Salmon Tackle

Alright guys there are alot of newbies to the salmon trolling world and alot of you experienced folk that have done it. So I went over to my grandpa's and got a bunch of fish stories and lures that he use to use 15 years ago on Lake Michigan for the Kings. Will this work for our west coast guys. If you dont mind posting some other lures that work great to help us on where to start.


I went and got some sinker releases and 1 pound sinkers as well...

That might work, but I wouldn't use it unless I saw someone else catch one with it.

The old standby is the WMA - watermelon Apex.

That plug looks like the Tomic plugs the commercials use in Canada and southern Alaska. They work well up there because they mimic a baitfish in those waters.

I bought a couple on e-Bay and tried them out around here and caught Zilcho-McNuthin with 'em.

Outside of the WMA's and assorted Crocodile spoons I've caught the majority of my salmon using dead 'chovys on a J-hook. Second most on the WMA's.

I've never trolled for salmon on a kayak but when using cannonballs on boats the preferred weight is 2.5#

thanks guys ill let you know how I do ill give it a few miles and if nothing then well switch to others. How do u rig the bait for trolling? I have a few different colors and sizes of the J-plugs.

How does Squid work? has anybody tried using it for them.

Squid no but a Purple Haze Hoochie behind a flasher works well.

I like to fish an anchovie on a double hook slip-rig, behind a dodger/flasher and a DeepSix diving planer - sometimes with a hoochie over the chovie.

Thanks guys. Looks good. I cant wait for the season to open up... Might head up your way by the end of April if SLO is not producing any fish. Tight lines all.

I know the Chinook I caught last September (released) in the Carquinez Straits was a fluke but I was trolling a rattle trap for Stripers.  I have never trolled for salmon, but the one I caught by mistake was a great catch.  Does anyone use rattle traps for salmon?

I've never seen or heard of anyone using one of those in the ocean.

Black Ab, that's ran with out a down rigger, correct?

I've never seen or heard of anyone using one of those in the ocean.

Ive used rattle traps for bass before down south they nail them.

Black Ab, that's ran with out a down rigger, correct?

That's right - the diving planer is the only means of getting down.  When a fish strikes a clip pulls free and allows the battle to go to the surface. 

Havent trolled form my kayak yet but what worked great for us in aPB was a chartruse RSK behind a chartruse flasher. With herring or anchovies. Mooching might be the ticket to from a kayak. Ive caught many slamon at dux doing this at bodega too. One time we were mooching just outside the jetties for salmon in the 20 pound class. Watermelon like eric showed has worked for us but by far and above was the chartruse set-up. Good Luck Rhyak!

thanks guys cant wait till it opens. will post a report from down here when i get out.