How do I fish for salmon?????

[buckmaster97754]

Salmon season is starting in the lower Deschutes river on August first and I have never tried it. I hear you need 40# test line. I'm used to trout fishing, catfish,bass, ect... I would appreciate any pointers I could get. Thanks

[Wapitiwill]

Depends on the depth and how fast it is moving. I use 15 pound big game trilene we land forty pounders with it. If the fish are schooled then we use a corky and just enough weight to keep suspended through the drift. I like a three to four foot leader. Some people call it flosing but salmon do not feed in fresh water so technically you are trying to run the leader through the fishes mouth. The bobber fishermen are doing the same thing but they use the bobber to control the depth of thier (bait). black bodied spinners with copper blades (vibrax). blue foxes is what i prefere. You can throw fire tiger plugs from the bank to if the water is right they will hit them early in the morning and afternoon.After ya try let me know what kind of water you are looking at and i will do my best to help ya figure it out from here. size 1or 0/1 hooks are best.

[evs1276]

I don't know about you Will but I have always found that you hook more fish with lighter test line.. The balance is figuring out what you can get away with and not break off every fish but still light enough where it is a fight and you don't drag tham to the bank. I am with Will I love running a blue fox....usually #3 or #4. I have also fished with corkys and have had some good success. Water is the key... Need to know to tell which is the best method. The cheepest way to start I think, to see of you like it is running blue foxes or different spinners. If you start buying corky set ups and bobber set ups you are gonna spend some money because you get there and think I need this and this and this and it adds up quick.

[Wapitiwill]

Yeah I do like lighter line if the water is clear. I just didn't know how experienced in fish fighting he was and 15 trilene big game would be a good starter.

[buckmaster97754]

Thanks for the pointers, I'm not sure what a corky is but I'll find out. #yourock5fm#

[Billybob]

Yea thanks guys Im learning a few thing here myself....Im still use too bass fishing down south... ;D

[Wapitiwill]

You could also plunk a spin -n-glow off the bank. I like chartruse or orange for salmon. Any good local sporting goods store should be able to help with the right size and the right wieght to hold it in place. Not much work you just sit back and wait. I just read an article on salmon and the spin-n-glo was rated number one salmon catcher for three states! who would of thought that?? not me.

[buckmaster97754]

Thanks for the tips. Do you use a really stiff rod for them or will my general purpose rod work?

[Wapitiwill]

I use a 9' lamaglass meduim heavy (12 to 20)lb line but any good meduim or heavy action rod in the 7 or 8 foot range should work. If you want a fast action rod stick to the 9-10 foot rods. I do prefere stiffer for plunking because you do it in the current and use 3 oz of wiehgt or more and when the fish grabs on they try to pull the pole and pole holer across the river lighter rods will work but they do tend to miss some of the strikesd due to bieng limber and not getting a good hookset.

[badbob226]

the best thing to do is stop in a sporting store in the area that your going to fish and they should tell what set up
to use will help any that ask us at work i work in tillamok sporting goods so if your in the area stop in and ask for bob