salmon rig

Hey Guys- I'm new to kayak salmon fishing. This is probably covered somewhere in this forum, but i'm not sure I have access to all the discussions yet.
I'm using 40lb braided line, a 10oz banana weight, and a watermelon apex. I'm sure everybody does it differently, but does that rig sound right, and is there some other basic setup that works? chillberg

Change your banana weight to double deep six.
TGo fish then report back.
Repeat all over again.

Be ready to switch to an anchovy, herring, cut plug herring, brads cut plug, and to switch between DD6 and the banana weight. Might want to size down, I’ve never needed 10oz and if I need 8 it’s getting to decision time to go in and drink beer. Normally I use 2-6oz depending on wind and current.

There is no single lure pattern/color that is THE one. Lighting & turbidity directly impact the presentation, which must be as natural and/or attractive as possible.


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wow- that was fast. thanks guys!

I've consistently hooked up with fish using krippled anchovy heads with green label anchovy trays.  Watch you tube videos to make sure you get the roll right.  Dry salt brine or any other way to get them stiff the night before.  I switch over to spoons or apex if the bite is hot so I don't waste chovies.  Good luck. 

Okay- great. An other question if I may- how do you guys know if you're getting down to your targeted depths? I know how many pulls to let out, but should I just be looking at the angle of my line coming off my rod tip to guesstimate how deep I'm getting down?

One of our members did a series of video's on rigging up for salmon, and has more than enough examples on what to do. LoletaEric did a video on How to rig for Salmon on YouTube. It is a little older, but there is a lot of good information. Watch his fishing video's and you may pick up some tips.

Here is the link:

i usually catch all my salmon on kripple anchovy but have lately been successful at getting them on the apex as well. With the apex you have to troll pretty fast.

as for depth i use a downrigger and have been trusting the depth on that. Here is a quick video



just keep it simple and focus on catching salmon. I used to bring a bunch of stuff ie rf stuff in case I get bored with salmon fishing but learned that you have to constantly focus on salmon lol troll until you see sign of life and don't stop until you get one.

good luck!

Okay- great. An other question if I may- how do you guys know if you're getting down to your targeted depths? I know how many pulls to let out, but should I just be looking at the angle of my line coming off my rod tip to guesstimate how deep I'm getting down?

Im pretty sure there's alot of ways to do this but this is what works for me with a DD6 or banana weights...

Say you're trolling about 2-2.5mph and you're line out is about about 45 degrees angle into the water. If you want to go 30 ft down, let out 60 ft of line. If your pull is 2' ft (~ distance from spool to 1st eye), then let out 30 pulls. If 1' ft pull, then 60 pulls.

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Say you're trolling about 2-2.5mph and you're line out is about about 45 degrees angle into the water. If you want to go 30 ft down, let out 60 ft of line. If your pull is 2' ft (~ distance from spool to 1st eye), then let out 30 pulls. If 1' ft pull, then 60 pulls.

This proably deserves elaboration.  either with a very loose drag or freespooling with your thumb on the spool to prevent line from slipping, grab the line at the reel.  Pull it up to the first eye.  That is one pull. 

IMPORTANT - Keep forward momentum while letting out line to prevent line entanglement.  If you have a hobie, just keep pedaling.  If you are paddling, take a few paddle strokes, let out 5 or 6 pulls, take a few more paddle strokes, repeat until you are at your desired depth.

Like what has already been said.  It depends.  One thing may work one day and not the next.  Bring several set ups with you.  Bait, apex, hoochies, or spoons. I usually shorten my set up/leader so if my pole is up the salmon will be next to the boat.  Some of the longer set ups you can’t get it close enough to net without grabbing line and pulling it in.  I guess if I had bigger eyelets I could reel more line in but my poles are all different so shortening the lure line helps me. 

Also using deep 6 check for which one you buy because they sell ones that will go from 70-170 or more feet.  Depends on speed and amount of line out.  But a faster diver could bottom out quick when the bite is close to shore.