Hello everyone, new member to the site, but not new to the salmon game. I saw this thread, and I knew I had to jump in and explain play doh to everyone.
Let me first say that migrating salmon do no eat. Their stomachs shut down and their internal organs make way for their reproductive stuff (eggs and sperm). So right away, you can say salmon don't eat. They don't eat fish, they don't eat bugs, and they especially don't eat play doh. Anyone who says migrating salmon eat play doh is a fool in my books.
Here's the real truth behind playdoh. It ONLY works with a bottom rig. You will never see it successful under a slip bobber in a harbor. For those of you who think salmon mistake play doh for floating spawn, you are wrong. The fact that you will NEVER catch a salmon with play doh under a float (but hey! you can still catch them with spawn under a float...) proves this point.
I REALLLY get a kick out of people who think certain colors work better than others. Hahahahaha!!!
I've seen the game. It's snagging, flat out. I'm not going to beat around the bush here, I'm going to lay it out to help clear any misconceptions you have.
You see, migrating salmon, especially those swimming up tributaries (such as the Pike!) swim with their mouths open.
What's the play doh rig? A lump of doh on a treble, and a sinker weight sitting on the bottom.
This is where to two tie together.
As salmon swim upstream, every now and then the salmon will run into the line that rests between the glob of play doh and the sinker. The salmon then FREAKS out and swims off. If the play doh is worked to perfection, the lesser of the weights (which is, you guessed it, play doh on a treble) will catch the fish in the mouth or the side of the head). Play doh is very effective for this legal snagging because its the perfect amount of weight to rest on the bottom and it breaks off enough to hook into a fish. Often times, play doh fools will reel in a fish that isn't even hooked! Just wrapped up in line...In VERY rare occasions salmon will have the doh in their mouths. Why? Cause in the middle of FREAKING out and GASPING for oxygenated water, they inhale whats near their face as they are wrapped in line as they gasp for air!!
I've demonstrated this in a rough illustration I have created in MS Paint. It shows how a fish will swim into a line with your typical play doh rig.
There are two types of people out there using play doh:
1. The clueless. They actually think fish eat play doh! They have a lot to learn!!
2. The people who KNOW they are lining the fish. heck, everyone wants to catch a salmon. I don't blame these people for wanting some action!
But the truth is, salmon don't give a crap about play doh. You're just snagging them or lining them as they swim upstream.
Wanna prove me wrong? Go catch a salmon in a harbor with play doh under a slip float. Then I will take you seriously.
You play doh people are a bunch of jokesters.
Sorry to introduce myself as blunt. For those of you who do know me, I provide quality reports and I share a lot of tips. Look forward to chatting with everyone here
Mike