Northwest Fishing Reports

when your fishing spinners what direction do you cast up stream or downstream

I cast across and up stream. Fish in the rivers are always looking up stream.

I agree... I pick a target at about 2 o clock then let it drift to an area downstream. Each cast I try to vary my speed through that area giving it a different look. Once about 3 casts/retrieves through the "zone" I then focus more on a spot 3-5 ft in front of that and do this until its time to move.

Cast to about 10 o'clock up stream and let the lure swing back naturally. DO NOT crank the spinner during the first part of the drift, let it drift naturally until it reaches about 2 o'clock and then begin to use a stop and go retreive. When you stop the lure it flutters downward and when you start reeling again it whips back to life. You will find that you will get hits 90% of the time with this technique right when the lure starts up again. I think what happens is when the fish see it die they run over to inspect things and once it starts again they instinctively strike at the lure. Use a similar principle when fishing teardrop/wobbler spoons. Just cast up to about 10-11 o'clock then let it swoop back to 2 or even 3 o clock without reeling (like fishing drift gear) then use a stop and go technique. In slower waters cast to 10 o'clock and use a stop and go retrieve ALL THE WAY IN. A lot of the time fish will follow the lure as it stops and goes and strike it once it gets close to the shore, can't count the number of times I have nailed salmon right at my feet on wobbling spoons.

Good luck! Experiment with those retrieves!

For a small riple or on a small creek I like to wade out just below the run out and cast up above the ripple. I usually wait for about two seconds before I start realing. I try to think like a wounded minnow as I reel. I real, small jerk, then one second pause. I continue that pattern until the lure is back then I repeat. If the current is moderate I may use a couple of larger split shots on the line about eighteen inches above my lure. This works for me. I hope this helps.

Hank

I also cast at about a ten o clock angle upstream. I reel in any slack after cating and then let the current carry it naturally.