River Fishing Salmon

[Anonymous]

I have been river fishing for salmon the last two years without great success. I had instruction from several of the fisherman on the river who have their theories. What color corkies (some even gave me theirs) stuff like that. One day when the pinks were coming in, 2 yrs. ago, I saw a lot of fish caught by different people and it didn't seem to matter at all what color!

I have a friend who uses a Mepps trout lure that is successful for her.

I figured out I didn't know how to tell if I had a bite or not. Last year I hooked and landed one (not pink) and I had several strikes. Maybe I am learning.

I like to eat salmon. I hope to catch many this year. I like smoked salmon (pinks) too.

I was wondering if there is any one who would like to explain to us newbies how to catch more fish this year in the rivers?

I was also wondering if the fish in the different rivers like different things since they are all silvers, kings, or pinks (same species) but in a different body of water? How does one tell how much weight to put on? What size hook to use? How much leader? What type of line and lbs. etc., etc., etc. I have used 15lbs test but others only use 10 lbs.

Where I was fishing I saw someone with a 3 foot king that I couldn't even put my hand around the base of its tail.
It was immense. I also realized, at that time, I would have a hard time landing a fish that big. It might put me into the river.

[Mike Carey]

Moved to River section...

[Derrick-k]

12lb mainline and 10lb leader will work for all salmon and steelhead.
Just use a medium sized blue fox spinner, cast upriver and reel it in very slowly.

Colors: Silvers-pink

Pinks-pink

Kings-blue

Steelhead-silver brass blue or black

If you want to plunk eggs then use a spin'n glo and a cluster f eggs, and you should be able to feel the bite.

[A9]

For now, the Pinks on the Snohomish system is on fire. Early morning is best, plus you can stake out your spot. The biting fish aren't the jumpers. Work the bottom 1/3 of the water column, and thats where you will have the best luck.

As for tackle. Pink jigs or Pink Dick nites worked as slow as you can right near the bottom....

[FishingFool]

For now, the Pinks on the Snohomish system is on fire. Early morning is best, plus you can stake out your spot. The biting fish aren't the jumpers. Work the bottom 1/3 of the water column, and thats where you will have the best luck.

As for tackle. Pink jigs or Pink Dick nites worked as slow as you can right near the bottom....

how do you cast with dick nites? they have almost no weight to them.

[A9]

Drift fishing setup. Basically you run your main line through the eye of a snap swivel, and on the snap, attach a piece of pencil lead. THen tie your mainline to a barrel swivel, then have a 3 to 4 ft leader and tie on your dick nite that way...

[A9]

Here is a diagram. Don't need the surgical tubing though. You just need pliers to flatten out the top part of the hollow core pencil lead and to make a little hole to put the snap through. And you of course will be substituting the corkie and hook for the dick nite.

[Jake Dogfish]

Awesome diagram Sam. Displays a drift setup perfectly.
Btw Toni I know people that fish Small mepps for salmon exclusively and I have caught many on them myself...

[Toni]

That is a great diagram for drift fishing and that is what I do except I don't use a barrel swivel. I just use a cheap regular one. I use this rig up for the dick nites, too. With the new area I am fishing in the river I have lost all the dick nites I have used. I believe there might be a tree that I can't see.
I have now put 12 lb. main line and 6-8 lb. test for leader. Leader length is 3-5 ft. I use for the most part solid core pencil lead that I flatten with a hammer at home then use a screw to drill a hole in the flattened area then I tie a small piece of leader in the hole and then attach it to the swivel.
I talked with someone who believes that the bite on the Carbon starts maybe around 11am. He also said just at the break of day but I won't be getting up that early. He lives near where we were fishing and is successful. I have seen him there for a couple of years now with fish.
Does weather affect salmon river fishing?

[A9]

Yes weather effects river fishing, just like any fishing. Whenever the barometric pressure changes drastically, it can put the bite off.

[juiced67]

what a good shore casting set-up...i have pink spoon, pink dick nite, pink jigs

[A9]

juiced:
Bring two trout rods out there. On the lighter of the two, stick the 1/4oz. jig. On the other rod, setup the pink DN spoon with the drift fishing rig and switch between the rods and see which one works better and stick with that or have a backup if you snag up on one or the other...

[Toni]

Question on the drift set up. Is the swivel that goes to the weight tied? Or is it a slider? I still haven't caught a fish so I am going to try it exactly as it shows. I do something similar but not exactly.

[A9]

Slider.

[mallard83]

I prefer to use a single swivel and no slider. Just leave the tag end of your knot from the mainline an inch long or so and use hallow core lead. This seems to be a better setup for me because it hangs up less and if you do just the lead pulls off, is easier to detect bites and allows for a more solid hook set most of the time.

[gpc]

On the green I know they are using that exact set up for the kings, and are doing quite well. There are using pink corkies and pink yarn, or thats what I have heard. I am going down there tomorrow and trying my luck. I only have a few corkies so chances are I will be using a spin and glow. But I will let you know how I do or what I see them using.

[A9]

Yea I don't use a slider myself either mallard. That was just a picture I pulled off a random google search. Just one snap swivel. Tie my mainline to the end of the swivel with the snap on it, and then snap on a piece of hollowcore lead, then on the other end of the swivel, I tie the leader to my lure/rig

[mallard83]

Yea I don't use a slider myself either mallard. That was just a picture I pulled off a random google search. Just one snap swivel. Tie my mainline to the end of the swivel with the snap on it, and then snap on a piece of hollowcore lead, then on the other end of the swivel, I tie the leader to my lure/rig

Sam, instead of using a snap swivel you should try using a regular swivel and just leaving your extra line from tying your knot there. Leave an inch to an inch and a half and just slide the hallow core onto this line and pinch it with pliers. Don't pinch it to hard though because you will break off more. I usually pinch the lead onto the line and then pull on it, if it moves with moderate pressure than it is perfect, if it moves to easily pinch it harder, if it is really hard to move pull it off and try again.

[A9]

I'll try it tomorrow if I fish a Dick Nite rig.

Mallard you heard of any luck with green mini hootchies on jig heads for pinks? Dude next to me every time I'm out there (this guy is out there every time I'm there believe it or not) always outfishes me 3-5. I use the standard pink stuff. Pink or 50.50 Dick nites or a pink jig. He uses this mini green spatterback hootchie and smacks em on it. Same retrieve as him same spot. i'll stand right next to him and still he gets more fish...

I got some of the same stuff at Joes earlier today after he outfished me this morning and threaded some of those hootchies on the jigs and will try those for a long time tomorrow and come back with results...

Your way does make sense though. I'm sure the pencil lead is what snags up the most so I'm hoping your way solves this? You seem to be a bigger river guy then me (only fish Pinks/Chums for CnR fun and I'm a saltwater guy) so I'll take your word on it.

[Anonymous]

I used the set up as it shows in the picture but I ended up attaching the weight to the snap swivel without the rubber tube. I put a hole in the end of the weight so it is not hollow. I have a bunch of it so I would like to use it up. The weight is sliding up and down. The news is I caught 2 pinks today!