Salmon river bait

[ctangler]

I've had some success using roe sacks and artifical berkley powerbait roe in the rivers this fall. What other bait are good alternative if the roe isn't working. I did find it challenging getting any bite, when water visibility was less than 1 foot after some rain.

 

[kabes]

I've had success with Rapala J-13's and X-Rap's.
$10-12 lures but they work!

 

[staffman]

I use Berkley pink worms ,Berkley gulp natural coloured worms, trout beads ( I use these a lot), flies and jigs, then may be roe. I hardly use roe any more. Sorry I thought we were talking about steelheading, I do not fish for salmon.

 

[Meanderer]

I use Berkley pink worms ,Berkley gulp natural coloured worms, trout beads ( I use these a lot), flies and jigs, then may be roe. I hardly use roe any more. Sorry I thought we were talking about steelheading, I do not fish for salmon.

What size pink worm is best and how should it be hooked?

 

[Blair]

What size pink worm is best and how should it be hooked?

If your not using a float..... I like to use a very small (light) jig head.
Great to bounce softly along the bottom with the current.

Gives you just enough weight to cast out (Not too far) ....
About the best size is 3"

I've seen em use big 6" ones out west ... but never have had any luck in Ontario with the larger pinkies (Unless we are talking Bass).
Most Trout species here seem to like the smaller presentations.

Occassionally I have had days when they are just SMASHING large Cleo spoons, but in general for the rivers (Tribs) keep it small and light.

 

[NOTTA STEELER]

Just thought I'd add my 2 cents worth . Bubble gum pink coloured worms can be long or your traditional type mister twister style grubs .
I've hit Steelhead on them any where from a 1 " twister to a 6 " worm , the twisters are hooked through the end to the middle of the body , the worms hooked some where around centre , you want to give it action in the current . Check out photo , I've placed hooks in some to show where I set them up .
Bass Pro shop and Canadian Tire stores are my main source , but I've also found some good baits on - line .
Hope this helps in some way . I've fished Steelhead and Salmon for about 30 years now and one thing I know works absolute wonders for both in a deep pool on a river is ... live Dew Worms .! Salmon hit them hard , we've hit many salmon ( Chinooks ) while fishing for Steelies with worms . I just picked 4 dozen worms in my back yard last night gearing up for the weekend .

 

[Float_On]

BTW the Orange J-9 & J-11 is way >>>>> than the Chartreuse/Yellow. Especially in Murky water. If you catch a salmon at Wilmot upstream with one in its mouth let me know :wink:

Just a thought...

I don't fish salmon, but I've seen lots of guys with posts indicating they were "0/4" or "lost 6 today".

Are all these salmon breaking line or just spitting lures?

Has anyone ever caught a salmon with a buffet caught in it's kype? It sounds like GTA anglers are donating a lot of hardware to these dying beasts!

I've never come across anything in Huron tribs in steelies.

Just wondering...

 

[Float_down]

Got a chinny this year with a Cleo in it's butt, three hooks on the dorsel, a big gangly home made spinner in it's mouth and best of all, it was only around ten pounds!

 

[staffman]

What size pink worm is best and how should it be hooked?

I use 3 sizes 3,4, and 6 inch pink worms . The 3&4 inch I either hook them once through the nose or wacky rig them (once through the middle of the worm) . the 6 inch pw I thread onto a slow death hook used by Walleye fishermen, and these hooks will also work with the 4 inch worm. The slow death hooks look weird but they work well especially in the colder months. Hope this helps.

 

[Blair]

I've fished Steelhead and Salmon for about 30 years now and one thing I know works absolute wonders for both in a deep pool on a river is ... live Dew Worms .! Salmon hit them hard , we've hit many salmon ( Chinooks ) while fishing for Steelies with worms . I just picked 4 dozen worms in my back yard last night gearing up for the weekend .

Well said!
I agree 100% (I picked a whole bunch last night - but will be focusing on: Perch, Bass & pike this weekend)

Early in the Spring while fishing for Suckers (YES.. targeting suckers) I have also hit dozens of Rainbows with the worms.

NATURE's NUMBER #1 BAIT ... of ALL TIME!

 

[staffman]

Blair is dead on in his description of dew worms as bait. Many of us would not be hooked on fishing if it wasn't for dew worms. I know I should use them more often. It's almost like cheating using dew worms because they are so effective.

 

[kabes]

Just thought I'd add my 2 cents worth . Bubble gum pink coloured worms can be long or your traditional type mister twister style grubs .
I've hit Steelhead on them any where from a 1 " twister to a 6 " worm , the twisters are hooked through the end to the middle of the body , the worms hooked some where around centre , you want to give it action in the current . Check out photo , I've placed hooks in some to show where I set them up .
Bass Pro shop and Canadian Tire stores are my main source , but I've also found some good baits on - line .
Hope this helps in some way . I've fished Steelhead and Salmon for about 30 years now and one thing I know works absolute wonders for both in a deep pool on a river is ... live Dew Worms .! Salmon hit them hard , we've hit many salmon ( Chinooks ) while fishing for Steelies with worms . I just picked 4 dozen worms in my back yard last night gearing up for the weekend .

wacky rigging for Steelhead ... never heard of it but I'll give it a shot!

 

[NADO]

Most of the people typing those fraction (0/4) are usually just floatfishing. I've lost lots of hardware to fish upstream mainly because I'd always underestimate their strength and the structures that exist in creeks. I've lost a large Kwikfish to a steelhead immediately beacause my drag was too tight. Something else I've noticed is when I hooked up with hardware in streams is they'd ALWAYS give me a harder fight than what I get when float fishing. Could it be the reaction they show when they feel trebles instead of small singles in their mouths?

I have had many salmon on this year and have not landed one yet. Id say it is mainly because im fishing in areas with alot of obstacles that I break off on and just cant seem to turn the fish before it hits the tree or whatever the obstacle is. Had a few lost to bad knots tied on stretched line but most have just snapped off on structure. I switched the line on my pin from 10-12lb yesterday so hopefully that will help me out this weekend.

I've heard of Chinooks on dry flies. Very rare though.

Ya ive never seen em caught on dry flies, met a few guys on the river this year who were hammering em on these small black flies off bottom though.

 

[JaysonMarion]

Bronte is DISGUSTING this year.

Every bank is filled with MAGGOTS.

People are so disgusting. Groups of 10 year old kids snagging salmon in the shallows.

Someone needs to rub their face in the maggots to teach them a lesson.

At least the cold weather is starting now and will send all the FWF's home and then the real fishing begins.

And I LOL everytime I hear someone say roe sacks. That is such an american thing to do.

Here in Canada we call them roe BAGS.

 

[NADO]

When your fishing in pools with 30 salmon its not uncommon to incidentally snag one as they swim all over the place. I had two hookups in the mouth today and I was pretty pumped, finally managed to land one and it was on a pink marabou jig that I tied. It was awesome I started my drift behind the fish and I watched it turn around and smash the jig.

I had a steelhead on too on the way out and it spat the hook when it jumped, I cant wait for steelheading in a few weeks when I am able to walk the river and make a few drifts in all of the holes not have to find a spot and stick to it because there are people all over the place.