Gear & Tackle
Incredibly fast and powerful, salmon are highly prized gamefish. Of the three species, Chinook are king, ranging on an average from 5-25 pounds, although 60+
pound fish have been taken in Alaska. Tackle depends on the area you fish, as well as
presentation. For the most part, long (7' to 10') heavy action rods like the Buzz Ramsey
AIR IM7 Specialty Series are the rule. Fly gear, levelwind and spinning reels all have
their place, and Trilene XL or FireLine in 10# to 30# test perform well.
Lures & Presentation
Fly fishing aside, salmon are pursued while wading,
bank fishing, downrigging or drifting. Jigs, inline spinners, spoons and bait rigs are
most common wading, drifting and bank fishing. J-plugs, flutter spoons and crankbaits are
popular downrigger lures. Where you fish, as well as geographic location, which dictates
the size of the fish, will largely affect your tackle.
How to Locate
Salmon can be found running upstream in coastal and
great lakes tributaries in spring and fall. They will often hold in the shelter of
midstream rocks and snags, or on the upstream ends of deep pools on outside river bends.
The majority of lake and reservoir fish tend to school up and roam wide areas of deep
water, although they do concentrate beneath dams in springtime. Wind blown shelves,
shallow in early season and deeper in fall, attract feeding salmon, as do sharp, inside
turns in drop off structure.
Effective Baits
Natural salmon eggs, either hooked singly or in clusters called spawn bags, are very popular baits. Small minnows are also very effective,
where legal. For the most part, however, moldable Power Bait for trout is the
choice of most bait fishermen. Power Bait is also available in egg and cluster shapes, and
liquid form. |
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