Salmon fishing spans some of the most dramatic environments in all of freshwater and saltwater — from the crystal-clear rivers of British Columbia to the open expanse of Lake Michigan to the storied Atlantic salmon pools of eastern Canada. Understanding which salmon species you’re targeting and where in their life cycle they are is the foundation of the entire approach.
Salmon Species Overview
Pacific Salmon (North American West Coast and Great Lakes)
Chinook (King) Salmon — The largest Pacific salmon, reaching 100+ pounds. The most sought-after salmon in both the ocean and rivers. In rivers: spawn in fall (August–November) in large rivers of the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. In the Great Lakes: introduced populations with year-round fisheries.
Coho (Silver) Salmon — More acrobatic than chinook, often more aggressive strikers. Smaller (typically 6–20 pounds) but famous for spectacular aerial fights. Spring through fall in saltwater; fall river runs in the Pacific Northwest and Great Lakes.
Pink Salmon — Smallest Pacific salmon (3–8 pounds), most numerous. Runs in odd-numbered years in Alaska and Washington. Very willing biters — excellent on light tackle.
Sockeye (Red) Salmon — Primarily caught trolling in salt water; difficult to catch on rod and reel in rivers. Brilliant red spawning color. Jigs and flies in specific rivers (Fraser River, Kenai River) work during runs.
Atlantic Salmon
The storied “fish of kings” — found in rivers of New England, maritime Canada, Iceland, Norway, and the British Isles. Traditional fly fishing with wet flies is the dominant and in many rivers the only legal method. Atlantic salmon are not killed in most modern fisheries; strict catch-and-release management protects limited populations.
River Salmon Fishing
Reading Salmon Water
Salmon in rivers hold in specific predictable locations — they’re resting on their spawning migration and looking for current relief:
- Pool head — where fast riffle water decelerates into the pool; the holding seam where current slows
- Deep pool middle — large fish rest in the deepest part of the pool
- Pool tail — shallow but fast; salmon stage here before running the next riffle
- Behind boulders — any significant current obstruction creates a holding lie
- Confluence pools — where a tributary enters the main river
Drift Fishing with Eggs or Beads
The most widely used Pacific salmon river technique.
Setup: 9–10 foot rod, 4000 series reel, 20–30lb braid, 15–20lb mono or fluorocarbon leader, 2/0–4/0 hook, 1–3oz pencil sinker on a dropper above the hook.
Technique: Cast upstream at a 45-degree angle, immediately mend the line upstream to create slack (preventing drag), and watch the line tip as the presentation drifts through the pool. When the line tip ticks or stops, set the hook immediately with a firm sweep.
Knot at hook: Palomar Knot on 15–20lb leader.
Spinners and Spoons
Large inline spinners (Mepps #5, Blue Fox #5) and 1–2oz spoons in silver, chartreuse, and pink cast across current and retrieved through pools trigger reaction strikes. Especially effective for coho and fresh-run chinook.
Knot: Improved Clinch Knot for spinners with split rings; direct tie with Palomar Knot for spoons.
Great Lakes and Saltwater Trolling
Trolling Setup
The dominant method for salmon in the Great Lakes and along the Pacific coast. Key components:
- Downrigger — a weighted cannon ball lowers the lure to precise depths (30–100 feet) where sonar shows salmon; when a fish strikes, the line releases from the downrigger clip
- Lures: Spoons (J-plug, Pro-Troll spoons), flasher-fly combos, Kwikfish plugs
- Speed: 1.8–3.0 mph — slower for chinook in cold water, faster for coho
Knot at lure: Palomar Knot or Improved Clinch Knot on 20–30lb monofilament. Braid to mono connection: Double Uni Knot.
Fly Fishing for Salmon
For Atlantic salmon and river coho/chinook, fly fishing is the pinnacle presentation.
Wet fly swing: Cast across and slightly downstream, throw an upstream mend, and let the fly swing through the current in a broad arc across the pool. The fly rises as it swings — a classic Atlantic salmon takes the fly at the end of the swing as it’s rising.
Streamer fishing: Large weighted Deceivers and bunny leeches strip-retrieved through pools work for Pacific salmon, especially coho.
See: Fly Fishing Knots Complete Guide
Gear Summary
| Application | Rod | Reel | Line |
|---|---|---|---|
| River spinning | 9–10’ MH | 4000–5000 | 20–30lb braid + 15–20lb leader |
| Great Lakes trolling | 8'6" MH | Level wind | 20lb mono |
| Fly fishing (single-hand) | 9’ 8–10wt | Large arbor fly | WF floating/sinking |
| Fly fishing (Spey) | 13–15’ 8–10wt | Spey reel | Skagit or Scandi head |