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So, You Want to Catch a King Salmon?

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#5 ·
Great post ed,

My go to off my past experience.

My Best colors have been long thin bodied deep diving fire tiger crank baits for Coho
Big ole green krocodile spoon for Kings
Orange lil cleo for brownies

Many other that come close, but these seem to be solid for me.

Probaly better options out there, I'm still lookin

Happy Fishing!

- GEO

<((><
 
#8 ·
Ed I was thinking about going to the big lake on Friday. I dot have a boat so I was looking for a good refferal. I have never caught a coho or king before. I have a 6'6 medium heavy spooled with 30# power pro braid. Also a 7' MH spooled with 12# fleuro. I read your report so I'm good on lure type. Not really sure where to go (I'm in manhattan so places like Kenosha are gonna be too far out for this Friday.)

Can you help me out?
 
Discussion starter · #9 ·
TheWoz said:
Ed I was thinking about going to the big lake on Friday. I dot have a boat so I was looking for a good refferal. I have never caught a coho or king before. I have a 6'6 medium heavy spooled with 30# power pro braid. Also a 7' MH spooled with 12# fleuro. I read your report so I'm good on lure type. Not really sure where to go (I'm in manhattan so places like Kenosha are gonna be too far out for this Friday.)

Can you help me out?
Click to expand...
I don't recommend that 6'6" combo at all. Short rod, heavy line, you are asking for pulled hooks.

The 7' rod sounds good as long as you have a good drag on your reel.

All of the salmon rods I use are Medium light to Medium action 7' 10" to 9', 2500 series reels that can hold at least 250 yards of 4 lb. diameter line (14lb. Fireline). Or high capacity baitcasters with 350+ yards of 20 lb. test braid. (I rarely use the baitcasters, but I have 2 tricked out Toros that cast 3/4oz. spoons a mile)

Where to go? Heck man, I fish Burnham and do well, guys I know do well at 63rd st. pier, Capt. Ralph is killing them around Burns Ditch, and I'm sure there are fish swimming around just about every spot in between. Pick one and fish it.

I do suggest that you locate an area with other anglers for your first few trips. Watch them closely (especially if they are catching) and try to mimic or replicate their tactics. This can cut the learning curve down significantly. Take note of things like retrieve speed, lure size and weight, and the conditions of the water (clear/murky/slack/current/etc...).

Listen, MOST guys at the lakefront are good guys, willing to help, love to talk (maybe a lil b.s. :lol: ), so if you decide to fish near someone, introduce yourself and ask if they mind that you fish where you intend to set-up. By no means does that guy have any right to say no, but being polite and making a good impression goes a long way with people, especially the regulars down at the lakefront.

I've seen yahoos set-up right on top of folks, not say a word, tangle lines, and get the cold shoulder all night when they can't seem to cash in like the rest of the fisherman in the area.

Whatever you do, fish the lowlight hours as much as you can, I always, always, always do better in the dark. Always. :wink:
 
#10 ·
SpecialEd said:
TheWoz said:
Ed I was thinking about going to the big lake on Friday. I dot have a boat so I was looking for a good refferal. I have never caught a coho or king before. I have a 6'6 medium heavy spooled with 30# power pro braid. Also a 7' MH spooled with 12# fleuro. I read your report so I'm good on lure type. Not really sure where to go (I'm in manhattan so places like Kenosha are gonna be too far out for this Friday.)

Can you help me out?
Click to expand...
I don't recommend that 6'6" combo at all. Short rod, heavy line, you are asking for pulled hooks.

The 7' rod sounds good as long as you have a good drag on your reel.

All of the salmon rods I use are Medium light to Medium action 7' 10" to 9', 2500 series reels that can hold at least 250 yards of 4 lb. diameter line (14lb. Fireline). Or high capacity baitcasters with 350+ yards of 20 lb. test braid. (I rarely use the baitcasters, but I have 2 tricked out Toros that cast 3/4oz. spoons a mile)

Where to go? Heck man, I fish Burnham and do well, guys I know do well at 63rd st. pier, Capt. Ralph is killing them around Burns Ditch, and I'm sure there are fish swimming around just about every spot in between. Pick one and fish it.

I do suggest that you locate an area with other anglers for your first few trips. Watch them closely (especially if they are catching) and try to mimic or replicate their tactics. This can cut the learning curve down significantly. Take note of things like retrieve speed, lure size and weight, and the conditions of the water (clear/murky/slack/current/etc...).

Listen, MOST guys at the lakefront are good guys, willing to help, love to talk (maybe a lil b.s. :lol: ), so if you decide to fish near someone, introduce yourself and ask if they mind that you fish where you intend to set-up. By no means does that guy have any right to say no, but being polite and making a good impression goes a long way with people, especially the regulars down at the lakefront.

I've seen yahoos set-up right on top of folks, not say a word, tangle lines, and get the cold shoulder all night when they can't seem to cash in like the rest of the fisherman in the area.

Whatever you do, fish the lowlight hours as much as you can, I always, always, always do better in the dark. Always. :wink:
Click to expand...
Thanks I really appreciate it. I'm thinking of stopping at Gander Mountain picking up a decent longer rod and just taking my spinning reel off my 6'6 rod. I just put new line and about 275 yards on.
 
Discussion starter · #12 ·
TheWoz said:
Well o guess there's no hope. I fished from seven til 11. Spoons, cranks the works. Skunked
Click to expand...
Where at?

Heard reports of fish at Montrose and Burnham tonight. They were getting more inside the harbor in those dead ends than at the mouth and outside breakwalls.
 
#13 ·
SpecialEd said:
Heard reports of fish at Montrose and Burnham tonight. They were getting more inside the harbor in those dead ends than at the mouth and outside breakwalls.
Click to expand...
Don't give up Woz, it is about keeping your lure in the strike zone for as long as possable, those dead ends are great because the fish are normally swimming in circles staging to go up an inlet that may or may not exist (depending on the harbor)

You should try skein on a slipbobber or off the bottom
Image

Some will say it is for later in the year but you can still catch them on eggs if you can get it in front of their face.
Just throw it out and leave your bail open, you can set it down and cast with another set up.
 
Discussion starter · #14 ·
Navyfisher said:
SpecialEd said:
Heard reports of fish at Montrose and Burnham tonight. They were getting more inside the harbor in those dead ends than at the mouth and outside breakwalls.
Click to expand...
Don't give up Woz, it is about keeping your lure in the strike zone for as long as possable, those dead ends are great because the fish are normally swimming in circles staging to go up an inlet that may or may not exist (depending on the harbor)

You should try skein on a slipbobber or off the bottom
Image

Some will say it is for later in the year but you can still catch them on eggs if you can get it in front of their face.
Just throw it out and leave your bail open, you can set it down and cast with another set up.
Click to expand...
There is a really good skein bite going on right now in a few "Up Dere" Harbors right now in fact.

The problem is Navy, if he hasn't caught a hen yet it is unlikely that he will have/can get good fresh skein.... :x
 
#16 ·
SpecialEd said:
TheWoz said:
Well o guess there's no hope. I fished from seven til 11. Spoons, cranks the works. Skunked
Click to expand...
Where at?

Heard reports of fish at Montrose and Burnham tonight. They were getting more inside the harbor in those dead ends than at the mouth and outside breakwalls.
Click to expand...
I was at both. First few hours at burnham. Worked the outside wall and the mouth. Same with montrose.

I'm definately gonna keep trying! I'm gonna go down to the dam for a little pick me up then hopefully gt a few hours in before the rain at the harbors.

As far as the whole egg thing.... I honestly have no clue what or even how to begin doing "that".
 
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