Twenty commercial fishermen gathered around a beach bonfire, their attention quickly diverted by a loud splash nearby. Something significant had jumped in the water near the rising tide of the adjacent creek mouth.
“Was that a seal?” one of them asked.
“No, it flashed red,” another responded.
One angler’s fly rod, still strung from earlier Dolly Varden fishing, was conveniently nearby. A gaudy pink streamer was cast across the outflow, and on the second retrieval, a strike was felt. The crowd slowly gathered as the battle with the unseen fish began.
Heavy is the Head that Wears the Crown
Among the six species of Pacific salmon, Chinook, or king salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, stands as the largest. While other species, like chum and coho, can reach impressive sizes in the mid-30-pound range, those numbers pale compared to the Chinook, where fish of over 100 pounds have been recorded. The International Game Fish Association (IGFA) rod-and-reel record for Chinook is 97 pounds, but larger fish have been reported from commercial fishing gear.
Named after the Chinookan Tribe near the Columbia River, these prized fish are native along the Pacific coast from Southern California to Alaska and as far as coastal Russia and Japan. Chinook salmon can travel deep into the continent, reaching over a thousand miles inland via massive rivers like the Yukon and Snake. They once spawned as far as Nevada, prior to the construction of the Hell’s Canyon Dams. Additionally, Chinook have been successfully introduced in regions like New Zealand, Chile, and the Great Lakes.
Chinook are anadromous, meaning they are born in freshwater, migrate to the ocean to mature, and then return to freshwater to spawn. Once they re-enter rivers, their appearance changes dramatically from a silver hue to darker red or brown, with elongated jaws and pronounced teeth. Like all Pacific salmon, Chinook die after spawning, returning essential nutrients to the stream ecosystem.
How to Catch Chinook in Saltwater and Big Lakes
Chinook are less school-oriented than other salmon species, though certain stocks tend to arrive in groups during predictable runs. Many major rivers have multiple runs throughout the year, including spring, summer, and fall fish. Historically, locations like Alaska’s Kodiak Island and Washington’s Salish Sea had nearly year-round Chinook fishing, including “blackmouth” seasons for immature Chinook. Although still popular, these fisheries are increasingly restricted due to conservation efforts.
Fishing for Chinook in open waters requires understanding their movement patterns. Typically, Chinook will be found near the bottom of the water column in bays, sounds, and river deltas, but they can also follow baitfish to mid-water or even the surface. Key areas to target include points, humps, and shelves where baitfish like squid, herring, and anchovies gather. Good electronics and sonar are crucial for successful fishing, helping anglers pinpoint the right depth and location.
In the Pacific, Chinook often chase herring and anchovy schools, moving through depths ranging from over 300 feet offshore to as shallow as 50 feet near kelp beds. As summer approaches, Chinook can be found feeding on sandlance along eelgrass flats. Techniques like bouncing spoons, baits, or jigs off the bottom in 80 to 150 feet of water can be highly effective.
Later in the season, as Chinook prepare for the fall rains, they suspend in the water column and feed intermittently on herring and squid. This is the time for using larger lures such as hoochies, plugs, and Superbaits.
Trolling
Trolling is by far the most common and productive way to catch Chinook, especially when employing downriggers to get gear down to depths where fish are holding. Downriggers use heavy-duty equipment attached to the boat to help lower a weight and gear deep into the water column. When a fish strikes, the line is released, allowing the angler to fight the fish directly.
Anglers often run two downriggers at different depths, typically around 90 feet and 120 feet, with spoons or hoochie squid on the lines. Flashers and dodgers, pieces of flashy material, are also commonly used to attract fish.
Jigging and Mooching
Mooching, an old but effective method, involves dropping a banana sinker to the bottom with a leader and bait, such as herring. Anglers then drift through likely areas. This simple technique is still deadly effective. Jigging, similar to walleye or lake trout fishing, can also produce exciting results, with jigs like the Point Wilson Dart or Crippled Herring being popular choices.
Both techniques provide a more direct connection to the fish, and many anglers find the experience of fighting a Chinook on a jig more exhilarating than using downriggers.
How to Catch Chinook in Rivers and Deltas
Rivers and their mouths provide excellent bottlenecks for intercepting migrating salmon. While Chinook stop actively feeding once they re-enter freshwater, they can still be enticed to strike out of aggression or territorial instincts. In rivers, Chinook often gather in deep holes, plunge pools, or log jams.
Lure Fishing
Lure fishing for Chinook in rivers often involves spinners or large spoons, such as the Blue Fox Vibrax Spinner or B.C. Steel. These lures should be worked deep and slow to attract strikes.
In larger rivers, trolling or back-trolling plugs like Kwikfish or Hotshots can be effective, especially in tidewater areas. Another popular method is twitching jigs, which involves casting and slowly retrieving a jig along the bottom.
Bait Fishing
Chinook are highly scent-oriented and are often attracted to cured salmon eggs or shrimp. These can be fished using a variety of methods, including slip floats or back-bouncing on the river bottom. Plunking, a simple and relaxing method, involves casting a rig with a pyramid sinker into a likely area and waiting for a bite.
Fly Fishing
In areas where fly fishing is possible, large, bulky flies like Intruders can be swung across the current to entice a take. Though challenging, fly fishing for Chinook offers an unforgettable experience due to their sheer strength.
Long Live the King
Chinook salmon face ongoing challenges, from habitat loss to overfishing. Conservation efforts, such as habitat restoration, are crucial to their survival. Anglers are encouraged to practice stewardship, ensuring the king of the Pacific continues to reign for future generations.
Image/Source: MeatEater
