It’s a golden chance for every angler or troller to catch the king of water when summer arrives. Yes, I am talking about salmon trolling the most awaited moment for trollers. All trollers and anglers should be happy because summer has arrived.
When it comes to salmon trolling various factors matter. Here I will focus on all factors that can affect your salmon trolling experience.
Factors Affecting Salmon Trolling
Temperature For Salmon Trolling
The key to salmon trolling is understanding the water temperature levels. When I am talking about the most appropriate temperature for Chinook salmons it ranges from 45 degrees to 60 degrees.
Most of the trollers suggest that 54 degrees is the ideal temperature for cold water species. Other than finding the ideal temperature points you would also need to focus on wind patterns.
Both the factors of wind patterns and water temperature affect salmon trolling.
Finding ideal temperature and wind patterns helps you to reduce the unproductive water while trolling for salmon in large water reservoirs.
Speed For Salmon Trolling
When it comes to salmon trolling speed is the most important factor. You come across multiple opinions from trollers when it is about choosing the speed.
I would recommend you to choose between 1.8 to mph as it is considered to be the most appropriate speed for salmon trolling.
Some trollers would recommend you to go with 4 mph when trolling for salmon in great lakes. Repeating the predicted speed is the key to filling your bucket with fish.
When you successfully achieve the speed that makes you return home with a basket full of salmon try to repeat it again and again.
Direction For Salmon Trolling
You would be thinking that why it’s important to decide the directions while trolling for salmon. There are multiple factors other than the speed that can affect salmon trolling.
These aspects include fishing current and wind direction. Moreover, the light penetration can also affect your salmon fishing experience.
It is important to note which setup is easy for you to adjust. I would recommend you to go with the wind and fishing current set up for maximum output.
When it comes to choosing the direction of a line, there are a lot of guys who pull a straight line.
I will never suggest you go with a straight line as it can make your target run away. Because it can suddenly increase or decrease your bait’s speed.
If you keep changing the direction of your line you can trigger your fish.
Choosing The Baitfish
Baitfish is another key factor to understand while trolling for salmon. It is because a baitfish can decide whether you are catching a salmon or not.
You would be surprised to know that salmons eat everything that comes across. Salmons is at the top of the target of trollers.
The predators only get helpless when there is no bait. But when you have a bait that’s a favorite of your salmon you will never be empty-handed.
Rigs And Lures For Salmon Trolling
Bait Selection For Salmon Trolling (Color And Size)
If you get successful in matching the bait with the requirements of your trolling then you would be successful in catching your favorite species.
No matter what happens, I always recommend you to repeat the colors and sizes of the baits that yield salmon. If it yields in the first turn then obviously you will get more out of it.
If you are a beginner and have never played with baitfish colors then try UV and Glow colors when there is not enough light around.
When daylight is not sufficient using UV colors are great option to increase the strike and that’s the key.
Fishing Line For Salmon Trolling
I always emphasize acquiring a high-quality fishing line regardless of the type you are using either braid, mono, fluorocarbon, or wire. I always want you to focus on the quality of the fishing line.
When it comes to salmon trolling you cannot compromise on the quality of equipment to save a few bucks. It’s all about the investment you make in salmon trolling.
To me, fluorocarbon leaders work best because of their abrasion qualities and low visibility attributes.
Whenever you are going to buy equipment for salmon trolling keep in mind that you are getting ready to meet the king. When it’s about king you shouldn’t compromise on the quality of equipment.
Quality Of Trolling Gear
When it comes to choosing the best gear for salmon trolling I see many guys comparing multiple brands. They put their opinions to compare and decide which gear is the best.
When I choose the gear I always try to invest in the best equipment. I am never afraid of investing in high-quality fishing rods and reels because they will pay back in the form of success.
Don’t get fooled by several Facebook ads and other ads that introduce cheap fishing gear. My thumb rule is to invest in the best if you can afford it.
Your investment pays you back in the form of success and durability. If you spend money on cheap gear to save a few bucks they will cost you much more later especially when you are using dipsy divers.
The same rule goes with downriggers when buying them. They are nice and give electric retrieve but again budget comes to the point. If you can afford go ahead.
Electronics Salmon Fishing
Depth finders are getting advanced day by day. They are not just used to achieve the ideal depth for fishing but they also give you some serious stats.
A depth finder gives you a visual of inside the water and lets you know what’s happening with your bait. Whether a fish is chasing your bait or it is stuck in other stuff.
You get a clear graph and visuals of everything happening under the water waves.
With that being said, I would suggest you invest in quality depth finders as much as you can afford. I am not telling you to invest your whole month or year budget in getting a depth finder. Just make a fair investment.
Today’s investment will be returned to you in the form of quality gear with durability.
The Scent For Salmon Trolling
Anglers and trollers know from their basic knowledge that a scent plays an important role in catching their favorite species.
The scent of meat or bait can attract your salmon strongly because it can smell its birthplace.
That’s why there are several opinions to choose the sent for salmon trolling.
For some trollers, lemon Joy proves to be the real game while others suggest herring and tuna oil.
No matter what you choose but always try to mix artificial scents with organic meat scents. Keep your bait away from human scent as much as possible.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to trolling I keep learning because what I learn makes me a better person. I try to explore YouTube videos and blog posts to learn better fishing tactics.
I recommend you to learn about fishing too because it is a healthy activity. Sometimes people who know a little bit about fishing don’t want to learn new things and stick by their old techniques.
That’s not bad if your old tactics always work because I believe in replicating the tactics that for work you. But still, you guys should keep learning and teaching fish.
That’s it for now for salmon trolling. If you want to learn more about my fishing tactics keep following me.