{"id":16766,"date":"2023-09-01T22:05:02","date_gmt":"2023-09-02T02:05:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/troutandsteelhead.net\/?p=16766"},"modified":"2023-09-13T17:41:06","modified_gmt":"2023-09-13T21:41:06","slug":"back-bouncing-for-salmon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/troutandsteelhead.net\/back-bouncing-for-salmon\/","title":{"rendered":"Back Bouncing For Salmon: Pro Tips For More Fish"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Back<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I have done a lot of back-bouncing for salmon over the last 30 years and do it in certain water types when I’m guiding. It works well for Coho salmon fishing<\/a>, and King salmon fishing<\/a>, but chum salmon<\/a> and pinks can also be caught with this method.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are using these back-bouncing tips and tactics and the same back-bouncing rigs that the guides use, you will catch a lot more salmon. I’ll cover everything you need to know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

What is Back Bouncing For Salmon?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"A
Back bouncing can be a very good method for big Coho salmon like this one. Image courtesy of Healy Outdoors<\/a> in New York.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Back bouncing is a simple river fishing method used for salmon in faster water and deeper water. It involves dropping a large weight and a bait or lure to the bottom of the river where the presentation sits and dangles in the current flow.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You then quickly lift and slowly drop the weight every 5 to 20 seconds to slowly bounce the bait downstream.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back bouncing for steelhead<\/a> is also very effective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How To Do The Traditional Back-Bouncing Method<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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With the right amount of weight and a proven effective rig, you simply drop the weight off the back of the boat or cast it into the area you want to fish. You wait for the weight to hit the bottom, you’ll feel a thud when it hits. If using a bait, it will start leaving a scent trail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep your rod tip at about eye level. After 5 to 10 seconds, lift the rod tip 4 to 5 feet, and at the top of the lift, let it free spool. This will lift your rig and let the current pull more line out while pushing your rig a bit and dropping the weight a foot or two downstream.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Repeat this method until your line is far enough downriver while still being able to feel the thump when the weight hits bottom. Too far down, and you might lose feeling and miss bites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some anglers say only go as far down so your line does not exceed a 45-degree angle. I will go further as long as I feel that I can still detect the weight and bites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Repeat this method in different lines to cover the water, which I’ll discuss below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back Bouncing From A Boat<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The most common way of salmon fishing while back bouncing is from a boat, and this is where it excels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stationary Boat: <\/strong>Often, the boat is anchored upriver from where the salmon are holding. An anchored boat lets you work the bait downriver with the rod tip and free spool to let line out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moving Boat:<\/strong> Some anglers will modify the method and both lift the rod to bounce the bait and they will also lift the anchor and let the boat move down 5 to 10 feet at a time to cover more water further down the river.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back bouncing From Shore or While Wading<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Some anglers will successfully back bounce for salmon from the bank or while wading out as far as possible. In some cases, this is similar to drift fishing, except you use more weight so the bait is drifting the whole time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wading Out –<\/strong> Wading out and getting as directly upriver from the salmon is a good way to drop the weight down and into the holding salmon. Just be sure it’s safe to wade out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From The Bank –<\/strong> Back bouncing for salmon can also be done from the bank in areas where your rod tip can get up and across from the holding salmon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back Bouncing For Salmon With Bait<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Many anglers will back bounce with bait downstream. Good salmon baits<\/a> leave a scent trail that the salmon will pick up on long before they see the bait. Once the bait releases scent and then gets within sight, they likely grab it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Common baits are skien, cured eggs, spawn sacks, shrimp, and cut hearing. Most of these baits release scent, especially if they are cured.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lil’ Corky And Spin-N-Glo Back Bouncing<\/h3>\n\n\n