While there are many different types of fishing lures available on the market today, not all of them will be effective for catching salmon. The first step to finding a lure that is going to work well for your catch is determining what type of fish you are trying to catch and where you plan on fishing. Once this has been determined, it’s time to look at some general guidelines for choosing a good lure.
Choose Right Baits For Catching Chinook Salmon
Salmon fishing can be a very effective method for catching chinook salmon, but it is important to choose the right bait in order to maximize your chances. This covers 7 of the most popular baits used today when fishing for chinook salmon.
1) Sandworms – Sandworms are a common bait used in many areas of the United States, but are not as popular in other areas. Sandworms can be fished anywhere there is sand available and should be cut into shorter lengths.
2) Crayfish – Crayfish are very effective when fishing for chinook salmon, but it is recommended that you fish them deep near covers like rocks or logs. Crayfish are popular in the Great Lakes.
3) Nightcrawlers – A common ingredient used in many recipes, nightcrawlers are a great way to entice chinook salmon when fishing. Nightcrawlers can be fished deeper than most other baits.
4) Herring – A great bait to use near the surface of the water, herring is a common and very effective bait for catching chinook salmon.
5) Mackerel – Mackerel is another common bait used in seafood recipes and can be found at most grocery stores. Mackerel should be cut into smaller pieces before using as a chinook salmon bait.
6) Salmon Roe – Commonly found in many seafood recipes, salmon roe is actually the eggs produced by female chinook salmon. When fishing with this bait, it is very important to use a single hook attached to your line or leader opposite of your sinker. This will minimize the chance of catching a non-chinook salmon.
7) Eggs – Commonly used in many recipes, eggs can be used as effective bait for catching chinook salmon. It is important to remember that using more than one egg at a time will not increase your chances of catching a fish and may actually reduce your chances by attracting more species than just the chinook salmon you are trying to catch.
Best Lures For Chinook Salmon
Trolling Lures & Hard Bait
Trolling lures, like spoons (flat circular lure with a metal blade), are great for Chinooks. Spoon lures have been extremely productive in Alaska with anglers trolling along the shorelines, although they should also catch fish offshore too.
Spoons come in different sizes and colors. Slow-moving spoons generally work best to attract Salmon. Anglers should choose their colors according to the water conditions and depth they are trolling.
Anglers targeting Chinook salmon may also want to try using hard baits like spinners (similar to spoons, but without a metal blade) and plugs (a sinking lure that looks like a fish). Trolling these lures behind the boat is another effective way to catch Chinooks. When using hard baits, anglers should use a wire leader to reduce the chance of losing their lures to larger Salmon.
When using spinners or plugs, if you don’t get any interest after 5-10 minutes, reel your line in and try another spot.
Fly fishing for Chinook salmon
Smaller spinners and plugs are great for casting with light fly rods. You can choose your lures according to the water depth, watercolor, current speed, and depth of the fish you’re trying to catch.
If you’re targeting Chinook salmon on a river system, long casts into the fast-moving currents may be necessary. Fly fishing is perfect for targeting large salmon along the surface of the water or underwater. It’s also a great way to land your fish because it doesn’t put any pressure on the Salmon and you can fight them more easily.
You should always check local fishing regulations before going out to catch Chinook salmon and don’t forget to follow these 3 simple rules:
1) Use barbless hooks.
2) Only release Chinook salmon you’re going to eat and put back all other species of Salmon and fish, including the smaller Chinook salmon.
3) If you’ve lost a hook or lure, cut your line and properly dispose of it.
What size lures do chinook salmon like?
There is no one answer as to what an angler should use as a lure when fishing for salmon. In general, though Chinook salmon is known as a “surface feeding” fish species which means they will readily eat lures at or near the surface. The best idea is to try a few different kinds of lures and see what the fish like and don’t like.
Fishing with a surface lure near salmon holding water will almost always produce results. A few examples of popular lures for Chinook salmon include spoons, spinners, plugs, and soft plastic baits. There are positives and negatives to each type of lure such as the way they look, how fast they sink, how they behave through the water column, etc. Think about what these attributes are when trying to decide which lure will work best for you on any particular day.
What color lures do chinook salmon like?
The majority of anglers catch Chinook using one of five colors: silver, gold, green/white, red/white, and pink/chartreuse. These are the main colors anglers prefer when trolling for Chinook salmon.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a way to catch more fish, we hope that by now this article has given you some ideas and insights into the best bait types. We encourage you to explore all options before making a decision on what type of bait is right for your fishing experience level or needs. Remember these tips when shopping around next time and don’t forget to ask other experienced fishermen what they have found most useful in their jobs! These tips can also be used when buying other fishing equipment so keep them in mind as you go hunting down new gear. Happy Fishing!