Salmon Fishing Tips

Salmon fishing can be a wonderful fishing experience because salmon school up for spawning and head inland. During these times they make for easy picking. The best times for salmon fishing are from late spring to early fall. This happens to be when the weather is best also.

The name salmon is shared by several freshwater and saltwater fish species. They are all members of the Salmonidae family. Salmon are born in rivers, lakes and streams from which they migrate to the sea. When it is time, after several years, they return to their place of birth to spawn. Salmon migrate to both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and are a species that are caught and enjoyed by people, bears, and bigger fish all over the world.

There are several salmon species found in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Atlantic salmon is the main salmon species that all other salmon have been named after. The lakes in eastern North America are home to land-locked salmon. These fish never migrate to the sea, even the fish that have access. They prefer to remain in freshwater for their entire life cycle. They are known as non-migratory salmon species.

Brown trout is another member of the Atlantic salmon family. Although most people refer to it as a trout, it is technically a salmon and is very closely related to the Atlantic salmon family. Essentially, brown trout is a closer relative of the Atlantic salmon than Pacific salmon are.

The salmon species known as red salmon are Sockeye salmon. Sockeye salmon fishing is good off the shores of California, in the eastern Pacific, the western Pacific off the shores of Japan's Hokkaide Island and in the Anadyr River of Siberia. In the Canadian Arctic, Sockeye salmon fishing in Bathurst Inlet is the place to be. Pink salmon, also known as Humpback salmon, can be fished in California, Korea, Canada's Mackenzie River and in the Lena River of Siberia.

Chinook salmon is also known as Spring salmon, Tule, Blackmouth salmon and King salmon. You can be Chinook salmon fishing as far south as California and as far north as the Bering Strait. In North America, Chinook covers the entire Pacific coast. Chinook salmon can also be fished in Russia, Alaska and in the Yukon Territory of Canada.

There are a variety of baits that will help you reel in different species of salmon. Freshwater salmon bait consists of flies, lures, prawns, crustaceans, plugs and worms. For saltwater salmon use flies, streamers, lures, crustaceans, cut herring, and egg sacs.

For best results when fly fishing for salmon in freshwater, you will need a 12 to 16 foot graphite or fiberglass rod, as well as a fly reel and a fly line. For bait fishing or spinning, use a 10 foot spinning rod and a baitcaster reel with 15 to 20 pound-test line.

When you are Chinook or Coho salmon fishing, you will need a boat or trolling rod that has a star-drag baitcaster reel equipped with 20 to 45 pound-test line. Chinook and Coho are the largest and most sought after Pacific salmon species. Once you set your hook,they can be explosive and long winded, make sure you eat your Wheaties.

For freshwater salmon fishing, Atlantic salmon is what most people go after. Most anglers fly fish for these species, but they can also be caught on spoons, plugs and natural baits. Pacific salmon fishing is usually done by trolling just offshore and in estuaries. They can also be caught with fly fishing equipment and spinning (landlocked varieties) when they move up rivers and streams to spawn.

When you deside to go salmon fishing, if you don't have all your fishing gear or bait, most area bait shops carry everything you'll need. Remember to buy insect repellants, some areas at certain times of the year, the black flies and mosquitos can be in plauge proportions. We have some good salmon recipes on our recipe page. Add this site to your favorites list and check back often.