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.
Atlantic Salmon
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.
Brown Trout
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.
Sockeye Salmon
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.
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.
Coho Salmon
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.
Fishing
Facts |
