Kokanee are brilliant fighters with some of the best tasting meals provided in landlocked states, and Chinook, coho and other typically anadromous salmon also are stocked in lakes ranging from West Coast water storage reservoirs to the Great Lakes. Finally, tighten the line, and slide the hoochie all the way down onto the beads, until just the hook protrudes from the back of the skirt. Try to cover the entire pool from side to side until you pinpoint the best holding water. There are an endless variety of weights, lures, floats, and/or baits that anglers can use. Overall, keep actively searching for baitfish in deeper water, try mooching when stationary, and cast lures or bait in shallower waters. Depending on the run, Chinook might average anywhere from 10 to over 20 pounds, with catches over 30 pounds fairly regular and salmon above 40 and even 50 pounds or more pounds possible. Depending on where you are fishing, the method of flossing for fish might be illegal. 94.237.87.41 Put your rod in a rod holder and dont try to set the hook when a fish first hits. When entering freshwater, Chinook eventually darken and start displaying a red line along their sides. Spinning/Casting: Use large, bright lures (Vibrax size 5-6, Pixies, in pink, orange, chartreuse, blue, etc). I attach lead split shot about 9ft above my hook. Back the kwikfish downstream until the weight is firmly settled in place on the bottom and the kwikfish is still wobbling from side to side. For bait, you can use herring (near salt water) or salmon roe (all situations). if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'sportfishingbuddy_com-leader-4','ezslot_20',191,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-sportfishingbuddy_com-leader-4-0');The nice thing about this rig is that it automatically targets the bottom zone, which is often the prime strike zone for salmon. If youre familiar with fly fishing, youll be pleased to know that targeting Salmon doesnt require any specific additional gear or know-how. Salmon fishing gear comes in many sizes and flavors, just as the salmon themselves. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Some are using soft beads or yarn. If it dives to the left, turn the screw eye clockwise. I will show you how to put it all together properly to be effective in all river conditions. Start with a floating line and put a sinking line on the spare. A wobbler setup typically consists of a five-foot weight dropper line and a five-foot leader. There are also anglers that target them after dark with glow-in-the-dark spoons. Whether youre looking to start a new hobby, finesse your skills, or get your name in the fly fishing hall of fame, the much-loved Salmon family is the perfect way to discover your love for this spot. by OTW Staff January 1, 2023. A small salmon fly is around a size 10 or 12. Kenai River fishing is so intense that youll grow as an angler [], Salmon Fishing on Lake Superior is quite a journey. Fishing underwater? For weight, push the snap swivel through a 3/4'long piece of rubber tubing and then push a pencil lead into the tubing, or simply push the snap through the parachute cord of a slinky weight (Photos 2 and 3). When to use it: The meat rig is another great rig to use at the end of a flasher rig. While there are many variants, the basic setup is a snap swivel on the mainline with a 24- to 48-inch leader tied to a single hook. Those overall types of lures mentioned for sockeye and kokanee also can work for freshwater Chinook and coho, often in larger sizes. Are you a fly fisher who loves targeting Salmon? Your mainline should be 40-60 pound monofilament or spectra. Keep in mind that you dont necessarily need to use all of these rigs, and depending on your fishery and fishing tactic, you may only need one or two rigs to catch salmon. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'sportfishingbuddy_com-small-rectangle-1','ezslot_35',600,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-sportfishingbuddy_com-small-rectangle-1-0');When youre done with the hook knots, tie the other end of your leader to a swivel or snap swivel, which you can then connect to your main line. The standard setup is usually 20- to 25-pound test line and a 4- to 8-foot leader. Pencil weights are great options because you can add a rubber cover on the swivel and insert the weight into it. Spring salmon fishing leads to encounters with wind, rain and cold. The spinner rig is the go-to rig when bank fishing for salmon with lures. He recommends a 10ft 7wt for a one-handed rod. Salmon tend to hold in these calmer waters after pushing through riffles. Trolling setups are usually comprised of a three-way swivel at the end of the mainline, a 12-36 dropper line and weight off the center of the three way swivel, and a 4-8 foot leader with twin hooks and a cut plug herring or lure. Their nickname of dog salmon may be due to this toothy appearance, or perhaps to the fact that native peoples knew they arent the tastiest salmon around and often fed them to their working dogs. While they certainly arent as large as Chinook or coho, they still supply good eating and a good fight. "Get out to 100 or 120 feet of water and just start looking around. Chinook salmon are generally targeted during the early morning and later evening. The ripping currents formed by the exchange of water between Cape Cod Bay and Buzzards Bay create a fishing experience unlike anywhere else along the East Coast. Salmon arent eating during the spawn run, but these spoons seem to bring the aggressive nature out in them. Most Chinook spawn in gravel beds found in medium-sized or larger waters, but they also will muscle their way into smaller streams, sometimes with their broad backs jutting out of the water while crossing shallow riffles. 10% OFF Fillet Away Mats, CODE: ADDICTED10 https://bit.ly/buy-fillet-away20% OFF Mustad, CODE: ADDICTED20 https://bit.ly/shop-mustad20% Off TUFline, CODE: ADDICTED20 https://bit.ly/buy-tufline20% Off Pro Cure, CODE: ADDICTED https://bit.ly/shop-pro-cure5% OFF KONG COOLERS, CODE: ADX http://bit.ly/31Gq087 Keep Up To Date With Us In REAL TIME! Use 15 to 20 lb test fluorocarbon or monofilament for the leader, and use a snell knot to tie that to a size 2/0 to 4 bait keeper hook or octopus hook.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'sportfishingbuddy_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_7',174,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-sportfishingbuddy_com-large-leaderboard-2-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'sportfishingbuddy_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_8',174,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-sportfishingbuddy_com-large-leaderboard-2-0_1');.large-leaderboard-2-multi-174{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:7px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:7px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:250px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}. These are traditionally bigger than normal flies and more closely resemble aquatic life such as leeches. Anadromous sockeye salmon have a stronger, classic salmon flavor. When to use it: The bottom bouncing rig is a great choice when fishing for salmon in areas with gravel bottoms, which have relatively few rocks or logs for the rig to get snagged on. While there will be different baits and approaches for each river, the basics remain the same. Lucky for me, flossing is legal in Alaska and as long as you do it right, the technique will fill the freezer. Are you trying to fill the freezer but have no idea how to floss for salmon? The aluminum weight is used as the lowest weight as it will prevent the lead from sliding down the line. Drift fishing is a common method where the angler casts a line upstream, lets the line drift down through the run or pool, and then reels in the line to start the process over again. It works equally when fishing for salmon in Alaska in the north to California in the south. Cook Inlet, which feeds into the river, sees all five varieties of Pacific Salmon. Monofilament lets me feel the river bottom and I can fish with my eyes closed, feeling for fish and rocks. Honestly though, you can get out trolling for salmon pr. In Washington, nearly all pink salmon return in odd-numbered years, arriving in the late summer. In smaller rivers, look for tail-outs just upstream of riffles. While bigger than sockeye and pink salmon, coming in roughly the same length as a coho with a burlier build, they develop large canine-looking teeth during the spawn. If you're fishing from the bottom up, put your weight about 24" above the hook. Larger rivers need a different approach. Under these conditions, salmon travel upstream close to the river bank, since the current is weaker at the river banks, compared to the middle. Typical drift fishing gear includes an 8 1/2- or 9-foot rod rated for 15-30 pound line, and either a bait casting reel or a spinning reel. Puget Sound offers several ideal locations for shallower water fishing. Trolling can also be effective in estuaries such as the mouth of the Columbia River (Buoy 10), Willapa Bay, or Grays Harbor, and in extreme terminal marine areas such as the mouth of the Nisqually River. Be sure the hook has a wide gap and is laser sharpened and you wont have any trouble hooking a fish. This is very important, since a tangled fishing rig is not going to catch any salmon. Sockeye are on the other end of the spectrum. endstream endobj startxref The idea is to drop an anchor and use KwikFish or another type of plug wrapped in bait in areas that need lead to get to the bottom. Mooching is basically taking your bait, dropping it to just below the depth the salmon are at, then reeling in slowly all the way up to the surface. Chinook tend to stick to stay near the bottom in deeper water. Certain salmon will hold in lakes. 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