How To Fish For Salmon In River: Best Techniques & Bait

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What is the best way to fish for salmon in a river? The best way to fish for salmon in a river involves understanding salmon behavior, choosing the right gear, and employing effective techniques suited to the specific species and river conditions. This guide will delve into the most successful methods and bait choices for a rewarding salmon river fishing experience.

Fishing for salmon in rivers is a thrilling pursuit that draws anglers from all walks of life. These powerful fish, known for their epic migrations and determined journeys upstream, offer a unique challenge. Whether you’re targeting the mighty King Salmon, the vibrant Sockeye, the acrobatic Coho, or the abundant Pink Salmon, mastering the art of river salmon fishing requires patience, knowledge, and the right approach. This comprehensive guide will equip you with the essential salmon river fishing techniques and the best bait for river salmon to help you succeed.

Fathoming Salmon Behavior in Rivers

Salmon are migratory fish, meaning they spend part of their lives in the ocean and part in freshwater rivers to spawn. When they return to the rivers, their primary focus shifts from feeding to reproduction. This altered behavior significantly influences how and where they can be caught.

Understanding the Salmon’s Journey

  • Upstream Migration: Salmon return to their natal rivers, the same rivers where they were born, to spawn. This instinct drives them upstream, often battling strong currents and natural obstacles.
  • Feeding Habits: While in the river, salmon generally feed much less than they do in the ocean. Their energy is conserved for the strenuous journey and spawning. However, they may opportunistically strike at bait or lures that resemble their natural food sources or are perceived as a threat.
  • Location Factors: Salmon congregate in specific areas within rivers where they can rest, conserve energy, and prepare to spawn. These locations often include deeper pools, behind large rocks, in the calmer water of eddies, and near the mouths of tributaries.

Seasonal Influences

The time of year plays a crucial role in salmon river fishing. Different salmon species run at different times, and their activity levels can vary with water temperature and flow.

  • Spring Runs: Typically earlier in the year, often associated with species that spend longer in freshwater before spawning or those that migrate early.
  • Summer Runs: Many species migrate during the warmer months, taking advantage of favorable river conditions.
  • Fall Runs: This is a peak season for many salmon fisheries, with large numbers of fish returning to spawn.

Choosing Your Gear: The Right Tools for the Job

Selecting the appropriate fishing gear is fundamental to successful salmon river fishing. Your setup needs to be robust enough to handle strong, fighting fish and the rigors of river environments.

Rods and Reels

  • Rods: For most river salmon fishing, you’ll want a sturdy rod capable of casting heavier lures or weights and handling strong runs.
    • Spinning Rods: Typically range from 7 to 9 feet, with medium-heavy to heavy power. They offer good casting distance and line management.
    • Casting Rods (Baitcasting for River Salmon): Baitcasting setups are excellent for baitcasting for river salmon due to their power and accuracy, especially when targeting larger species like King Salmon. Rods are usually 7 to 9 feet with a medium-heavy to extra-heavy action.
  • Reels:
    • Spinning Reels: Choose reels with a strong drag system and ample line capacity. A reel that can hold 150-200 yards of line is generally sufficient.
    • Baitcasting Reels: Opt for reels with a smooth, powerful drag and a good level of torque for lifting and controlling strong fish.

Line and Leaders

  • Main Line: Monofilament or braided fishing line is commonly used.
    • Monofilament: Offers stretch, which can help absorb shock from aggressive head shakes. Common strengths range from 10-20 lb test.
    • Braided Line: Provides superior strength and sensitivity due to its lack of stretch. If using braid, a strong fluorocarbon leader is essential to reduce visibility and provide abrasion resistance. Common strengths for braid are 30-50 lb test.
  • Leaders: A strong leader is crucial for connecting your main line to your bait or lure.
    • Monofilament or Fluorocarbon: Fluorocarbon is preferred by many anglers because it’s nearly invisible in the water and is more abrasion-resistant than monofilament. Leader strength should typically match or be slightly lower than your main line, depending on your preference and the fishing conditions. A 10-20 lb test leader is a good starting point.

Terminal Tackle

  • Hooks: Salmon hooks should be sharp and strong. Circle hooks are highly recommended, especially when using bait, as they tend to hook the fish in the corner of the mouth, reducing gut hooking and improving survival rates for released fish. Sizes can range from 1/0 to 6/0 depending on the bait and target species.
  • Weights/Sinkers: Various weights will be needed to get your bait down to the salmon. Use sliding egg sinkers or bell sinkers, depending on the current and desired presentation.
  • Swivels: Ball-bearing swivels are essential to prevent line twist, especially when using lures that spin or when dealing with strong currents.

Mastering Salmon River Fishing Techniques

Different situations call for different approaches. Here are some of the most effective salmon river fishing techniques:

Drift Fishing

Drift fishing for salmon is a highly productive method, particularly effective when targeting salmon holding in current or in deeper pools. It involves allowing your bait or lure to drift naturally with the current downstream of your position.

  • How it Works: You cast your bait or lure upstream of your intended fishing spot and let the current carry it through the area where salmon are likely to be holding. The weight of your sinker helps keep your offering near the bottom, where salmon often travel.
  • Bait Presentation: This technique is excellent for presenting natural baits like salmon eggs, roe bags, or pieces of fish.
  • Key Elements:
    • Control: Maintain some contact with your line to detect strikes. This can be done by holding the line lightly or by using a sensitive rod tip.
    • Depth: Adjust your weight to ensure your bait is drifting at the correct depth, usually within a foot or two of the riverbed.
    • Current: Work with the current, not against it. Cast upstream and allow your offering to drift downstream.

Float Fishing (Bobber Fishing)

Float fishing is another popular and effective method, especially when you want to control the depth of your bait precisely and increase strike detection.

  • How it Works: A specialized salmon float or bobber is attached to your line above your bait. The float suspends your bait at a specific depth, allowing it to drift naturally in the current.
  • Advantages:
    • Depth Control: You can easily adjust how deep your bait is presented, which is crucial for finding salmon at different depths.
    • Strike Indication: A bite is usually indicated by the float dipping, lifting, or moving unnaturally in the water.
    • Presentation: It allows your bait to be presented in a more natural, suspended manner.
  • Setup:
    • Attach a bobber stop to your line.
    • Thread a bead, then the bobber, onto the line.
    • Add your weight below the bobber, followed by your leader and hook.
    • The distance between the bobber and the bait determines your fishing depth.

Fly Fishing for Salmon Rivers

Salmon fly fishing rivers offers a unique and dynamic experience. It requires specialized flies and a different approach to casting and presentation.

  • Flies: Salmon flies are often larger and more robust than trout flies. They can be swung across the current or presented with a down-and-across retrieve.
    • Intruders: Large, articulated flies that are highly effective for attracting aggressive salmon.
    • Deceivers: Classic salmon flies that mimic baitfish.
    • Roe Bags: While not a traditional fly, anglers sometimes use fly-fishing gear to present artificial roe bags.
  • Techniques:
    • Spey Casting: Essential for casting long distances and controlling large flies in rivers with currents.
    • Single-Handed Casting: Suitable for smaller rivers or when using lighter gear.
    • Stripping: Pulling the fly through the water with your line to impart action and mimic swimming prey.
    • Swinging: Allowing the current to sweep the fly across the river in an arc, often inducing strikes.

Spinner and Spoon Fishing

Using lures like spinners and spoons can be highly effective for covering water and triggering aggressive strikes from salmon.

  • Spinners: These lures have a rotating blade that creates vibration and flash, attracting salmon. Common salmon spinners include Mepps, Blue Fox, and Kwikfish.
  • Spoons: Metal spoons that wobble and flash in the water, mimicking injured baitfish. Examples include Little Cleos, Krocodiles, and Finn-S.
  • Presentation:
    • Cast upstream or across the current and retrieve steadily.
    • Vary your retrieve speed to find what the salmon are responding to.
    • Allow the lure to sink before starting your retrieve to reach deeper fish.
  • Targeting Species: These lures are particularly effective for coho salmon river fishing and pink salmon river fishing, which are often more aggressive feeders.

Plug Fishing

Diving plugs (also known as divers or wobblers) are designed to dive to a specific depth and present a lifelike swimming action.

  • How it Works: You cast the plug and retrieve it, or allow the current to pull it downstream, while the plug dives to a predetermined depth.
  • Advantages:
    • Depth Control: Many plugs are designed to dive to specific depths, allowing you to target fish holding at certain levels.
    • Action: They produce a lifelike swimming action that can entice strikes.
  • Popular Plugs: Kwikfish, Mag Lips, and Hot Lips are popular choices for salmon.
  • Targeting Species: Excellent for fishing for king salmon in rivers, as their erratic action can trigger aggressive strikes.

The Best Bait for River Salmon

Choosing the right bait is critical, as salmon in freshwater are not actively feeding in the same way they do in the ocean. You need to present something they find enticing or irritating enough to strike.

Roe (Salmon Eggs)

  • Why it Works: This is arguably the most classic and effective bait for salmon. Salmon roe is what they instinctively recognize as their own future offspring or a potential food source for other fish.
  • Presentation:
    • Roe Bags: Clusters of eggs tied in a small mesh bag (often called “roe bags” or “prawns” if they contain prawn meat too).
    • Single Eggs: Presenting a few eggs on a hook.
  • Tuning: Often cured with borax and colorants (like Pautske’s Fire Cure) to enhance their scent and durability.

Spin-N-Glos and Beads

  • Why it Works: These small, brightly colored plastic or metallic lures are often fished in conjunction with salmon roe. The flash and color can attract salmon from a distance.
  • Presentation: Usually placed above or below the bait. The Spin-N-Glo’s propeller action adds further attraction.

Artificial Roe and Salmon Egg Cures

  • Why it Works: Modern artificial baits mimic the scent and appearance of real salmon eggs. Specialized curing agents can impart strong attractants to these artificials.
  • Presentation: Can be fished alone or combined with other attractants.

Prawns and Shrimp

  • Why it Works: The scent of prawns and shrimp can be very appealing to salmon, especially when other natural food sources are scarce.
  • Presentation: Often fished whole or in pieces, sometimes combined with roe.

Smelt and Other Baitfish

  • Why it Works: For larger salmon species like King Salmon, offering a whole or cut baitfish can be irresistible.
  • Presentation: Usually rigged on a sliding or trolling rig to allow for natural presentation.

Flies (for Fly Fishing)

As mentioned earlier, specialized flies are used in fly fishing. These are designed to mimic various food sources or simply to attract attention through color and movement.

Targeting Specific Salmon Species

Each species of Pacific salmon has its own characteristics that influence how and where you can best catch them in a river.

Fishing for King Salmon in Rivers (Chinook)

King Salmon are the largest and most powerful of the Pacific salmon.

  • Techniques: Drift fishing for salmon with large roe bags, plug fishing, and streamer fly fishing are very effective. They are often found in deeper pools and slower sections of the river where they can rest.
  • Bait: Large, vibrant roe bags, whole or cut herring, and large diving plugs are excellent choices.
  • Gear: Heavy-duty gear is a must. A stout 8-9 foot rod with a powerful reel and 15-25 lb test line is recommended.

Sockeye Salmon River Fishing

Sockeye Salmon are known for their vibrant red color during spawning and their rich, flavorful flesh. They tend to be smaller than Kings but still provide a good fight.

  • Techniques: Often caught by drift fishing for salmon with smaller presentations, or by using specialized lures that mimic their diet or trigger aggressive reactions. They can be found in faster water and along the banks.
  • Bait: Small clusters of cured roe, small spinners, and specialized flies imitating crustaceans or small fish are effective.
  • Gear: Medium-action rods, 6-8 foot in length, with 8-12 lb test line are suitable.

Coho Salmon River Fishing

Coho Salmon are acrobatic fighters, often leaping and thrashing when hooked.

  • Techniques: Spinners, spoons, and drift fishing for salmon with roe bags or artificial eggs are popular. They often inhabit riffles, gravel bars, and pocket water.
  • Bait: Brightly colored spinners (like silver or brass), spoons, and cured roe bags are highly effective. Flies that imitate small baitfish or crustaceans work well for salmon fly fishing rivers.
  • Gear: 7-8 foot medium-action rods with 8-14 lb test line are good choices.

Pink Salmon River Fishing

Pink Salmon, also known as humpies, are the most abundant and generally the smallest of the Pacific salmon species.

  • Techniques: They are often caught on very small spinners, spoons, and with salmon fly fishing rivers, using small, flashy flies. They tend to bite readily and are often found in large numbers.
  • Bait: Small spinners, spoons, and brightly colored flies are excellent. Artificial eggs can also work.
  • Gear: Light to medium-light spinning gear with 6-10 lb test line is suitable.

Steelhead Fishing Rivers

While not technically salmon, Steelhead are anadromous (migratory) rainbow trout that share many similarities with salmon in their river migrations and fighting characteristics. Steelhead fishing rivers often overlap with salmon rivers.

  • Techniques: Many of the same techniques used for salmon are effective for steelhead, including drift fishing for salmon, float fishing, and salmon fly fishing rivers with specific steelhead flies.
  • Bait: Cured roe, salmon eggs, artificial eggs, small spinners, and specialized flies are all productive.
  • Gear: Similar to coho salmon gear, with 7-9 foot medium-action rods and 8-14 lb test line.

Essential Tips for Success

  • Match the Hatch (or Present the Best Option): Observe the conditions and try to use bait or lures that best mimic what salmon might encounter or react to.
  • Stealth is Key: Salmon can be spooky. Approach fishing spots quietly and avoid making excessive noise or casting shadows over the water.
  • Respect the Regulations: Always be aware of and adhere to local fishing regulations, including seasons, size limits, bag limits, and gear restrictions.
  • Read the Water: Learn to identify likely salmon holding spots: behind boulders, in deeper pools, near current breaks, and at the mouths of tributaries.
  • Presentation is Paramount: Even the best bait won’t work if it’s not presented correctly. Ensure your bait or lure drifts naturally with the current or is retrieved with lifelike action.
  • Be Patient: Salmon fishing can be feast or famine. Patience and persistence are rewarded.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: When is the best time of year to fish for salmon in rivers?
A1: The best time varies by region and species. Generally, fall is a prime season for many salmon runs, but summer and spring runs can also be excellent. Researching the specific salmon runs in your target river is crucial.

Q2: What is the difference between salmon and steelhead fishing?
A2: Steelhead are anadromous rainbow trout, while salmon are a distinct species group. While techniques and some bait can overlap, steelhead often prefer different presentations and are known for their aerial fighting style.

Q3: Can I use the same bait for all types of salmon?
A3: While roe is a universal attractant, some species may respond better to specific baits or presentations. For instance, larger King Salmon might prefer larger baits, while Pink Salmon might hit smaller lures more readily.

Q4: How do I know if my bait is at the right depth?
A4: When drift fishing, adjust your weight until you feel your bait or lure consistently dragging slightly on the bottom. For float fishing, set your bobber depth so that your bait is just off the riverbed.

Q5: Is it better to cast upstream or downstream for salmon?
A5: Casting upstream and letting your bait or lure drift downstream with the current is generally the most effective method for presenting bait naturally and working with the salmon’s direction of travel.

Q6: What is the best bait for river salmon in clear water?
A6: In clear water, natural-looking presentations are often best. Cured salmon roe, smaller lures with subtle flash, and fluorocarbon leaders to reduce visibility are highly recommended.

Q7: Are circle hooks really that important for salmon fishing?
A7: Yes, circle hooks are highly recommended. They increase the likelihood of hooking salmon in the corner of the mouth, which reduces gut hooking and improves the survival rate of released fish.

Q8: How can I attract salmon if they aren’t biting?
A8: Try changing your presentation: adjust your depth, retrieve speed, or bait. Using scent attractants or trying a different type of bait or lure can also make a difference. Experimenting with different salmon river fishing techniques is key.