If you enjoy exciting and challenging cold-water fishing adventures, there’s no need to ponder what species to target. Salmon fishing is the most exciting thing you can do! It’s not easy to learn how to catch salmon, but your hard work will pay off when you catch one of these colorful, tough-fighting fish.
People all over the world love these fish for their tasty meat, and most people know how high they can jump when they spawn. But fishing for Salmon is something else completely. And that’s why I’m here today. This book tells you about the different kinds of salmon, where they live, how to catch them, and a lot more. Be sure to stick along as we dive into the good stuff!.
There are a total of seven official Salmon species in the world, and they’re scattered across the globe. People who fish in North America are most likely to have caught the Chinook, Coho, Chum, Pink, and Sockeye species of Pacific Salmon, as well as the Atlantic Salmon.
Because these animals do best in cold water, you’ll have to go to places that are colder to catch them. You’ll find them schooling along in the ocean, or sometimes strolling solo in freshwater. They also enjoy swimming upriver, where they can be seen searching for food. While they’re not too afraid of anglers, they promise to start a battle if you hook them. Be warned, you’d better get ready for an intense fight!.
Every angler needs to respect Salmon, especially as the fisheries they inhabit have become increasingly popular. There are many reasons why Salmon are so popular everywhere they are: they look cool, they fight funny, and they taste great.
Salmon fishing is a popular angling activity across North America. There is a big difference in how often you catch king, coho, sockeye, or pink salmon if you don’t have the right bait. What are the best baits for salmon, though, since there are so many to choose from?
After looking into what guides and experienced salmon fishermen say, two baits stand out as the best:
Salmon Eggs
Salmon eggs, also known as salmon roe, are widely regarded as the number one bait for catching salmon. The eggs are naturally attractive to salmon as they resemble the loose eggs that wild salmon eat while spawning.
Salmon egg baits come in a few different forms:
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Spawn sacks – Eggs are placed inside small mesh bags and tied off. The sacks keep the eggs together on the hook. Colors like orange, pink and yellow are popular.
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Loose salmon eggs – Individual loose eggs are threaded onto the hook. Keeping them on can be tricky but allows for a more natural presentation.
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Beads – Plastic bead imitations are threaded on the line and float naturally in the current. Beads come in an array of colors.
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Egg flies – Fly fishing egg patterns like the Estaz egg fly or bead head prince nymph are go-to fly choices for drifting or swinging for salmon.
No matter the form, salmon eggs consistently produce fish after fish. They’re a classic salmon bait for a reason.
Sand Shrimp
While salmon eggs top the list, sand shrimp run a very close second. The small pink shrimp found along the Pacific Northwest coast are a natural food source for salmon.
There are a few ways to fish sand shrimp:
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Whole shrimp – Thread a whole shrimp onto the hook. The tail provides tantalizing movement in the current.
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Shrimp tail – Cut off the tail and use just the meatier portion threaded onto the hook. Easier to keep on and durable.
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Shrimp strip – Cut shrimp into thin strips that writhe enticingly when drifted along.
To increase effectiveness, many anglers enhance shrimp with scents and cures. Popular products like Pro-Cure and Pautzke give shrimp extra fish-attracting qualities.
While salmon eggs take the top spot overall, shrimp can outproduce eggs at times. Many guides use shrimp as a go-to bait for chinook and coho salmon.
Top Salmon Baits By Species
While salmon eggs and shrimp excel for all salmon, certain baits gain favor with different salmon species:
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Chinook – Anadromous shrimp, sand shrimp, herring
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Coho – Prawns, salmon eggs, sand shrimp
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Sockeye – Prawns, flies, spoons
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Pink – Flies, spoons, spinners
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Chum – Salmon eggs, sand shrimp
This list provides a good starting point for baits to try when targeting specific salmon. But don’t rule out experimenting with different options.
Other Notable Salmon Baits
In addition to the top two baits, several others deserve mention:
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Herring – Salted herring fillets are a staple for ocean salmon fishing. River salmon will take them too.
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Mackerel – When trolled or fished under a float, mackerel can be irresistible to aggressive river salmon.
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Squid – Squid strips, tentacles and other cut baits work well when shore fishing. Squid’s odor appeals to salmon.
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Prawns – Large spotted prawns or shrimp imitations are go-to baits when targeting sockeye or pink salmon.
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Worms – Long 3-6 inch plastic worms drifted on the bottom can be deadly, especially for summer chinook.
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Minnows – Live minnows are excellent for cast and drift techniques. Salmon minnow plugs are also productive.
While not as universally effective as eggs or shrimp, these baits can shine under the right conditions. Having a diverse tackle box gives you options to experiment when the bite is tough.
Baits By Fishing Method
Certain baits lend themselves better to specific fishing techniques:
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Drift fishing – Eggs, shrimp, beads, flies, yarn
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Back bouncing – Sand shrimp, eggs, beads
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Trolling – Herring, whole fish, hoochies, spoons
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Casting – Spinners, spoons, plugs
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Fly fishing – Egg flies, streamers, articulated patterns
Pairing your bait selection with an appropriate fishing method is key to success.
Best Materials For DIY Baits
For anglers wishing to save money by making their own baits, here are top materials to use:
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Yarn – Easy to tie into egg sacks. Fluorescent colors like orange or chartreuse work very well.
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Wool – Can be tied into egg imitations. Provides movement in current.
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Fish Skins – Tie baitfish patterns like hoochies and killfish. Use herring, anchovy or sardine skins.
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** Rabbit Fur** – Makes excellent streamers and leeches. Durable and has great action.
With some basic fly tying materials and techniques, it’s easy to whip up your own unique salmon baits. Get creative with colors and patterns!
Bait Selection Tips
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Carry a variety of bait types and colors to experiment until you find what’s working.
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Make bait changes if you aren’t getting bit after 30-45 minutes.
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Match bait size to hook size. Bait should cover hook while leaving point exposed.
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Upsize bait during high dirty water. Downsize during low clear water.
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Add bait scents and attractants like Pro-Cure for an extra edge.
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Check salmon stomach contents for clues on bait choices.
Remaining flexible and observant of conditions will help identify the best baits to use on any given day.
While salmon eggs and sand shrimp are generally considered the top two baits for salmon, don’t be afraid to venture away from the standards. Carry an assortment of offerings and change it up until you find what’s working. Pay attention to bait specifics for different salmon species and fishing methods too. With smart bait choices you’ll greatly increase your chances of landing more salmon!
How to Catch Salmon
You know what to look for and where to go, but that doesn’t mean you’ll always find something. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to land a Salmon. Each angler has their own favorite. I’ll show you a few and let you choose the one that works best for you…
One of the most common ways to fish for salmon is to cast your line out into the water and let it drift with the current. Adding a sinker is especially helpful to keep your bait underneath the surface. You can do the same without flowing water with a method known as plunking. You simply cast and keep your bait in one spot.
You troll your bait behind a boat or kayak to cover more ground. This is another way to drift fish. You could hire a fishing charter captain to get you out on the water if you don’t have your own boat. Trolling – and all other methods – can be done with both artificial and live bait. It’s most common on open lakes or larger rivers.
A more unique approach, fly fishing promises an exciting yet challenging fishing adventure. Fly fishermen swear by it, but it’s hard to do and you need a lot of space to move your line back and forth. Once you get it down, you’ll enjoy seeing aggressive Salmon lunge on your bait.
Where to Find Salmon
Speaking of where you can find them, let’s dive into some of the most prolific Salmon habitats. Salmon are one of a kind because they are born in fresh water but spend most of their lives in the ocean. They only go back to fresh water to spawn. That means you have double the chances of locating some Salmon if you live close to the ocean!.
It’s beneficial to know the habitats of Salmon so you can easily identify where they may be. A couple of key freshwater Salmon habitats include rivers, streams, and lakes.
For saltwater habitats, estuaries, shorelines, and the open ocean are all areas you can expect to find Salmon. Overall, any place with trees, plants, objects like rocks, branches, or water that is cool and clean is a good habitat.
Don’t worry about where to find the best places to catch salmon—I’m going to give you a few ideas! Salmon are found all over the world, so there are many chances for anglers like you to catch them. Here are just a few world-renowned Salmon fishing destinations:
EVERYTHING you need to CATCH SALMON for $50 (rod, reel, line, lures)
FAQ
What is the best bait to catch salmon?
What lure attracts salmon?
What are salmon attracted to?
What is the best bait scent for salmon?
Which bait is best for salmon fishing?
The Kwikfish is one of the top lures when back trolling for salmon and when back bouncing for salmon. This Yakima Mag Lip lure is one of the best baits for salmon fishing in slower deeper water. Almost identical to the Kwikfish fish is the Flatfish.
Is smoked salmon good for you?
Salmon is a source of high-quality protein, magnesium, and selenium. In addition, it provides healthy fatty acids for the body. It contains large amounts of omega 3, which prevents cardiovascular diseases, has anti-inflammatory properties, and prevents certain types of Cancer.
What are the best fishing lures for salmon?
Fortunately, there are plenty of great fishing lures for salmon to choose from, which, to be honest, might prove to some a catch-22. Which ones are worth buying—and will actually land you a catch? These here make for my top five best salmon lures year in and year out, including spoons and spinners. Let’s face it.
What bait is best for Chinook salmon?
Sand shrimp is ideal for Chinook salmon, while herring and minnows are effective options as well. There is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to salmon fishing in the river, so it pays to experiment with different baits and techniques to find what works best.
What are the best hooks for salmon bait?
The best hooks for salmon baits are: #1 – Raven Specimen hoo k – A wide Gap hook that has become very popular with my guides. It hooks and holds well, and it’s strong for big salmon. #2 – Gamakatsu Octopus hook – A hook that has been around for many years and is a proven good hook for salmon and steelhead and liked by many anglers.
What bait do salmon eat?
Salmon are attracted to a variety of baits and lures, depending on the species. For example, Atlantic salmon prefer bright-colored spoons and spinners, while Pacific salmon may be drawn to smaller baitfish such as herring or anchovies. Other effective lures include jigs, plugs, crankbaits and flies.