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Part 2
The salmon in Pacific Northwest Rivers are demonstrating the same fondness for Mack’s Lure Smile Blades as have the steelhead I talked about in my last column.
And why wouldn’t they? The flash and wiggle of the lightweight Mylar blade is a cinch to get a salmon’s attention. Then---after they move in close--- they’ll often take a whack at whatever bait the angler is using along with it.
Most of the time the bait employed for salmon in rivers of the Pacific Northwest is herring. There’s no rigid rule as to just how you use Smile Blades along with your bait. Smile Blades, as anglers who’ve used them know, are slid right onto your leader.
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| There is no one way to go about rigging your Smile Blades for salmon. Pictured here is one of the set ups some of the top river guides in Western Washington have found effective. |
Some anglers position their blades to ride right in front of their herring. Others choose to position their Smile Blades 12 to 18-inches ahead of their bait. Wherever and however you decide to position your blade, remember you’ll need to add a bead or two for the Smile Blade to ride on.
As I’ve mentioned in recent columns, some of the top guides in Washington State are using Smile Blades to put salmon in the boat. I’ve been getting questions regarding the size and colors that these guides have been using.
I checked with Bobby Loomis, the director of sales and marketing, for Mack’s Lure, to get an accurate answer. “The favored size,” Loomis told me, “is the
1.9-inch blade. There have been three favorite colors. They are silver scale, chartreuse sparkle and gold sparkle.”
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| Pictured here are the three Smile Blade colors that are favored by experienced salmon anglers. |
Note the illustrations that accompany this column. They show a typical salmon set up rigged with a Smile Blade as well as the three favorite colors.
Again, you aren’t restricted to using Smile Blades in any one fashion. Rig ‘em up any darn way you choose. The bottom line is how many fish whatever set up you do wind up using puts in the boat.
I do have an additional thought in this regard. I’ve shared a boat with some of the guides who have been using Smile Blades on the lower Columbia River. They’ve been using the size and color Smile Blades rigged in the fashions I’ve been talking about.
Some of these guides have been among the big river’s top fish getters for years. They are on the water day after day. I’ve found it pays dividends to listen close and careful when they share their fish catching secrets.
I’ve also had a question or two regarding what test leader is best to use when you’re rigging with a Smile Blade for salmon. Once more there are no hard and fast rules. You needn’t use a special leader just because you’re adding a Smile Blade. Leaders of 20-pound test are often used by salmon anglers but there’s nothing that says you can’t go up or down in leader test if you choose to do so.
Are you by chance planning a trip to Alaska? I ask that question because Loomis tells me Mack’s Lure is adding two new larger sized Smile Blades especially designed for rivers like the trophy producing Kenai. I’ll have additional details on these new blades in my next column. Watch for it beginning July 15.
-To Be Continued-
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