3. When fishing for Salmon from shore, it’s tempting to make long casts as far out into the water as you possibly can. Pinks and Chums are less picky and tend to be caught as by-catch while targeting either Kings or Cohos (highly dependent on run times). Fishing in Juneau, Alaska! Well if you haven’t, for years the tale has been that only ten percent of the anglers out there are catching a staggering ninety percent of the fish! But what about if you don’t have … Salmon eggs are probably the best salmon bait with sand shrimp and cut herring also being very effective. Click here for the full guide or see below for the highlights and additional fishing tips. With mootching, the a herring is worked vertically through the water column, often 48″ behind a 4-6oz banana weight or a round lead connected to a slider swivel. Fishing for these Pacific treasures begins with understanding Alaska’s five different ocean-run salmon. A 20lb test rig is great for Cohos. Keep in mind that when trolling in tidal areas, which is most of Southeast Alaska, it is critical to account for the current.  Pay attention to whether salmon are striking while trolling with or against the current – sometimes both are equally productive but it can also be the case that one direction significantly out performs the other!  Additionally, when tracking your trolling speed, take account of the speed with which the current is moving the boat.  If your boat is drifting at 2mph and you are trolling with the current, you will have to troll at 2.5mph just to “pull” your baits at .5mph through the water.  Conversely, if you are trolling against a 2mph current, proceeding at just .5mph would have the affect of pulling your bait through the water at 2.5mph. Mark Glassmaker from MG Alaska Fishing does a great job explaining the nuances of catching Sockeyes on a rod and reel in the following blog post. As the Pinks work their way towards their home streams/rivers, a hump will form on their back – hence the nickname Humpies! Popular offerings include spinners such as the Flying C, spoons such as a Little Pixie and maribou or hootchie-tipped jigs. Additionally, a Coho will only have spots on the upper lobe of the tail fin whereas a King will have these spots on the top and bottom. Since Sockeye Salmon feed almost entirely on plankton, sport fishing for these tasty Alaskan fish can be tricky. Drift fishing for salmon. Although the sheer size of King Salmon can be a dead giveaway, it can sometimes be difficult to tell the difference between a small King and a large Coho. The overwhelming majority of salmon fishing in Southeast Alaska is done utilizing the following general techniques. Salmon & Steelhead are smaller examples of large river fish, and both are of the anadromous species, living in both fresh and saltwater. We walk you through the steps of both systems as well as cover various other topics such as trolling spoons in both salt and freshwater, how to downrig and what anchor fishing is all about. You can avoid getting hung up on the bottom, keep your offering in the strike zone longer and more effectively fish prime holding water compared to … You can cover a ton of ground with your boat and get your lure in front of deeper swimming salmon. JUNE 2020, Giant Yelloweye Rockfish! Last but not least, the under-appreciated Chum salmon. For deeper water (50ft+), adding a glow element (flasher and/or hootchie) can help salmon locate the bait more precisely. The graphic below shows a chart that the Alaska Fish & Game publishes for each region of Alaska (Juneau area shown here), including versions for both saltwater and freshwater runs – which are different. Fishing for this fish is exciting and exciting. Fly fishing is another popular approach. Cohos also tend to prefer a faster and more vibrant/flashy bait, thus silver, bright green, gold, chartreuse elements are often used, sometimes in combination with with more muted colors, such as a black flasher with silver reflective stripe, or a purple hootchie with silver glitter (Cohos can’t resist this herring look alike!). Perhaps the most well-known fish on earth, the Alaskan salmon, is know across the globe for its excellent table fare and unparalleled angling experience. Trolling is a popular approach to catch Kings & Cohos. These charts are useful for trip planning purposes and generally describe the salmon run timing but many variables (such as rainfall) can impact when the salmon runs actually occur each season. Cured eggs or fresh eggs in netting (“an egg sack”) are often used which stay on the hook better than a cluster of fresh eggs. Lord salmons otherwise called Chinook salmon are by a long shot the biggest salmon species in North America. Sockeye salmon responds well to typical spinning and fly fishing lures, and is also caught on animal heads. I first fished in Iceland in 2007. For a hootchie rig, run a few spacer beads down the line and then run the hootchie down. Trolling For Salmon – Doesn’t matter if you’re in freshwater or saltwater, plug trolling is one of the most effective ways to troll for salmon and remains one of the top techniques for early season salmon fishing because of water coverage. We utilize hands on techniques to target salmon in the Puget Sound. Spoons fit different and rotating or oscillating. Kings prefer a slower and wider roll behind the flasher so a longer leader is preferred while Cohos like a faster/shorter roll thus would prefer a shorter leader. Salmon fishing can be insanely intimidating to a new angler. Casting is another popular approach. Finn Fishing Techniques coho salmon, king salmon 0. Like in estuary waters, spinners, spoons and jigs are a go-to method for catching salmon. Salmon fishermen should keep a distance even when elbow-to-elbow conditions prevail. This is by far the most common technique for salmon fishing in the river. Of course, salmon fishing along the bank of a stream or river is a time-tested approach. Salmon fishing in the ocean comes in two forms–trolling and mooching. With spinners and spoons, some anglers prefer to use the current of the stream to help provide the lure action, only slowly reeling as the lure proceeds through the current. The main technique we use majority of the time is called “Mooching”, Mooching for salmon consists of a weight to a 6 foot leader with tandem hooks to a Cut Plug herring. Be polite and follow the New York State Fishing Regulations and Rules. Casting is a very common approach for estuary waters. Back-trolling in Rivers – while not as prevalent in Southeast Alaska, this approach in a mainstay for the larger rivers in Southcentral (such as the Kenai River) & Interior Alaska. Enjoy! If desired, you can use wobblers. Use your fish finder / chart plotter or hand-held GPS to track your speed carefully and note how fast you are trolling when strikes occur so you can keep targeting a productive speed. No less popular is salmon fishing with a spinning rod using salmon flies. Sockeyes arrive in Southeast Alaska around the end of June through August depending on location, with freshwater anglers favoring the later end of that timeframe when the spawning Reds will be in the streams/rivers. Halibut Fishing – Juneau, Alaska! Holiday: Nordura River. Finn Fishing Techniques coho salmon, downrigger, king salmon, pink salmon 0 When we chat with salmon fishermen about trolling for salmon with downriggers, almost everyone has a setup they swear by. For fishing at the beginning of the season, in large and cold water, sinking bombards and large shipped flies are used. Maintain a safe distance to avoid hooking someone or encroachment. Gear Fishing For Salmon – Gear is a very broad term, but when it comes to anglers who have been in the game long enough, know that lures, spinners and spoons are part of a successful anglers arsenal when it comes to tackle and a good day on the water. Often anglers use downriggers to present … The methods of fishing and tackle are the same as for catching other small Pacific salmon, with one peculiarity, sockeye salmon are often caught in lakes. The King Salmon is the ultimate prize of Alaskan salmon fishing. Remember, these fish are staging with the intent to enter the stream and proceed upstream. It might be helpful to use a boat to get from one place to another, and sometimes it might make sense to stand in a boat while fly fishing if the water is too deep. 2. The salmon run begins in the saltwater since the salmon are returning from the ocean and then proceeds to the freshwater where salmon are returning to spawn. Okay, if you read the above you should have some basic scientific knowledge of salmon, but let’s face it you came here to learn to catch salmon. We cover how to properly bottom bounce or bar fish, how to drift fish out of a boat, and the differences of the ever popular American Backtrolling and Bottom Bouncing methods. We expose the art of jigging for salmon in saltwater as well as Coho and freshwater steelhead in this article. Sockeye salmon are probably the most challenging of the 5 Alaskan salmon species. Although some colors more consistently produce results, it is important to have a number of different colors available and be willing to switch colors and try new combinations when the bite is slow. Most fishing targets Kings and Cohos but angling details about all 5 salmon are included below. What you do is cast your bait upstream and let it drift down over an area you think salmon fish are. They are one of the biggest animal types you can get here in the north, and are certain to give you one hell of a battle. Click here to access the Run Chart Tool from Alaska Fish & Game. This toothy salmon is often overlooked given their less than inspiring table fare but they certainly can be an absolute blast to catch and release! Offers online and on the water salmon fishing classes, fishing reports, and salmon fishing techniques and advice. Chums typically arrive in Southeast Alaska late June through August. MAY 2020. To fish from the shore you will have to apply some techniques. For Kings, I prefer a 30lb rig with a sliding hook, which allows me to adjust the length of the top hook to accommodate size of the bait so that the trailing hook is in perfect position to maximize hookups. This approach most typically employs a medium/heavy spinning or conventional gear paired with a slip bobber and a hook. Jeremy Anderson from Fish Alaska Magazine highlights common setups for back-trolling in this insightful blog post. These fish often hold for a few tide cycles but can sometimes spend days staged at the mouth of the stream or river, creating a concentration of salmon that often leads to rod-bending action! We were to fish a small river on the Northern coastline called the Fljota, which, common to almost all Icelandic Rivers, flows with water that is incredibly clear. A variety of jigging methods can be used ranging from erratic retrieval (never contacting the bottom) to a bottom-bouncing approach that methodically contacts the bottom prior to each lift. Cohos tend to prefer a tighter-spinning bait at a faster speed, often 2mph or more. An introduction to the four major techniques of salmon fishing – spinning, worming, prawning and fly fishing. Fishing techniques are methods for catching fish. 1. Salmon Fishing techniques. ), I almost alway ensure that either my flasher and/or my hootchie has some green element. Salmon Fishing In Iceland Tips, Techniques, Observations and Advice report. Note that many topics discussed at a high level below will eventually be linked to more detailed content. This method creates a more natural bait for salmon, and they have a … These salmon average 4-12lbs and drive freshwater fishermen crazy due to the precise tactics required to catch spawning Reds given their diet that favors zooplankton over traditional salmon offerings such as herring (few if any sportfishing anglers target Sockeyes in saltwater, although commercial netting abounds – e.g., Bristol Bay). Mooching is a different saltwater approach that offers the benefit of “rod in hand” instead of watching a trolling rod. While mixing and matching different color variations (silver, black, purple, pink etc. Destination: Iceland. MAY 2020, Pacific Cod on a Jig! Marine trolling approaches work will in these areas, especially if the area has deep water nearby the stream mouth (i.e. Every spring for the past 25 years, our small group of guys has headed up to East Grand Lake in Maine for a week of landlocked salmon fishing. Fly Fishing Salmon From Shore. Chinook will often hold in those deep spots. Kings tend to prefer a wider-spinning bait at a slower speed, often 1.5mph or less (sometimes as slow as .5 or .7 mph). Weighing in around 3-4lbs, Humpies deliver a pound-for-pound great fight which can wear out any angler after a day of non-stop rod-bending action! Fly fishing for salmon Cover water closest to you and then begin to branch out. We teach you the ropes of flyfishing for Coho on rivers and lakes as well as the exciting pursuit of Steelhead and Humpies on a fly. Brining herring beforehand can help create a firm bait that is less prone to sogginess and fouling – plus some brines include colors such as vibrant blue, green or natural sheen, making the herring more visible to the salmon. Pink Salmon arrive in Southeast Alaska in early July depending on location. The downsides are that it can be tricky to get the spin just right and also a bait can be easily fouled by passing debris or wear and tear. Mooching is done by drifting or using the engine lightly to ensure the correct speed (“motor mooching”) to create a slight angle on your line. Although Cohos are often caught using similar colors/tactics as Kings, Cohos tend to run shallower – often hitting in 30ft or less! Thus, a popular approach is to begin fishing estuary waters at a low tide and “ride the tide” upwards into the stream or river, essentially following the fish. Often with medium/heavy spinning or conventional (bait casting) gear, anglers use a variety of artificial lures to entice salmon strikes. I have found the best color for trolling King Salmon to be green. Fly fishing anglers often use 6-9wt fly rods (depending on target salmon species) and large streamers such as Clouser Minnows or Egg Sucking Leaches (a Wooly Bugger on steroids!). Salmon will often hug the banks especially if the rivers are full. Vibrant colors such as pink, purple, orange, chartreuse, green and white often work well. Sockeye salmon can be targeted successfully by integrating a number of spin fishing techniques. Well I’m here to tell you that this tale has been true for as long as I’ve been fishing. Go Salmon Fishing want’s to make it easier for youngsters and beginners to get out there and be involved in the sport successfully so there is a growing interest in this endangered species. There is no better way to introduce a younster to salmon fishing than to target the peak of the Humpie run with spinning or fly fishing gear – these fish will eat just about anything! Mooching is a much slower, and some say calmer method of fishing. Most fishing targets Kings and Cohos but angling details about all 5 salmon are included below. Visit Bass Pro Shops Fishing – Click Here, Wets and Streamer Flies For Salmon Fishing, Fly Fishing Combos For Saltwater & Freshwater, Attractant & Bait For Bass, Panfish And Walleye, Attractants, Bait Keepers, Aerators and Lights for Fishing, Tackle Craft – Handle Kits and Components, Downriggers, Outriggers and Planer Boards, Trolling Rods For Freshwater And Saltwater Fishing. Casts are typically shorter (across the stream) and angled upstream so that during retrieval the bait moves downstream. For this, you will need 12 to the 36-inch line to fish. Crab Fishing – Juneau, Alaska MAY 2020, 2nd Chance Halibut! A dual salmon hook rig is often used for a hootchie or herring. The top-secret to catching salmon fish is through having a very sharp hook. A typical trolling setup includes a flasher in front of a hootchie, herring, trolling fly or small spoon. Here we’ve put together a set of tips that will help both novice and veteran fishermen. See more ideas about Salmon fishing, Fish, Fishing tips. This doesn’t have to be the case. I will however start with the most popular and applicable to the most rivers and situations. it is not practical to troll in less than 5ft of water, however, some areas have 15-40 foot depths nearby that do setup well for trolling flashers, herring, hootchies, etc. Halibut Fishing – Juneau, Alaska! The overwhelming majority of salmon fishing in Southeast Alaska is done utilizing the following general techniques. Weighing in at 8-12lbs and known for their jump-filled fights and excellent table fare, it is no wonder why many anglers travel to Southeast Alaska specifically to target these “silver bullets.” Cohos typically arrive in across Southeast Alaska mid/late July through August (depending on location). May 14, 2017 - An explanation with illustrations and descriptions on how to rig your fly fishing equipment for various methods of fishing Michigan’s rivers for steelhead and salmon. Salmon Fishing Techniques. Always be on the lookout for “jumpers” – salmon leaping out of the water is always a good sign that countless more salmon are likely lurking below the surface. Trolling for Salmon Without Downriggers: Beginners Guide . A good pair of polarized glasses can also help as sometimes (based on sunlight and water clarity/depth) schooling fish are visible below the surface. While this approach is repetitive to some (making similar casts again and again), it often yields some of the best salmon stream fishing results! Drift fishing for salmon usually involves floating downstream on a drift boat and bouncing or drifting you bait along the bottom. Using a cannonball lead weight, we drop our bait into a deeper hole that salmon will be laying in. I hope you find my Salmon River Guide Blog entertainingly informative or mildly educational. When you become a little bit more familiar with salmon fishing, you start to explore different ways to catch fish. Be sure that your flasher has quality ball bearing swivels – standard barrel swivels may seize up in the saltwater and cause a terrible twisted tangle! The Silver Salmon is one of the most sought after species of Alaskan salmon. For herring, the most common rigging approaches are a cut plug or a helmet – both achieve the same goal of spinning the herring. The first variation of mootching is letting the bait drop slowly down often to depths of more than 150 feet and then slowly reeling it back up. Over the last 15 years of salmon fishing, we’ve seen it all. Check out my post on the 2019 Juneau Salmon Derby to see trolling action for Cohos and Kings firsthand! Epic Battle! There is nothing more frustrating than pulling a bait up that hasn’t been spinning correctly for who knows how long! Saltwater Salmon Fishing Techniques (marine / shore casting) Trolling is a popular approach to catch Kings & Cohos. Kings tend to feed deeper in the water column than Cohos thus it is not uncommon to have lines set at 50ft or even 100ft deep (where glow colors truly shine, literally!). Jig fishing offers a near-endless variety of retrieval depths and speeds, which can often yield strikes on days that other methods are not producing. Ensure the hook is sharp so that when the salmon bites, it will get hooked. 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