The river fishing season runs from June 16 to 14 March, with a "close season" outside these dates, which is there to give the fish a break while they spawn. The final salmon on the list is the chum salmon, which are found in coastal areas from northern Oregon into Alaska. Fisheries management has figured out ways to introduce ocean-bound salmon to lakes and reservoirs across the west, having them live their entire lifecycles in freshwater. How to use it: Cast out your spinner rig, and wait for it to sink down to the bottom (which you can tell by the line going slack). Targeting them by casting lures can be very productive. For larger fish, like Chinook salmon, use 20-25 pound line. When fishing in rocky waters, snap your wrist at the start of your retrieve. I use the stretchiness of the line like a rubber band when freeing my hook from a snag. Please share this video with your friends, and dont forget to subscribe with the bell. A very popular lure on the Columbia River is a kwikfish wrapped with a small filet of sardine or other fish (Photo 6). Some East Coast rivers get their share of salmon during their runs, but nowhere in the U.S. are salmon so prized among anglers as from Northern California through the Pacific Northwest and into Alaska. Flossing requires using a long leader, I like to use at least 9ft of line stretching from the weights to the hook. Larger rivers need a different approach. Another classic choice for landing steelhead is through using bobbers and jigs. Catching something that fights with wild abandon and then tastes just as good smoked as it does grilled with lemon and butter is a true calling. Bring along salmon eggs and sand shrimp if targeting Chinook, or jigs like the Marabou jig for pinks and cohos, or for very clear, low water. Measure out 5 to 6 feet of leader line, and then tie a 2 hook snell knot at the end of the leader (just as in the meat rig). Marabou jigs (Photo 10) can be used instead of bait and can be especially effective on pink salmon, or other salmon when the water is very low and clear. Plug cutting is basically cutting the head off the bait at an angle just behind the gill plate. Then let it sink down to the bottom, and let the current carry it downstream while you keep a tight line. Sockeye like large rivers to run up and tend to spawn in and around mountain lakes. Alternatively, you can also tie an adjustable 2 hook knot, which allows you to slide the upper hook up or down the line. Use the larger sizes in slow water and the smaller sizes in faster water. Once you find the birds, the salmon are sure to follow. How to tie it: In order to set up a meat rig, youll have to tie a 2 hook snell knot, which basically results in 2 hooks rigged in tandem at the end of your leader line. When to use it: You can use this fishing rig for salmon in most rivers, as long as the current isnt too strong. Large flies, like streamers and heavy tube flies, require much shorter leaders. Salmon are going to look for the easiest way upriver, and they love to hold around cover when available. Even cut herring can have more scent added to bring all the salmon to the yard. The Great Lakes hold large quantities of salmon that have been transplanted from the Pacific Northwest, along with Atlantic salmon. Honestly though, you can get out trolling for salmon pretty easy with this basic salmon trolling rig. The standard setup is usually 20- to 25-pound test line and a 4- to 8-foot leader. Salmon fishing with spoons can be highly productive. There are an endless variety of weights, lures, floats, and/or baits that anglers can use. Be sure to tune your kwikfish so that it tracks straight when you pull it upstream through the water. They are among the most commercially caught of salmon, especially in northern areas, although sport anglers also like to catch them. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'sportfishingbuddy_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_13',187,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-sportfishingbuddy_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'sportfishingbuddy_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_14',187,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-sportfishingbuddy_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0_1');.large-mobile-banner-2-multi-187{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}Finally, tie a 2 hook snell knot to rig two octopus hooks at the end of the leader line. COMING DOWN!" chaos of the salmon run. The plunking rig is ideal for fishing for salmon in very strong currents during spring high waters. Flashers are helpful as they draw more attention to your presentation. Harvesting salmon is sustainable and flossing for salmon is an ethical way to fill the freezer. How to use it: Lower your 3 way rig into the water while youre moving, so that the leader and the dropper line dont get tangled. Ive smoked them and Ive grilled them. The boat then maintains a constant speed and trolls the bait through the runs until fish are found. The standard drift fishing rod equipped with 20-25 pound line can be used for river or bay salmon trolling. Very early in the morning, you might find fish suspended off the bottom and will want to set your bobber stop so that your gear is at the depth you think fish are suspended at. When entering freshwater, Chinook eventually darken and start displaying a red line along their sides. 14:42 - He describes the gear he uses for steelhead fishing. 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}. A common lure used for plunking is the KwikFish. Where in a river to set your gear is a critical element of plunking. HPXtAc\)[C. There are countless variations of this rig, and most salmon anglers have their own version of it. 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. River fishing for salmon has different approaches than bay or ocean fishing. Good runs can mean lights out fishing, but runs have suffered in recent years. As with a spinning rod, longer means better casting and shorter is easier to maneuver. Slip sinker rig. And lastly, here are some common fly patterns to have in your tackle box: woolly buggers, hex nymphs, egg sucking leeches, intruder flies, and bunny leeches. Salmon are one of the most sought after game fish in the world. Its a way of life. With that being said, however, the best rig to use for salmon fishing depends on where youre fishing, and what kind of salmon youre targeting. 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. Boat fishing affords anglers some opportunities not available to shore anglers. Benefits, Harvesting, and Side Effects. Weedless rigs are simple to set up for fishing all manner of baits, including large live minnows, shiners, crawfish, and frogs. The retrieval speed is going to vary based on the conditions on the water. However, if you want to target salmon in deep water over 50 feet, youll need to use this rig with a downrigger, which allows you to get it down into the deep water zones. 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. endstream endobj 16 0 obj <>stream Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Heres a quick breakdown at the different types and how they are commonly targeted. Salmon sometimes will follow spinners across multiple currents in order to strike. Thin bladed spoons should be let out behind your boat until you reach the desired location, generally in 4-5 feet of water on the upstream side of a riffle. Lets dive in. In-line flashers are popular for trolling rigs to help attract salmon. You can bottom bounce in most types of water, and I discuss some advanced methods to . Drift fishing works the same on these rivers as it does in the Pacific Northwest. First, don't compromise on rain gear. King Salmon Rods River Spin Fishing Setup Rod power: medium heavy to extra heavy, accommodating 15-30 pound test Action: moderate to fast action Desirable rod length between 7 to 8.5 feet. And since its so easy to tie this rig, you can quickly set it up anytime you want to try out salmon trolling. How to tie it: Start by threading a free sliding spreader onto your 65 lb test braided main line, and then tie the main line to a heavy barrel swivel. Some of the products promoted in this video are paid product partners. This Salmon River fishing setup is used mainly with drifting a float and bait or lure such as egg sack, jig, bead, or nightcrawler, etc. For one thing, if you want to fish any river for coarse fish (i.e. Your goal is to bounce your offering along the bottom until a fish picks it up with its mouth. Back trolling is another tactic that works well and lets you slow down on the drop-offs where the salmon are holding. 13:23 - We dig into lake run browns. How to use it: Cast out your rig across the river, or slightly upstream from where youre standing. Depending on where you are fishing, the method of flossing for fish might be illegal. Once it is below you and out of the run, cast it back upstream. They wont actually attack a fly, so a common technique is to pull the line through their mouths, hooking them with the fly. Using a fish finder might help, but there are other things to be aware of as well. You cast your bait into a spot that likely has salmon moving through it and let your bait sit until something picks it up. The anglers in Europe spend inordinate amounts of time and money to be one of the lucky few to land a salmon during the Atlantic runs. How to tie it: Use a 30 to 40 lb test braided line as your main line, and start by threading a bobber stopper onto the main line, followed by a plastic bead (the bead prevents the bobber stopper getting stuck in the slip bobber). If you're fishing from the bottom up, put your weight about 24" above the hook. Another technique that can be very successful is mooching. A good 13-foot rod will help with casting distance and provide the necessary backbone to battle a salmon for up to 25 or 30 minutes it might take to bring it to the net. I usually use about 3 feet of leader. A major benefit to using a downrigger is that you get to fight the fish without having to fight the added weights as well. [n(!C:QtdTJ;9;?f(S&G.q TJ[~VK_l"f;(ki"x9P/kxQ/%vDT6CfeY zu:Ppp).E_9acVs.,"iaM1CZlrKcG9!XzZ=P]=7i_/xME[f75M-7b+N9?(, /Gk\Wl8 gP:L+S0y R\rLIljCG?Pf`^v1"&:"\G$dkq79W@_X ~jJvRIP+aWr]=N cl+"FTmz|yk0fc'29@C(4i6& q@`oM"divejs>w][8h.ZL`;@ =& ZO;6i @)!j,75*#3o,xOF-VRiknNP`Z%}[f( Ce%AXDN00v6_ !+ These spoons work best on lighter lines, around 15 pound test, and if you are fishing without weight, they work best when the line has a belly in it between the water and the tip of rod. If you arent getting bites but have marked salmon, put some scent on your lure. rP'3A nJx"#b~gG` x1U3tP}*_=0CB5Qm|_x/R8?M Generally, the idea is to weight your setup so it bounces along the bottom, touching every foot or so, at approximately the same speed the current is moving. We are currently in the process of adding more states. Next, thread a cigar shaped slip bobber onto the main line, followed by a sliding sinker that is matched in weight to the bobber. At the other end of the flasher, tie your leader line (20-30 lb test mono or fluoro). I attach lead split shot about 9ft above my hook. You want your streamer to meet the fish at the low point of the water. This a great technique for beginners - or even children. They can be fished with weight and a dropper if necessary, or you can just flatline them in shallow water, that is, fish them without any added weight. This allows you to feel the characteristic tugs on your line when a salmon takes the bait, which is always a huge thrill to me, and I can start the fight by setting the hook. 2023 Cape Cod Canal Fishing Cheat Sheet. Tie the hooks on the leader with an egg loop knot. They generally visit Washington through Alaska and appear every other year. 11 0 obj <> endobj Salmon like brightly colored baits, so when selecting spoons for plunking, search for chartreuse and fluorescent colors like pink and orange. Finally, add a 1 to 3 foot fluorocarbon leader (15-20 lb test), and tie a size 2/0 to size 4 hook to the end of it. Spinners and spoons can be great for salmon under the right circumstances. On sunny days when fishing in clear rivers, opt for discreet flies that arent bright or flashy. Many anglers now use an in-line rotating flasher along with their herring (Photo 14). Create a bend or loop at the bottom of the wire to keep the weight in place. There isnt much worse than having a nice salmon on your line, fighting it hard, and losing it at the net. There are several strategies that an experienced saltwater angler may deploy when trolling, so consider using a charter or guide for your first trip to learn what works. When fishermen are harvesting salmon, its done in accordance to data collected by fish biologists. On larger rivers, try to set up on an inside curve where any fish migrating up that side have are forced around the point. When to use it: The flasher rig can be used in pretty much any situation where salmon can be caught by trolling. Braided and fluorocarbon lines are preferred when river fishing for salmon. Downriggers work well when targeting pinks, as does jigging with spoons. Freshwater trolling for salmon is conducted primarily in the lower ends of larger rivers, such as the Columbia River, where incoming tides cause river flows to slow down or even reverse such that the flow is upstream. 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