How to Mooch for Salmon (Salmon Mooching)

How to Mooch for Salmon
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Captain Cody shows how to mooch for salmon. This is down with a 6-ounce weight on a slider rig tied to a 6 bead swivel and leader with two snell tied hooks. The bait which is a herring is placed onto the hook so that the bait spins when traveling through the water.
The rig is cast out and let to sink yo about 170 feet on a line counter reel. The bait in the reeled back to the surface. The bait is constantly changing depths which helps find fish and encourages them to strike. If one person catches a fish at a certain depth other people should then target fish near that same depth.
This is definitely the quickest way to catch salmon when they are concentrated in one area. Each angler can be mooching and gives them the satisfaction of hooking and reeling in the fish. Mooching does not work well if people are not constantly changing the depths of the bait. Personally, I like drift fishing and watching the fish finder closely for fish. When I see a good mark I can get that fish to bite about half the time.
I hope this video helps you catch more fish.
Thanks for watching,
Captain Cody

[@grom7826]

Excellent showing the herring hook up again, well done Mate !

[@CaptainCody7]

Sure thing, thanks for watching!

[@raydonshippey7591]

I learned some new info. Thank you Capt. Cody.

[@CaptainCody7]

Good deal, thanks for watching Raydon!

[@highgunnerkelly9356]

Thank you for the great video. Your explanation for why and how to mooch was very helpful. I have never casted a bait whild mooching as i would think the line would wrap around the main line... your explanation when dropping the bait slowly is what i have always followed. I also like your method of hookkng the hering. I have used cut and have put a ruber band on to keep the mouth from opening . thank you again for sharing your knowledge.

[@CaptainCody7]

Sure thing Highgunner! Glad you found it helpful. Good luck this season!

[@larsrodbok1285]

Tenth time watching this video, thanks! Looking forward to more content!

[@CaptainCody7]

Thanks Lars! I will try and get some more content up. Good luck mooching for salmon!

[@JustinBeyerlin1]

Love your videos man! I live up here in Alaska too, and am planning on taking my new boat out of Valdez in the Prince William Sound for silvers next year. Learning a lot from your vids, thank you! Definitely subscribed!

[@CaptainCody7]

Glad you found them helpful. Sweet, I bet you will do pretty well! Thanks for watching!

[@trngpl]

Hey man just want to say thank you so much for the helpful tips

[@CaptainCody7]

Glad you found the video helpful. Thanks for watching Paul!

[@markmaccani9411]

Cody, I have watched a few videos and have subscribed. I like all things fishing Alaska so this is a great channel for me so far. Thank you for the work you put into putting out these videos. Good luck fishing this season.

[@CaptainCody7]

Awesome, thanks for the sub! Good luck fishing also!

[@jimmascaro2456]

My 1st time mooching was in Bodega Bay (NCal). We were working the very bottom. Anchovies. 6 oz banana wt, 6 ft ldr circle hook threaded through center of gill plate, down along spine & exit about an inch fwd of tail end. Tie a 1/2 hitch right where line exits bait. Cover barb tip with a fluorescent orange foam ball, (5mm?) Drop to bottom slowly. Feel bottom then 2 or 3 cranks up. Wait for that tap when they tail slap it to stun their prey. Light drag. Let them swim away with it - once the line starts going reel & dont stop. Nice & quiet - no motor no fumes & a ling or 2. Much more pleasant way to fish salmon. Ive read some ppl paint their banana wt fluoro oj too (construction site marker paint). Your trolling hook method for the herring is spot on. Thx

[@CaptainCody7]

Nice, thanks for sharing! Dropping back is definitely a good trick when fishing with bait. I have seen the painted orange lead. Not quite sure why that is done. If the salmon are in a big school they will even bite the round lead mooching balls sometimes.

[@lawrencemartin24]

I whole hook for Chinook. It seems over here in Port Angeles they like Anchovies better than Herring. I often plug cut ( Westport Roll) for silvers. I've had good luck with Silver Hordes when the Silvers Salmon start to show. I like to fish Chums in October. Hard fighting and excellent in the smoker. I came for your anchoring videos. Now I'm watching them all.

[@CaptainCody7]

Nice, yeah I imagine anchovies fish similar to herring. Plug cut defiantly works, it is just easier/faster to leave them whole in my opinion. Especially when mooching with 6 clients. I have caught a salmon with like 20 heads in its belly from someone throwing the heads overboard. As long as the bait spins salmon will likely to bite. Try and leave the bait whole and see what you think, I bet you will like it. Thanks for watching and good luck this season!

[@timeless_realm]

Subscribed. Thanks for the advice.

[@CaptainCody7]

Great, thanks for watching!

[@DaltonBissellArt]

Thank you Capt Cody, nice in depth how to. The only curiosity I am left with is how you went about choosing your mooching rod it self. I certainly love to have the proper rod for the situation.

[@CaptainCody7]

Well in the article description I link to an article I wrote about reels and rods for salmon mooching and trolling. For downriggers it is good to have a long rods around 10 feet long that bends take up line slack and to straighten out when a fish bites. Mooching reels are conventional style with line counters so you need some type of conventional rod. It is good to have ones that work for downriggers and mooching. 10 foot 6 inch is the length we use. You can get the lower cost Okuma rods that get the job done or go for the high end G-loomis. High end is a bit more sensitive but if you only fish occasionally probably not worth the high ticket price.

[@Robmulert2830]

I did this back in 1999!!! Out of Homer. It was a blast!!

[@CaptainCody7]

Awesome, thank for watching Rob!

[@salamon1080]

Thanks for the great info!

[@CaptainCody7]

Glad it was helpful!

[@timmiller3133]

Good info,thanx, 👍🎣

[@CaptainCody7]

Glad you found it helpful, thanks for watching!

[@seansimons7043]

Great advise

[@CaptainCody7]

Glad you found it helpful, thanks for watching!

[@mattpinder2656]

I am 1K like 👍 great info. Thanks

[@CaptainCody7]

Nice, thanks for the like Matt! Good luck fishing!

[@tl3769]

Very informative as usual!

[@CaptainCody7]

Glad you found it helpful, thanks for watching T L!

[@ashleyhughes7237]

Was just out laying a whoopin on some kings tonight and using flashers I have everything to try this and bait was really stacked up in 150 of water cant wait to try this method way more fish less flasher fight

[@CaptainCody7]

Sounds fun! Good luck Ashley! Let me know how it goes. What state are you fishing in?

[@ashleyhughes7237]

@@CaptainCody7 I fish out of Vancouver island British Columbia fun place to have in back yard so to speak

[@nielsbjonchristensen1803]

Super video, 👍🎣🐟🇩🇰

[@CaptainCody7]

Thanks for watching!

[@albertshilton2346]

Great video. Need detail on the beads. Thanks, Al

[@CaptainCody7]

For mooching you just need a six bead swivel and a slider. In the video description, there is a link to an article I wrote that shows the exact gear. Thanks for watching Albert!

[@brentetwin8069]

Great video, I would agree with everything but reeling the weight up to the tip of your rod. Great way to break the tip off of your rod. I have seen to may high dollar rods broken just like this, even more guides broken out. IMHO once the fish is in the net, who ever caught it will grab the weight as the fish is lifted into the boat. The other thing you can do is put some sort of soft bead or the like, above your swivel so that you don't pop out the insert out of your top eye.

[@CaptainCody7]

Yeah, normally the rule is to never reel a swivel into the tip. Lots of new fishermen do this cause they do not know better or are excited. In this case, there is a six-bead swivel, slider, and then a rubber gum-pucky. The gum pucky does a good job protecting the tip. I imagine it could still break the tip or insert but I have not had any issues. Grabbing the weight is what most people do and works as well! Thanks for watching and for the comment!

[@jordanburrows3142]

Nice video Cody! Do you have any videos on the tying process for the hooks and the leader? Keep up the great videos!

[@CaptainCody7]

Thanks, Jordan. I do not have a video on that, however, if you type "Double Line Two Hook Mooching Rigs" into youtube a good video with that title showing how to make them should be there. In the video description, I wrote an article showing where you can buy premade mooching leaders if you do not want to tie them yourself. Thanks for watching!

[@jordanburrows3142]

@@CaptainCody7 Awesome thanks Cody. I'll check out the video. Good luck this season!

[@CaptainCody7]

@@jordanburrows3142 Thanks, good luck to you as well!

[@Mike-cp4jb]

Hello from Northern California! Great video! Thank you! I will be heading out soon and was curious to which gear ratio you like for in your mooching reels?

[@scotthogan7297]

Just started watching very informative! I fish the great lakes and this is not how we really fish for them. But I got a bunch of tackle from my Uncle when he died and This is Alot of the stuff he used in his boxes and rod set ups. I found it interesting and looked up mooching! I don't see any reason why this wouldn't be effective in lake michigan . Might have to put that stuff to use now

[@CaptainCody7]

Nice yeah, I use to troll on Lake Ontario for kings, coho, and steelhead. Similar techniques that work in the great lakes defiantly work in the ocean. I have not tried it the other way around yet. If you mark good bait I bet mooching would work in the great lakes. Thanks for watching!

[@scotthogan7297]

@@CaptainCody7 We do get big bait balls of alwives and that's what the king's eat . Just might have to try something different to add to the excitement of salmon.

[@georgeelliott8706]

Do you rinse your Herring before putting them in the cooler, I want to try this for Lake Trout, great video by the way.

[@CaptainCody7]

I spray them with ocean salt water so they brine. Freshwater can be used if it is lake water. Avoid city and bottled water as it may have chlorine or minerals that smell unnatural to the fish.

[@kevin_englund]

Awesome videos! Looking into getting some downrigger rods and mooching rods set up for kings/silvers.. would you use 30lb high viz mono for both?

[@CaptainCody7]

Thanks! Yeah, we spool with 30-pound line. In the video description, I link to an article I wrote about salmon rods and reels as well. Thanks for watching!

[@OldManAndTheSea]

Just subbed

[@CaptainCody7]

Great! Thanks for watching!

[@mytunez7375]

Salmon is my favouditr fish to eat

[@CaptainCody7]

Salmon is delicious, all five types.

[@stephenrothman6058]

So do you guide? Are those fresh dead herring? Or frozen or preserved? Mooching looks more interesting than trolling, because you are doing something, not just sitting in the boat. If those are dead bait, do you sometimes fish with live bait and would it not be more productive. Do the fish in Puget Sound feed on anything besides herring? Is there squid locally? What are the types of fish you catch in Puget Sound, and what is good now (September 2021). What would you do differently for ling cod?

[@CaptainCody7]

They are dead frozen herring. We add salt to make them a bit tougher but that is not necessary. Almost no one uses live bait in the Pacific North West. It is not really needed. You could sabiki some and it probably would work. Not sure if Squid is around but it is great bait for halibut, rockfish, and ling cod. Watch my video on how to catch halibut for more info. Also if I did not in this video I show how to prepare the bait in my how to use a down rigger video. I am a charter fishing captain, but not in Washingtion, I did live there as a kid though. Thanks for watching!

[@musicisbrilliant]

I love this. Thanks for sharing. I want to start mooching for salmon. But Im totally new to it. This made me realize I need a reel with a line counter. Can you tell me which shimano reel you are using in the video?

[@CaptainCody7]

Thanks! This is a Shimano Takota 500. In the video description I show an article I wrote that provides reference to good mooching reels. Thanks for watching!

[@musicisbrilliant]

Amazing. Thank you,@@CaptainCody7 That looks like a pretty nice reel! Im searching for my first fishing pole setup and this made me realize I need one with a linecounter!! Gotta have it! Thanks again. Subscribed, sir!

[@SeagullTunes]

Great video/demo. I'm in Ontario and would like to try this for salmon here on Lake Ontario. I always troll and thought this may be a good change up when I find a concentration of fish. Any idea where I can purchase the mooching setup online (weight/beads and leaders)? I only found the leader/hooks here. thx

[@CaptainCody7]

That would be fun. I use to fish Ontario growing up. I bet it would work, like you said when the fish are concentrated. In the video description I provide an article I wrote with the information you are looking for. Thanks for watching, let me know if you catch some salmon mooching on Lake Ontario.

[@James-jn4xz]

Hey Captain Cody, can you break down your rod, reel, line and business end setup. Like what's the length of your leader to the bait, etc. Thanks! Also, what would you recommend in a fishing pole when jigging for salmon?

[@CaptainCody7]

In the videos description I link to articles with more information about this. The rod used is a 10 foot 6 inch G. Loomis with a Shimano Tekota 500 or 600 line counting reel. The leader length is about 6 feet. In my downrigger video I show more about this. The leaders get cut shorter for trolling. I have not done much jigging for salmon and typically just mooch or troll.

[@WishingForSerenity]

"...you can mooch pretty much anywhere, and you're gonna catch salmon".... three seconds later: "you got a shark!" 🤣 Thanks for the video, I will definitely try this!

[@CaptainCody7]

Haha yeah the blue sharks follow the schools of salmon starting around July.

[@teamevosurfcasters]

Great video and great explanation. What rod are you using in the video! 👍🏼

[@CaptainCody7]

In the description of the video, I added details about the rod and reel. Also is an article I wrote about salmon mooching and trolling. The rod is a 10 foot 6-inch G-Loomis SAMR. The EX6 is another good salmon rod. They are expensive but work well for the application. Thanks for watching!

[@duckwacker8720]

Gloomis is the only way!

[@gregcecchi9872]

Thanks for the info. Are you using the Tekota 600 or 500 reel in this setup?

[@CaptainCody7]

No problem, these were 500s. They ran out of line when hitting the bottom in around 230 feet of water with a 30-pound test monofilament line. The 600 size is probably better if you fish deep. In the video description is an article I wrote about salmon reels. Thanks for watching!

[@borneofishingdude]

Thank you captain Cody. Do you provide guiding service for our own personal boat? Or know anybody who does? Will be out in Seattle next week

[@CaptainCody7]

Thanks! Right now I do not. I only know people in Alaska.

[@ThePeepingpete]

Hey man just want to say thank you so much for the helpful tips, this video and channel should have way more views. Wondering what type of fishing line you use on your rods? Also what is the purpose of those florescent beads? Thanks again!

[@CaptainCody7]

The beads are optional. It just adds space and kinds acts as a swivel to prevent line twists. The line is Maxima Ultragreen 30 pound monofilament. Thanks for watching!

[@SkateSurfSnowFly]

What do you think about using braid line for salmon mooching or trolling? I have been using both with some mixed results. Braid seams to get salt in it and then just snap unexpectedly but it’s great before that. Mono seams a little more reliable but I have landed some great fish on braid too.

[@spotme11]

Hi Captain Cody, I was wondering.......for the hook set up on the heering. What size hook do you use and what is the size of line do you use. Great video and thanks for your help.

[@CaptainCody7]

Sure, in the video description I link to an article I wrote with all the gear. I like 30-pound main line and 30-50 pound leader line. What is shown in the video is 30-pound leaders. I am pretty sure the hooks are size 5/0.

[@spotme11]

@@CaptainCody7 Thanks Man !!

[@hikiula]

Excellent video! Why the sliding sinker?

[@CaptainCody7]

Good question. This is how most people mooch these days. The old way used a banana weight tied directly to the line I am pretty sure. It was a pain to add and remove weights between fishing trips. If you had a swivel with a clip I would also work. The slider does move down the line creating a bow in the line with slack. When a fish bites the line has to be reeled in quickly to remove the slack.

[@hikiula]

@@CaptainCody7 Thank you. Watched the video numerous times trying to figure the rig out: What is the Gumpucky (?) above the slider, how far can the slider go and what is stopping it? What knot ties mainline to bead swivel? Thank you for the education!

[@ericasimonson8737]

Thanks much for the video. I'm in Juneau and have trolled a lot and am learning to fly fish, but I've never mooched! Is it okay to use lures instead of bait when mooching? Thanks much!

[@CaptainCody7]

Yeah you can use jigs and buzz bombs but herring is the best! Thanks for watching Erica!

[@ericasimonson8737]

@@CaptainCody7 Thank you!👍

[@ChrisCougill]

I like to attach a mini spreader bar to my terminal tackle right off the bat - is it OK to attach a weight to the short side of that and mooch? Or do I need to use the sliding swivel like you have it?

[@CaptainCody7]

I am not quite sure what you mean by spreader bar. The slider is how most people do it since it is easy to add and remove weights between trips via the clip swivel. As long as the weight is about 8 feet or more up from the bait it should work. It might even be better if it was fixed as their will be less slack formed in the line.

[@ubethejudge69]

Oh hey, is jigging and mooching considered the same thing? I assume the difference with mooching is you are not lifting the rod up and down ( jig ) , one is just reeling up consistently through the water table? Sound about right? In both instances though your boat is not moving so they share that same aspect?

[@CaptainCody7]

Jigging is typically done right near the bottom with some type of jig. Vertical jigging is kind of similar to mooching but you jerk on the retrieve. Mooching is done with a mooching rig consisting of a weight in-front of a bait. The rig is dropped to a certain depth and then reeled in with a consistent retrieve. Thanks for watching!

[@SolarBurrito]

How far from the slider to the bait/hooks? How long of leader basically?

[@CaptainCody7]

Good question, 8-10 feet. They are about the length of the pole to make the leaders easy to store on the rod.

[@jimcordina9966]

Hi Cody, my biggest issue has been the herring wrapping around my line on the way down. I have to lower the line very slowly. Any tips?

[@CaptainCody7]

Well it could be your rig or how it is sent down. The rig should have a 6-bead swivel, with a slider above with the mooching weight. The leader should be 7-9-feet long. Longer leaders actually tangle less if you are not casting it. If you are not casting you have to let it down slow, really slow the first ten feet, slow to 30-50 feet and then you can let it free fall. More current makes it less likely to tangle. If there it little to no current you need to pitch the rig 10-30 feet away from the boat. The bait should splash away from the boat and not tangled with the weight. Also 6-once mooching weight sink slower than 8-ounce mooching weights so 6-ounce will be less likely to tangle. I hope this helps, good luck!

[@hikiula]

Does your method of placing herring on the hook does the same thing or better than the other methods I see on other videos?

[@CaptainCody7]

There defiantly are a few ways to do it. This method is the quickest and easiest that I know of. It also makes the same desired spin of the bait. We would use it for mooching and trolling. Never had any issues and caught lots of fish.

[@hikiula]

@@CaptainCody7 Thank you. I like your method best!

[@543whitey]

Which hook do you find catches the most fish, front or back?

[@CaptainCody7]

Good question! I would say 50/50. I never noticed that they are always hooks with one hook more than the other. Having two hooks is definitely a plus though cause the hook-set is not that fast when mooching. Thanks for watching!

[@clyderimando6819]

Hi Capt Cody. Where in AK do you charter/fish? I live in Anchorage and would be interested in going out with you. Please send your info. 😊🎣

[@CaptainCody7]

Hi Clyde. Thanks for the message. This summer I am not running charters in Alaska. Otherwise, I would take you up on your offer and take you out fishing. If you are in Anchorage I would recommend driving down to Seward when the weather is nice, low winds in late July, and go on an all-day halibut salmon combo trip. On my website global fishing reports, I have an article on the best rivers to fish for salmon in Alaska and the best Alaska fishing trip locations. That might help you find some good fishing spots as well!

[@rickbold9337]

Hi Cody, do you also mooch fish in the tropics for pelagic fish?

[@CaptainCody7]

That is a good question but no I have not tried mooching in clear water offshore. It would be interesting to try. But typically I would use vertical jigs or send down a live bait. When mooching the herring is setup to spin. Salmon, rockfish, lingcod, and halibut will all bite a spinning bait. In the tropics very few fish if any will bite a spinning bait. I suppose you could rig up a ballyhoo to swim straight and use the mooching techniques. I might just give that a try and see what happens.

[@rickbold9337]

@@CaptainCody7 thanks for your explanation. I am moving to Philippines later this year and will be for the first time going after warm water fish. I’ll try the jigging and live bait as well as high speed trolling. Thanks!

[@happydays0220]

How many fish can you catch in a day?

[@CaptainCody7]

You can keep 1 king 6 silvers 6 chums and 6 pinks per person per day. Only 3 kings per person per year though. Also after July 1st kings can switch to catch and release. On a good day in July and August people will catch their limit of kings and silvers. Before July only kings are around though.

[@Isit925chris]

How long are those liters ? And size hooks?

[@CaptainCody7]

They are around 7 feet. The hooks are 5/0 for both I am pretty sure. In the salmon article in the description, I link to where you can get some pre-made ones. You could get a couple sizes and see what works best for you.

[@Isit925chris]

Thanks

[@alaskanglenn]

Hmmm

[@CaptainCody7]

Thanks for watching Glenn!

[@VictorWright-uj8gp]

Where is this ?

[@CaptainCody7]

Sitka Alaska.

[@JK-ug7rm]

Hook size and type?

[@CaptainCody7]

I am pretty sure I was using 5/0 hooks. In the video description, I provide an article where I provide more information about leaders. Thanks for watching!

[@dunkydog1676]

We call those dog fish those sharks in b.c

[@CaptainCody7]

Copy that, we always call them blue sharks! Their are smaller dog fish as well. Thanks for watching Dunky Dog!

[@ClintLundie]

How come you guys don't use mooching reels?? Way more fun!! 🤙

[@CaptainCody7]

I would consider the Shimano Tekota 500 line counter the best mooching reel. The reel in some of the video is the old version but is very quality. The new model is small like a baitcaster and even works for trolling. What reel do you like to use?

[@duckwacker8720]

Never cut the bait!

[@CaptainCody7]

I agree, thanks for watching!

[@duckwacker8720]

Soak the bait in sugar.

[@CaptainCody7]

Interesting, I have never heard of that but it should like an interesting concept!

[@vizzini2510]

I know how to mooch for salmon. PLEASE give me some salmon, please, please, please, please. Pretty please. I promise I'll pay you back...

[@CaptainCody7]

Ha ha sorry, I do not have any to give away right now. Also to ship residential from AK is very expensive. Almost the same cost as buying in the store. If you are local is it pretty easy to get fish from people.