Catching salmon is a joy for any fisherman. All over the world, such fishing is considered a rather extreme and dynamic activity. This is due to the difficulty of fighting this type of fish, the strength and power of which is evidenced only by the fact that during spawning, in order to overcome obstacles, salmon is able to jump out of a reservoir 4 m in height.
In this review you will learn where to catch salmon, what gear to use, what baits and lines to use, and at the end of the article you will find a training video on salmon fishing.
Rating of the top 5 spinning rods for salmon and pike
- Daiwa Exceler-AR - (4000 RUR)
- MIKADO NIHONTO MH TELESPIN 240 — (2500 RUR)
- Black Hole Classic 270 — (7500 RUR)
- St. Croix AVID - (6000 RUR)
- Major Craft RIZER - (RUR 13,000)
We will call the St. spinning rod optimal in terms of price/quality ratio. Croix AVID, its main parameters: 2-4 lb., 1/32-3/16 oz., fast action. It is especially suitable for jigging; for twitching it is better to choose shorter spinning rods.
The rod should be designed to handle lures weighing between 10 and 40g and have the strength to handle a 10kg redfish.
Choose a powerful spinning or multiplier reel.
The spinning spool must be at least 3000 in size, since a lot of fishing line must be held, the volume of the spool must be appropriate, with a diameter of 0.30.
Also, the reel must be equipped with a reliable drag to quickly respond to fish jerks. In general, a cheap reel is not suitable for large salmon, as it will break very quickly, choose models from Daiwa, Shimano, Ryoby, from the middle price segment, believe me, a high-quality reel will be more profitable in the long run.
Example of reels: Ryobi Excia MX, Daiwa Revros MX, Daiwa Exist, Shimano Elf, Shimano Twin Power.
You should also grab a few skeins of fishing line or braid. The diameter of monofilament is 0.28-0.35 mm, braided line is 0.12-0.22 mm.
But braided fishing line should only be used in combination with a flexible fishing rod, which will reduce the possibility of slips. It is preferable to use monofilament, although the performance of wobblers will be better on braid.
Salmon is an extremely strong fish. It is worth taking care of a sufficient supply of fishing line, because this fish is capable of making throws of 50-70 m.
Therefore, the optimal length of line on a reel is approximately 150 m.
Before you start fishing, you should once again check all fasteners and carabiners, rings and tees.
Where do they catch salmon?
Salmon belong to the category of migratory fish that live in the sea or lakes, and rise into rivers only for the purpose of reproduction.
In most cases, after reaching 4-6 years of age, all salmon species enter very fast rivers with rapids and often rise upstream for several hundred kilometers.
The periods of entry of salmon into rivers are not the same: salmon of the so-called “spring” form enter in the summer and early autumn before spawning, while adherents of the “winter” form enter either in late autumn or early spring, and stay there until spawning on average for about a year .
As a stopover in rivers during the period before spawning, salmon choose small, fast places in reservoirs with a rocky or sandy-pebble bottom surface.
When to catch salmon
Experience shows that the best natural conditions for trolling salmon are cloudy weather and the presence of a small wave.
Fishing will be especially productive in early spring or at the beginning of the summer season. At this time, specimens of different weights come across - from 4 to 20 kg. From the second half of June until the beginning of November, salmon are caught in rivers more often than in lakes.
Salmon spawn mainly at water temperatures of no more than 6-7 degrees. These are, first of all, indicators for the period from the second half of September to mid-November.
For spawning, salmon prefer running waters, and for feeding purposes, they choose areas of calm water where there is enough food.
Young individuals feed mainly on various insects and small aquatic invertebrates, while adult salmon also do not refuse crustaceans and small fish.
Salmon fishing season
Legal salmon fishing on the Kola Peninsula begins in the spring when the fish enter the rivers and ends in the fall before their spawning.
The exact dates may vary in different places on the peninsula. Thus, on the Tersky Coast at the southern tip of the Kola Peninsula, salmon fishing begins in early May and lasts until mid-November. In the north and northeast, that is, in most rivers and lakes of the peninsula, the season starts in early June and ends in mid-September.
It is believed that the best fishing time for catching salmon is June-July, as well as autumn (the autumn season on salmon rivers begins in mid-August), when salmon enter the rivers. It is during this period that the fish is most active and therefore it is easier to catch its move. Closer to autumn, you come across the so-called osenka, fish of the autumn sunset, which will winter in the river and go to spawn next year. Spring-summer salmon spawn in the fall of the same year.
Some fishermen note that, according to their personal feelings, the most successful salmon fishing occurs early in the morning or evening, or in cloudy weather at any time of the day. Apparently, this is due to the fact that at this time the salmon are most active, since sunlight does not prevent it from observing its surroundings.
Salmon fishing with spinning rod
In spinning fishing, the selection of the optimal bait is of great importance. This predator needs baits that will provoke the fish to attack the same lure quickly and decisively. To do this, it is important to ensure such a visual effect and vibration that will be as similar as possible to the movements of the usual salmon prey.
It is worth considering that salmon very rarely react to movement that is too fast and passing in the distance, while baits moving slowly near the bottom are very attractive to this predator.
River salmon fishing. Fishing methods and bait
There are few who do not love excellent salmon, because it has unique flavors and soft meat. However, in order to get this fish on the table, you must first catch the salmon itself, or buy it, which is not so interesting.
Catching river salmon, this dexterous predator, is done by some with fly fishing, by others with spinning rods, but undoubtedly occupies a huge place in the heart of any angler.
First of all, the method of catching salmon depends on the fishing locations. The shallow rivers of the Kola Peninsula are perfect for inexperienced fishermen, because all you have to do is find a place where the fish stay. Another thing is the waters of Finland and the Leningrad region, where it is very difficult, but so interesting, to fish for river salmon.
Perhaps it is the difficulty of fishing that allows wild salmon populations to be so numerous and not decline, despite environmental problems. Most of the salmon rivers are in Finland, and the country's residents take good care of the rivers, maintaining the population. Finding the key to Finnish salmon is extremely difficult, because even determining the parking spot is almost impossible even for a very experienced fisherman; there is simply no place for a beginner.
Fishermen are attracted by rapids and riffles, so wide, full-flowing rivers simply confuse them, without giving a single clue. However, if you got a couple of tips from local old-timers, the reward could be a giant weighing more than 15 kilograms. If you don’t have the opportunity to fish in Finland, Russia also has a number of excellent salmon rivers – the Neva, Kumi and others. Usually, there are also many fishermen present for this type of fish.
Methods of catching river salmon
So, in order to catch wild salmon, you must first determine what method of fishing will take place - spinning or fly fishing. The spinning method is considered the most effective, so we will proceed from this constant. The length of the rod for the most effective fishing should be from 2.6 to 3 meters, but this depends on the preferences of the fisherman. Just remember that you won't need to move the rod much, so don't reduce the weight.
The main thing in choosing a fishing rod here is the action. The average one is considered the best. We must remember that salmon fight to the last, so it will take a long time to tire it out. Typically, a salmon bite ends with a powerful jerk and a broken fishing line; this is a common pattern of action. This is where multiplier reels come to the rescue, because they are highly reliable. Do not use braided fishing line; it will not hold up to salmon.
Salmon fishing occurs both from a boat and from the shore, so you should also take care of the landing net. Most salmon caught are released back into the river, so it is vital not to harm the fish too much. Modern cuttings allow you to avoid this. The Finns use the most effective bait in salmon fishing, so it’s worth adopting their experience. They use handmade wobblers. These wobblers are distinguished by a special shape - a blade, usually quite thick, 6 to 8 cm long.
Salmon are always ready to take the bait if you present it correctly, aiming at the bottom, which is strange, because salmon a priori do not feed in the river.
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Spinner for salmon
Most often, when fishing for salmon, oscillating spoons of large weight and length are used, the performance of which directly depends on the strength of the current, width and depth of the reservoir.
It is generally accepted that a salmon lure should touch the bottom the first time it is cast across the current. The angle of the fishing line in relation to the bottom is approximately 45 degrees.
In such conditions, the wiring will be attractive to the predator, and the chance of snags will decrease.
We have compiled a short list of the most catchy lures for salmon. Much attention was paid to salmon spinners from the Kuusamo company, which showed their high efficiency in catching salmon, pink salmon, taimen, grayling, trout and even pike. Naturally, these spoons can easily catch other types of fish, but time has shown that their calling is salmon fishing .
What to catch salmon with
The most popular ones for salmon fishing are elongated oscillating spoons. The brightness and variegation of color is a plus. The weight should be at least 20 g, and the length should be 7-15 cm. For fly fishing, both wet and dry flies are used.
Wobblers
The best wobblers used for salmon fishing:
- Invincible Floating. It swims in the upper layers of the water, but after a small jerk it dives, imitating the behavior of a small fish. After the wiring stops, it returns to the surface again. Casting is easy and effective when used for trolling.
- Rublex Orkla. The best oscillating spoon for salmon fishing. It has a traditional double curved shape; Available in various types of colors. During the retrieve, it swims spasmodically and dynamically, imitating a fleeing prey. The most popular bait for fishing in rivers, lakes and the sea.
- Lukris Ninfa Tandem. Imitating a natural nymph, it has great catchability. Wiring speed varies over a wide range; stable rotation occurs in places with fast currents. Recommended for use in deep water areas with fast currents, as well as against the current. This wobbler is designed primarily for catching large specimens of predators.
- Nils Master Spearhead. An effective bait with a sweeping action - during retrieval it is thrown in different directions. It is used for casting fishing in river beds - both by casting and trolling.
Spoons
The most popular salmon spoons:
- Spoon spoon. Weight can range from 15 to 40 g. You need to choose from products of a wide variety of colors based on the transparency of the water. In reservoirs with clear water, dull shades are used, and where it is cloudy, you need to use a spoon with a bright color.
- Swedish iron. The most catchy spoon for catching salmon species. It is produced over a long period of time and is suitable for use in both fast flows and calm areas.
- Scottish Devon. Spinner No. 3−5 is used; Using a swivel to protect the line is a must.
Posting the spinner
The first cast is made across the river flow. As soon as the bait touches the bottom, you need to sharply lift the end of the spinning rod to lift it a little, and make a series of quick turns of the reel in order to eliminate the slack.
Next, the line is released again, but again without allowing any slack, and a new moment is expected when the bait reaches the bottom. With 3-4 turns of the reel, the bait rises from
The direction of movement of the bait in relation to the direction of the fish's throw determines the nature of the bite.
With a transverse bite, a feeling of a hook or a soft blow may be created, while at other angles there is a push or the line sags, then the reeling stops; The rod is held at an acute angle of 30 degrees to the surface of the water.
Then the current itself will carry the spoon away. The new cast should be made either a little further or a little closer than the previous one.
Salmon fishing (video)
Author of the article: Vitaly Leonidovich Ivanov, 2021.
What do Atlantic salmon eat?
The main part of salmon is represented by the migratory form, which is born and spends the first 1-5 years of life in a fresh environment. Here it feeds on zooplankton, larvae, worms, insects, crustaceans, mollusks and fry. If the environment is climatically comfortable and sufficiently nourishing for rapid growth, the fish can leave the river already in the second year of life. In cold conditions and when there is a shortage of food, the maturation of young animals to move to the ocean can take up to 6-8 years. It is this circumstance that is the main reason for the formation of the dwarf form of males, which remain forever in the rivers.
To learn more:
Muksun fish - structure, habitats, spawning
Having reached a safe size of 20-30 cm, salmon gather in large schools and begin their feeding migration to the sea. Here the fish lead an exclusively predatory lifestyle, hunting sprat, capelin, herring, smelt, and sand lance. The largest accumulation of small ichthyofauna is typical for zooplankton-rich sea waters near Canada and Greenland. This is where the salmon goes to feed, which usually lasts 1-4 years.
