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Salmon Fishing
You pack up
your fly fishing gear and head out for a day of solitude at your
favorite cold water fishing spot. You arrive, pack your gear to the
bank, slip on your thigh waders, add a selection of flies to your
fishing vest and walk into the stream. You cast and work your fly rod
and line, enjoying the sights and sounds of nature. Suddenly, a fish
strikes. You fight it for all you are worth until it tires. You land it
and see you've caught a medium sized salmon.
Salmon is a name that's 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, they return to their place of birth
to spawn. Salmon migrate to both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans
and are a species that are fished by anglers 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. Lakes in eastern
North America are home to land-locked salmon. These fish
never migrate to the sea, even if they have access. They prefer to
remain in freshwater for their entire life cycle. They are known as
non-migratory salmon species.
Another member of the Atlantic salmon family is the Brown Trout.
Though 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 the Pacific salmon is.
The salmon species known as red salmon is Sockeye
salmon. Sockeye salmon are fished 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 are fished in Bathurst
Inlet. Pink salmon, also known as Humpback salmon, can be fished
in California, Korea, Canada's Mackenzie River and in the Lena River of
Siberia.
Learn how to make your own fishing lures for only a few cents
each. Click
here to read more.
Chinook
salmon is also known as Spring salmon, Tule, Blackmouth salmon and
King salmon. Chinook can be fished 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
Canada's Yukon Territory.
There are a variety of baits that will help you land different species
of salmon. Freshwater bait consists of flies, lures, prawns,
crustaceans, plugs and worms. In saltwater use flies, streamers, lures,
crustaceans and egg sacs.
If you are fly fishing for salmon in freshwater, you will need a
12 to 16 foot (3.7 to 4.9 meter) graphite or fiberglass rod, as well as
a fly reel and a fly line. For bait fishing or spinning, use a 10 foot
(3 meter) spinning rod and a baitcaster reel with 15 to 20 (6.8 to 9.1
kilogram) pound-test line.
If you are fishing for Chinook or Coho salmon, you will need a boat or
trolling rod that has a star-drag baitcaster reel equipped with 20 to 45
(9.1 to 20.4 kilogram) pound-test line. Chinook and Coho are the largest
and most sought after Pacific salmon species.
The most fished freshwater salmon is the Atlantic salmon. Most
anglers fly fish for these species, but they can also be caught on
spoons, plugs and natural baits. Pacific salmon are usually
fished 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.
If you need assistance with salmon fishing techniques or choosing salmon
fishing equipment, seek out an experienced salmon fishing angler.
This could be a family member, a friend, a neighbor, a salmon fishing
guide or a staff member of any bait and tackle shop that specializes in
salmon fishing equipment.
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