catch salmon that are afraid of lines.

• Direct Contact – Holding rods enables feeling strikes and setting the hook quickly.

• Visual – You can watch rods and see salmon take the bait.

• Fun Factor – The hands-on method is more active and exciting.

For targeting salmon in harbors, estuaries, and open water, mooching puts you right on the fish for an engaging experience.

Mooching Gear for Salmon

Properly outfitting your boat and tackle for mooching is important to success. Key mooching gear includes:

• Mooching Rods – These are 7 to 9 feet long with soft tips for detecting light bites. Popular models include the Pure Fishing Salmon Mooching Rod and the Okuma Northwest Salmon & Steelhead Rod.

• Mooching Reels – Line counter reels allow monitoring depth. Good options are the Penn Squall Level Wind Reel and the Okuma Cold Water Linecounter Trolling Reel.

• Lines – Braided mainline like PowerPro paired with a fluorocarbon leader works best for abrasion resistance and invisibility.

• Mooching Sinker – These cylindrical weights typically range from 4 to 10 ounces to match conditions.

• Mooching Rig – The classic rig uses a double hook leader with a bait fish like herring or anchovy.

Having properly balanced mooching rods and reels is vital for feeling subtle bites and detecting the take.

How to Rig Up for Salmon Mooching

Rigging up your mooching tackle is easy using a few simple steps:

1. Thread your main line through a slider above a barrel swivel.

2. Tie on a mooching sinker weight to the slider below the swivel.

3. Attach a leader of fluorocarbon or monofilament to the other end of the swivel.

4. Tie on a set of tandem hooks snelled 2 to 4 inches apart at the end of the leader.

5. Bait the hooks with plug cut herring, anchovy, or other salmon candy.

6. Adjust the slider stop and sinker weight for your fishing depth.

Always check your rigging regularly for fraying line or loose connections. Carry extra pre-tied leaders and baits to enable quick rigging changes.

Effective Baits for Salmon Mooching

Choosing the right bait is key to enticing salmon to bite your offering. The most effective mooching baits include:

• Herring – A classic salmon bait, herring can be used whole or cut into plugs. Look for bright silver fish with unbroken skin.

• Anchovies – Another go-to salmon bait, anchovies are used whole on mooching rigs. Pick plump and firm fish.

• Sardines – Oilier and softer than anchovies, sardines make great bait when cut into chunks.

• Smelt – Slender smelt mimic juvenile salmon and work well whole or cut.

• Sand Lance – Where available, soft sand lance imitate resident bait fish.

Make sure to keep baits fresh on ice and change them out every 10 to 15 minutes when mooching.

How to Fish a Mooching Rig

Once your gear is ready, use these tips to mooch effectively:

• Choose a drift speed around 1-2 mph with the current or wind. Too fast misses fish, too slow sinks the bait.

• Let out line to reach depths of 15 to 60 feet where salmon are traveling. Watch your line counter.

• Keep slack out of the line and stay engaged with the rod to detect light bites.

• Gently shake and jig the rod tip to impart action to the bait. Vary retrieve cadence.

• Watch for any line pause, jump, or bait disturbance as signs of a possible strike.

• At a take, swiftly set the hook hard and lift to begin fighting the fish.

• Utilize multiple rods at different depths to find where salmon are holding.

Patience and practice are required to master the finesse of mooching, so take time to learn how salmon respond to your presentations.

Helpful Mooching Tips and Techniques

Refine your mooching success with these added salmon fishing tips:

• Add a red, white, or green flasher above the leader to attract salmon from a distance.

• Attach a dodger like the Yukon Gold to the mainline for vibrating action.

• Tip your hook points with a small piece of shrimp or colored yarn to pique curiosity.

• Target structure like drop-offs, ledges, and weed lines that hold cruising salmon.

• On busy days, position on the fringes of other boats to avoid spooking fish.

• Clean and treat your gear to remove foreign scents after each trip.

Take notes on productive depths, drifts, and baits to repeat on your next excursion.

Common Mooching Mistakes

Avoid these key pitfalls when learning to mooch for salmon:

• Not letting line out fast enough, allowing gear to sink right below the boat.

• Failure to watch lines at all times leading to missed subtle strikes.

• Allowing too much slack line which prevents feeling bites.

• Poor bait quality resulting in refusals from wary salmon.

• Using too light of tackle unable to handle big salmon runs.

• Forgetting to retie rigs leading to lost fish from worn lines and old baits.

• Rigging baits through the body instead of the nose resulting in less action.

Mooching has a learning curve, so be patient and persistent to achieve success.

Locating Salmon Hotspots for Mooching

Finding where active salmon are feeding is the first step to mooching success. Focus on these prime salmon hangouts:

• Current seams and eddies behind structure.

• Channel drop-offs and ledges.

• Weed lines, kelp beds, and rocky reefs.

• Estuary and harbor entrances and mudlines.

• Tidal rips or upwelling zones.

• Areas baitfish and birds are concentrating.

Use your fish finder or fish indicators on the water’s surface to pinpoint productive areas to mooch.

Make Mooching Your Go-To Salmon Method

As you can see, mooching is a fun, engaging, and highly effective technique for catching salmon. With the right boat, rods, reels, terminal tackle, and bait, you’ll be hooked up in no time. Beginners may struggle at first, but sticking with it and learning from your mistakes will pay off.

Soon you’ll be furiously fighting feisty salmon after mastering the art of mooching. So gear up and get out on the water this season to start landing more salmon.