Techniques Academy
Techniques are organized the way anglers actually fish: by scene (rock, shore, boat, lake, river), by species and by the rig that makes them work. Start with the species you want, master one technique at a time.
Saltwater · For Chinook Salmon
Trolling with flasher and anchovy teaser
Rig: 11" flasher, 36-42" leader to an anchovy teaser head
Key tip: Match trolling speed so the bait rolls, not spins. Fish the tide change.
Full Chinook Salmon guide →Saltwater · For Chinook Salmon
Mooching
Rig: Banana sinker 3-6 oz, two-hook mooching rig
Key tip: Slow, deliberate lifts. Watch for the soft pickup on the drop.
Full Chinook Salmon guide →Saltwater · For Coho Salmon
Beach casting spinners and spoons
Rig: Single lure on a swivel, 8-10 lb leader
Key tip: Fish first light and the flooding tide. Retrieve fast with pauses.
Full Coho Salmon guide →Saltwater · For Coho Salmon
Trolling spoons near the surface
Rig: Spoon 30-40 ft behind the boat, no flasher needed in fall
Key tip: Coho like speed: 2.5-3.5 mph is the sweet spot.
Full Coho Salmon guide →Saltwater · For Lingcod
Vertical jigging swimbaits and leadheads
Rig: 6-9" swimbait on a 4-8 oz leadhead, fished on the bottom
Key tip: Keep contact with bottom. Most hits come on the first drop.
Full Lingcod guide →Saltwater · For Pacific Halibut
Anchoring with a chum bag and spreader bar
Rig: Spreader bar, 16-24 oz weight, large circle hook
Key tip: Let scent work for 30-45 minutes before moving. Patience pays.
Full Pacific Halibut guide →Saltwater · For Pacific Halibut
Drifting jigs
Rig: 12-16 oz jig or heavy leadhead with a grub
Key tip: Keep the jig near bottom with slow lifts; avoid dragging.
Full Pacific Halibut guide →Saltwater · For Rockfish (Sebastes spp.)
Jigging metal and soft plastics
Rig: 3-6 oz jig or leadhead with a 4-6" swimbait
Key tip: Fish vertically over the rock pile; avoid long drifts that snag.
Full Rockfish (Sebastes spp.) guide →Freshwater · For Rainbow Trout
Chironomid fishing under an indicator (lakes)
Rig: Indicator, long leader, chironomid pupa pattern at depth
Key tip: Find the depth with a hemostat on the fly, then fish 1 ft off bottom.
Full Rainbow Trout guide →Freshwater · For Rainbow Trout
Casting small spinners (rivers and lakes)
Rig: 1/8 oz spinner on 6 lb line
Key tip: Cast across and swing through current seams.
Full Rainbow Trout guide →Freshwater · For Largemouth Bass
Texas-rigged soft plastics in cover
Rig: 3/0 EWG hook, 1/4 oz tungsten weight, pegged
Key tip: Pitch tight to cover, hop twice, let it sit. Most bites are on the fall.
Full Largemouth Bass guide →Freshwater · For Largemouth Bass
Topwater at dawn and dusk
Rig: Frog or popper on heavy braid
Key tip: Work the frog slow over mats; pause after every twitch.
Full Largemouth Bass guide →Freshwater · For Smallmouth Bass
Ned rig and tube on rock
Rig: 1/8-1/4 oz mushroom head with a 2.75" stick bait, or a tube
Key tip: Drag it slowly. If you feel rock, you are in the zone.
Full Smallmouth Bass guide →Freshwater · For Smallmouth Bass
Drop shot over humps
Rig: Drop shot, 3/8 oz weight, small finesse worm
Key tip: Shake in place; smallmouth cannot leave it alone.
Full Smallmouth Bass guide →Freshwater · For Kokanee
Trolling dodger and micro hoochie
Rig: 4-6" dodger, 8-12" leader to a micro hoochie, corn on the hook where legal
Key tip: Speed 1.2-1.5 mph. Find the depth on the sounder and stay on it.
Full Kokanee guide →Freshwater · For Walleye
Vertical jigging over structure
Rig: 1/4-3/8 oz jig head with a minnow or plastic
Key tip: Short lifts, tight line on the drop — the bite is a tick.
Full Walleye guide →