Salmon fishing is bucket-list territory for millions of anglers. The sight of a 30-pound king salmon cartwheeling out of a river is unforgettable. Every salmon species has its own character, timing, and technique — but they share one trait: they’re the most powerful fish you’ll encounter in freshwater, and they fight every inch of the way to the net.
Pacific vs Atlantic Salmon
| Species | Common Name | Average Size | Peak Run | Best States |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chinook | King salmon | 15–40 lbs | May–Sep | AK, WA, OR, CA, MI |
| Coho | Silver salmon | 8–16 lbs | Aug–Nov | AK, WA, OR, MI, WI |
| Sockeye | Red salmon | 5–10 lbs | Jun–Aug | AK, WA |
| Pink | Humpy / Humpback | 3–6 lbs | Jul–Aug (odd years) | AK, WA, MI |
| Chum | Dog salmon | 8–15 lbs | Jul–Oct | AK, WA |
| Atlantic | Atlantic salmon | 8–20 lbs | Jun–Sep | ME, Canada (catch & release) |
Salmon Fishing Gear
For river salmon: 8’6″–10′ medium to medium-heavy rod, 3000–4000 spinning or baitcasting reel, 15–20 lb mono or 30 lb braid with 15 lb fluorocarbon leader. For Great Lakes trolling: 8’–9′ medium action trolling rod, line counter reel, 17 lb mono or 30 lb braid with snap swivels. Rod holders and downriggers are standard for Great Lakes trolling.
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Shop Salmon Gear →River Salmon Fishing
River salmon present two distinct challenges: pre-spawn fish that have stopped feeding (they run on muscle memory and aggression), and early-run fish that may still be feeding. The key techniques:
- Float fishing / side-drifting: Suspend cured eggs, sand shrimp, or a soft plastic under a float at the right depth. Drift naturally through runs and pools at current speed.
- Back-bouncing: Lower a rig (eggs on a pencil lead dropper) to the bottom behind the boat, slowly motor upstream while bouncing the rig along the bottom through deep river holes.
- Trolling spinners: Large blade spinners (Mepps Giant Killer, Blue Fox #6) trolled slowly in current seams. Also cast to resting fish and retrieved at medium speed past their holding position.
Great Lakes Trolling
Great Lakes salmon fishing is a specialized trolling game. Run diving plugs (Rapala J-13, Luhr Jensen), spoons, and flies behind the boat at 2.0–3.5 mph in 20–100 ft of water. Use downriggers or lead core line to reach target depth (where baitfish are marking on sonar). Flasher + fly combos are extremely effective for Chinook and Coho, especially 6–8 feet behind a flasher in bright or chartreuse colors.
Best Salmon Baits & Lures
| Bait / Lure | Best Use | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cured salmon eggs | River float fishing | Borax or Pro-Cure cured; chartreuse or orange |
| Sand shrimp / coon shrimp | River bottom bouncing | Natural scent is key; always fresh |
| Spoons (Swedish Pimple, Kastmaster) | River casting, lake jigging | Silver/gold; cast to holding fish |
| Spinners (Mepps #5–#6) | River casting, trolling | Slow roll in front of holding salmon |
| Flasher + fly | Great Lakes trolling | 6–8 ft behind flasher; green, chartreuse, pink |
| Rapala J-11 / J-13 | Great Lakes trolling | Run 100–150 ft back or on downrigger |
| Kwikfish / Flatfish | Back-trolling in rivers | Wrap with sardine for scent |
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Shop Salmon Lures →Run Timing & Where to Be
Salmon fishing is intensely season-dependent. Missing the run by two weeks means missing the fish entirely. Check your state fish and wildlife agency’s run timing charts for local rivers. In the Great Lakes, Chinook peak in late August through September in Michigan’s rivers; Coho peak October–November. On the Pacific Coast, timing varies by river — the Kenai River in Alaska holds fish from May through October in different runs.
FAQ
FishDojo Team
Our team has chased Chinook on the Kenai, trolled for Coho on Lake Michigan, and swung flies for Atlantic salmon in Quebec. Salmon fishing is our passion — and we’ve put in the miles to bring you this guide.