| Huge Chinook salmon easily top the list of all the | | | | two chances for a hook set when a Chinook attacks |
| trophy fish that recreational fishermen dream of | | | | your lure, having sharp high quality looks will increase |
| catching. With normal sizes ranging between 20 and | | | | your odds that when they bite that the hooks will |
| 30 pounds and true trophy fish weighing in in the 60 | | | | stick. |
| pound range coupled with incredible power Chinook | | | | Scent plays a big factor when fishing for Chinook |
| salmon are some of the hardest fighting fish you can | | | | salmon. This means both the scent that you want |
| hope to lay hooks into. When fishing for Chinook | | | | them to smell and the scent you don't want to smell. |
| salmon on open water, trolling is the most common | | | | This means you need to keep your lures free of |
| method of angling. There are some secrets and tips | | | | smells that will turn the fish off such as grease, |
| that will greatly increase your chances of success | | | | gasoline, and even oil from your own fingers. |
| when it comes to boating a Chinook salmon. | | | | Cleanliness is a must! Giving your lures a positive |
| Timing and location is key when trolling for Chinook | | | | scent is definitely part of a successful Chinook |
| salmon. It is senseless to spend hours on the water | | | | salmon fishing trip. Liberally applying sent your lures |
| and gallons of fuel trolling when the fish just plain | | | | helps ring in the dinner bell and entice them to bite. |
| aren't 'in yet'. One good method to track the | | | | When fishing for Chinook salmon you must know |
| progress of Chinook as they migrate is to keep track | | | | how deep to go. Chinook salmon are not afraid to go |
| of your local fishing boards and tackle shops and | | | | deep, love to feed off small bottom fish, and will only |
| what is happening. Additionally, knowing where the | | | | rarely be found at a 'suspended' depth. In most cases |
| Chinook will be when they do arrive is essential. | | | | to be very successful at Chinook salmon fishing you |
| Chinook like most salmon will have specific areas that | | | | need to do what we call 'Knuckle Dragging'. This |
| they congregate in before moving to the rivers to | | | | means that you must keep your downrigger right on |
| spawn. These are the spots you should focus your | | | | the bottom. The goal is to keep your lure in the |
| attention on. | | | | bottom 5 feet of the water column where the |
| Pay close attention to your speed and direction | | | | Chinook are feeding. |
| you're trolling. Salmon typically will try and keep their | | | | Don't be afraid to think outside the box when |
| noses pointed upstream when given a choice. This | | | | Chinook salmon fishing. Just because everyone and |
| allows them to zero and on prey both by sight and | | | | their cousin is fishing in particular bar doesn't mean |
| scent. You can use this to your advantage by trolling | | | | that is the best place for you. Look for other holding |
| with the flow of the tide whenever possible. This | | | | areas that other people may have overlooked or |
| increases the amount of time the Chinook have too | | | | that are receiving less pressure. This may mean that |
| see, feel and smell your lure and react to it. | | | | you are targeting fewer fish, but fish that are more |
| 'Match the hatch' to catch more and bigger Chinook | | | | receptive to your presentation. |
| salmon. While it is true that you may catch Chinook | | | | Chinook salmon fishing like anything else takes |
| on any given lure on any given day, presenting them | | | | practice and experience. Keep records of what fishing |
| with a lure that looks like what they are feeding on | | | | top of what lures, where and what depth. Don't be |
| both in size and color will greatly increase the chances | | | | afraid to ask questions on fishing boards and at the |
| they will bite. Quite often salmon will follow a lure for | | | | local tackle shops to find out what has been working |
| some distance before deciding to truly eat it. | | | | for other people. While it is always good to test out |
| Your choice of hooks can greatly affect your | | | | new lures and techniques, it is a good idea to start |
| success rate when fishing for Chinook salmon. Pay | | | | with the 'standard lures' to begin fishing with. With |
| special attention to the hooks that come pre-rigged | | | | time you'll learn what lures and techniques work best |
| on lures as they are often times of poor quality and | | | | for you and will put the most Chinook salmon in your |
| dull right out of the box. The same can be said for | | | | boat. |
| pre-tied herring rigs. Oftentimes you only get one or | | | | |