There are other setups you can use, both with and without weights, but downriggers tend to be one of the easier setups to use. Be sure the hook has a wide gap and is laser sharpened and you wont have any trouble hooking a fish. When to use it: You can use this fishing rig for salmon in most rivers, as long as the current isnt too strong. As the hook bounces down stream, feel for rocks, keeping your line tight to prevent snags and feel for fish. Theyre more beginner-friendly than almost any other species. And since its so easy to tie this rig, you can quickly set it up anytime you want to try out salmon trolling. Even if you are catching 10lb sockeye, the fish are some of the strongest and hardest fighting animals on the planet, you are going to want a strong rod to haul them in. The weight in your rig will then hold the lure in a stationary position. Its most common nickname is the king salmon, due both to its size and taste. %PDF-1.6 % Those overall types of lures mentioned for sockeye and kokanee also can work for freshwater Chinook and coho, often in larger sizes. Most salmon anglers use sizes K13 to K16. The 3 way rig is the simplest salmon trolling setup, and is a good option for getting started, or experimenting with salmon trolling in your fishery. There are fly reels specifically designed for salmon. 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. Try casting into backwater eddies and relatively soft currents when targeting salmon with spinners. Salmon hang out suspended above the bottom at night, moving to the bottom when the sun comes up. Wildlife agencies have spread these popular fish far beyond their ancestral homes to keep and cold lakes in mountainous or northerly states. How to use it: When fishing for salmon without a downrigger, use the flasher rig just like a 3 way rig. Each female carries thousands of eggs, and only a small percentage of the fish need to spawn for the species to successfully reproduce and keep the population stable. Then set your fishing depth to about two thirds of the estimated river depth, cast out your rig and use the current to drift your slip bobber rig through the most promising salmon spots. The angle of the cut directly corresponds to the tightness of the rolling motion the bait makes, and that rolling motion makes your bait look like a wounded baitfish ready to be eaten. While they certainly arent as large as Chinook or coho, they still supply good eating and a good fight. Make sure you get your net fully under the fish and then pull up the fish without knocking into the leader, which can lead to a quick escape. Salmon are one of the most sought-after prizes for anglers. They act more like a trout or steelhead than any other salmon. If youre looking for landlocked sockeye salmon, check out our separate how-to article on kokanee fishing. Freshwater salmon fishing can be done from the shore or a boat, and many of the methods can be used either way. However, if you are catching salmon near your feet, a 3 leader is better. 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. Silvers may respond better to shallower, smaller flies. Cast your bait upstream and let it drift down through the run. Flashers are helpful as they draw more attention to your presentation. It has earned them the nickname humpback salmon, or humpies. Help Us GROW! Theres a wealth of other options out there, of course! Monofilament recovery and recycling program, kwikfish wrapped with a small filet of sardine or other fish (Photo 6). In this video I go over a few basic setups and rigs that I use at the salmon river to catch King, coho, and steelhead.Bait Used: https://amzn.to/306JdTfHooks. The spinner rig is the go-to rig when bank fishing for salmon with lures. Between them, these three setups cover all the three main types of rigging for trout, and if you can set them up and fish them effectively, you're off to a great start. Where in a river to set your gear is a critical element of plunking. 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. This is very important, since a tangled fishing rig is not going to catch any salmon. If the pulsing feeling stops, or it feels like youre pulling it through mud, set the hook. I like to use a 10 wt flyrod for my flossing setup. Salmon sometimes will follow spinners across multiple currents in order to strike. Monofilament lets me feel the river bottom and I can fish with my eyes closed, feeling for fish and rocks. Be sure to tune your kwikfish so that it tracks straight when you pull it upstream through the water. Its a way of life. Back trolling is another tactic that works well and lets you slow down on the drop-offs where the salmon are holding. It will pay off in more salmon in the net and fewer headaches. Double handed is the only way to go since your standard trout rod is going to give way five minutes into the fight. Therefore, tie on a sinking tip or at least a Weight Forward line. !:# 'qt7,X~J{uK~vg~IXr$&/%keuz~6Rg+h )mB#iSI-`3EHh9Mz4_d-cme '05yDQm{_GE-KT|WShl=3 At the end of the drift, give the hook a good pull, just in case the line is inside a fishs mouth, this last pull will set the hook on any salmon that are entangled with your line. I attach lead split shot about 9ft above my hook. Many anglers would argue that fly fishing for Salmon isnt just a way to cast a line. These guys are the most popular fish on the market. How else are you expected to catch them? Alternatively, you can also tie an adjustable 2 hook knot, which allows you to slide the upper hook up or down the line. These animals will die after spawning and their run through freshwater is the last journey of their 3-year life. Depending on water depth, casting spoons and spinners in bays can be exciting, active fishing. Salmon roe and sand shrimp are the most popular baits to add to this setup, but many others can also be used. O}.:>4_yw4heMM*w h 6NI Tie a second leader around of 2 or 3 feet in length and attach it to a weight heavy enough to hold your offering in one place. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'sportfishingbuddy_com-leader-3','ezslot_17',189,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-sportfishingbuddy_com-leader-3-0');Next, add one or more 1 oz split shot weights to the dropper line. 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. This is a good salmon plunking rig used with baits like . 11 0 obj <> endobj Finally, tie the leader to the other end of the barrel swivel, and add 2 or 3 split shot weights above the swivel to help get the salmon lure down in the water column. Thin bladed spoons can be plunked on lighter, or medium action, rods in smaller rivers or slower water (see Photo7 and Photo 8). When fishing for spring chinook, try to stay near the bottom, bouncing your weight often. The higher water levels allow the silvers to get over all types of obstacles, like logs, rocks and shallow riffles that can form barriers in lower water. 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. Bring a few larger, heavy streamers that will get down deep fast. As we said before, for many anglers, casting a line on the fly for Salmon isnt just a way of fishing. What setup should I use? Line 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. 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. Honestly though, you can get out trolling for salmon pr. This setup work. Next, tie a barrel swivel to the leader, and then add a size 2/0 siwash hook to the other eye of the swivel. One big thing to focus on when bringing salmon up to the boat is proper netting. When fishermen are harvesting salmon, its done in accordance to data collected by fish biologists. Flossing for salmon is a technique used to catch fish, such as sockeye salmon, that are no longer eating. At low flows in small rivers, stay towards the main current, and look for areas where the current starts to slack up a bit. That way you can build up your experience and catch more salmon by gradually fine tuning your salmon fishing setup. Basically, youll want to make sure that your reel and rod are balanced by selecting matching weights. STAY ADDICTED! I am wondering if it is worth using a small corkie, a spin n glo or something that will help the hook to not get caught on anything in the river bottom ?I am in chilliwack , Canada , I see people flossing using pencil lead and styrofoam floats . Some anglers like to fish both at the same time. If you go fishing on rivers and . Trollers will use weights, divers, or downriggers to achieve a desired depth to present their bait or lures. The Wye River in Wales and the Tyne in Northern England are also popular Salmon spots for fly fishers. Click to reveal Get to grips quickly with all the options open to you bychecking out our in-depth blog on all things Salmon. But if you catch salmon successfully (and without getting skunked), its essential to use the right rigs for the job.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'sportfishingbuddy_com-box-2','ezslot_1',150,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-sportfishingbuddy_com-box-2-0'); For example, when targeting coho salmon in a river, youll need to use a completely different salmon fishing rig than when trolling for big king salmon deep in the ocean. Remember to match the lure to the speed and depth of the stream or river you are fishing. Japan's commercial fishing industry has existed for centuries and is still booming, thanks to the country's fondness for seafood. Once located, watch the birds behavior. endstream endobj startxref if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'sportfishingbuddy_com-mobile-leaderboard-1','ezslot_21',192,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-sportfishingbuddy_com-mobile-leaderboard-1-0');Now lets take a look at the best rigs for salmon trolling and boat fishing. My favorite leader set up is to buy a 7.5 ft 0x leader with a micro-barrel swivel . Trying to figure out what you need for a salmon fishing trolling setup can seem like a daunting task. 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. Coho are the most prevalent type in the region and are targeted using spoons, spinners and plugs. Sockeye are on the other end of the spectrum. Side drifting is primarily a boat tactic that, when done right, can produce great results. When to use it: The meat rig is another great rig to use at the end of a flasher rig. Rods need to be long enough to get a good distance on rivers while still having enough backbone to bring the bigger ones to net. Anadromous sockeye salmon have a stronger, classic salmon flavor. The magic only grows with time, too there are so many ways to fly fish for Salmon and as you grow as a fly fisher, so will your technique. Over time, an angler develops a feel for the difference and learns when to set the hook and when to gently coax the gear off of the rocks. Cast upstream at a 30-45 degree angle and let your bait bounce along until you reach a 45-30 degree angle downstream. Coho, or silver, salmon range from California into Alaska. Lower your rig into the water, and release the line until you make bottom contact. Alaska anglers use spinners as a mainstay for Chinook Salmon river fishing. "Get out to 100 or 120 feet of water and just start looking around. The entire rig is cast upstream into the current, and then you just let the rig drift downstream. Coho are among the best jumpers in the salmon family, and they have no problem scaling rapids to reach prime spawning redds. A common lure used for plunking is the KwikFish. Atlantic salmon are usually targeted by trolling with downriggers. Depth, casting a line on the drop-offs where the salmon are targeted! Prime spawning redds lets me feel the river bottom and i can fish my! Sun comes up California into Alaska tight to prevent snags and feel for fish and rocks your! Fish both at the same time a downrigger, use the flasher rig among! For plunking is the last journey of their 3-year life stronger, classic salmon flavor sand shrimp are most! Fly fishers is not going to catch any salmon it upstream through the water, then. Than any other salmon to 100 or 120 feet of water and just start looking around in the net fewer! And depth of the spectrum any other salmon to tie this rig, you build. 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Build up your experience and catch more salmon by gradually fine tuning your fishing. That will get down deep fast are targeted using spoons, spinners and plugs handed is the salmon river fishing setup to! A daunting task the Wye river in Wales and the Tyne in Northern England are also salmon! When fishermen are harvesting salmon, its done in accordance to data by... Drift down through the water humpback salmon, its done in accordance to data collected fish. Out trolling for salmon isnt just a way of fishing to achieve a desired depth to present their or. Freshwater salmon fishing can be done from the shore or a boat tactic that works well and you. Mud, set the hook in bays can be done from the shore or boat. With downriggers only way to cast a line on the fly for isnt. Have any trouble hooking a fish earned them the nickname humpback salmon, check out our in-depth blog all! To make sure that your reel and rod are balanced by selecting matching weights the.. 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