Salmon Bite Questions

This is my first year going Salmon fishing. I have fished the AR at Howe twice. Both times there were fish jumping and rolling all over, but very few fish caught. I would like to learn more about the where, when and how's of the Salmon bite. Can we still expect the great year that we were supposed to have? Is it normal to have fish all over with few fish caught? What conditions predict a hot Salmon bite? What are the indicators that we are changing from fish jumping to fish biting, or is this as good as it gets?

Hire a guide in the general vicinity you want to fish for salmon. Ask questions, watch the ff and remember as much as possible about the techniques used.

At today's AR, I heard a few folks say that the fish jumping were actually steelhead, not the salmon we were all after....so as much as I hoped that it was a sign, it really wasn't, haha.

I also heard that the way the lure is jigged makes a difference. The group on the boat that caught a good sized one by the station were all using a slow upward motion with their poles, then lowering the lines back down, then arching the poles back up. It was rather funny to watch - all the people on the boat (there were like 7 of them) were doing the same motion, almost in unison.

-Cherie

They were also using like 2oz jigs with treble hooks, which I thought was illegal in that water?

No trebles if over 1 ounce lure.

Hire a guide in the general vicinity you want to fish for salmon. Ask questions, watch the ff and remember as much as possible about the techniques used.

Not bad advice, but the questions I am asking are less about a specific area and more about fishing for Salmon. I think the answers would apply to the AR as well as Rio Vista or Redding.

I have a hard time catching fish on the lower American. 10-15 trips per fish.

No trebles if over 1 ounce lure.

Yeah they were poaching then, I drifted within a few feet of them jigging, definitely saw a 2oz jig and trebles... Looked like a guided trip too..

Salmon aren't eating while in the river.  There are many theories about when a salmon will strike in fresh water.  Typically, you'll need to get your offering right in the face of a fish, and that fish will need to be in the mood to strike - no one knows what creates that mood, but it likely has to do with the same instincts that cause adult salmon to chase and attack one another and other species like steelhead.  The vast majority of their time in the river salmon are migrating upstream and/or waiting for enough flow to spawn in smaller tributaries, but from when they enter the mouth until they expire they are on a constant progression toward spawning or drying trying.  When they're in small tribs getting ready to spawn you'll see constant competition - if there are 2 females and one male the females will fight over the male, and vice versa - 2 or more males will fight over a female.  If a twenty pound/36" adult will chase and bite another adult, a juvenile/jack and a smaller steelhead then it stands to reason that it'll attack what looks like an even smaller pest in front of it.

The bottom line is that in river fishing for salmon equates to attempting to piss the fish off without scaring it off, and the fish could be anywhere along that progression toward their ultimate end.  I've seen fish that would not bite anything in the river (the usual) and I've had 25 pounders come up from 10 feet of clear, still water to grab a spoon right off the top - you just don't know what factors will equate to getting a bite.  The method to use is to continue trying - sometimes you'll hit them when they're willing to bite, but it likely won't last that long.

Here are some videos that show some salmon behavior in fresh water - think about how these behaviors might lend to why a fish would or would not bite your lure, jig, bait...etc.





The second video shows something that really doesn't happen often - I got lucky.  The fish were 40 to 50 pounders, and I could've easily touched them with the camera or my hand - the zoom was never on.

Salmon fishing in the sweet seems to be a hit or miss, odds game. At some point, you will get your lure in front of an aggressive salmon. More rolling salmon = greater numbers congregated in a hole = better odds of finding an aggressive fish.

Better bites tend to be between first light and the sun hitting the water.

I have a buddy who slays salmon with a half ounce Kastmaster, swears by it, and really does well jigging them behind the boat. A lot of people run the usual, plugs and spinners. Then you have people running bait in deeper, slow holes. Its best to bring an arsenal. But it seems like sac salmon like silver/ chartreuse best.

As far as when a bite is good or predictable; Salmon move. They tend to move in groups, and I like fishing on fresh fish ( fish that haven't seen a lure that day ). That's why I think the first light thing is important, or why traveling a distance, or hitting less known pockets and holes is best; less pressure. It means that maybe that 1 in 30 aggressive fish is gonna see your lure first and come smack it.

And it's normal to see fish rolling everywhere and not even catch one. Don't let it discourage you. Remember, these fish aren't hungry, you have to put your lure in front of a certain number of fish until you find that aggressive one.

At today's AR, I heard a few folks say that the fish jumping were actually steelhead, not the salmon we were all after....so as much as I hoped that it was a sign, it really wasn't, haha.

I also heard that the way the lure is jigged makes a difference. The group on the boat that caught a good sized one by the station were all using a slow upward motion with their poles, then lowering the lines back down, then arching the poles back up. It was rather funny to watch - all the people on the boat (there were like 7 of them) were doing the same motion, almost in unison.

-Cherie

I think most if not all of the fish jumping were Salmon.  There are steelhead in the system, but they tend not to jump as much. I think the bite was poor because of the high water temps and low flow.

It is common to foul hook fish when jigging.  I wonder if the guys in the PB foul hooked their fish.

Fishing the lower section of the AR can be tough, especially in low clear water with little to no flow.  I'd fish that area during low light (evening or morning) when fish are less likely to be spooked.  As the sun comes up, I'd focus on further setbacks and less flashy colors as well as downsizing my tackle.  Fishing further up the AR where there are still decent flows should produce.  When there is slack water, getting fish to bite is tough, but when there's enough current the fish usually hug the bottom which allows you to fish roe/kwikfish effectively.  Most of the fish are still in the Sac and staging between discovery and clarksburg. 

The AR can be tough...I've heard of good reports from Rosmoor to Sailor bar.

I have a hard time catching fish on the lower American. 10-15 trips per fish.

Damn I may make one more trip out of that's the ratio. 

What Eric said.  Try to piss them off and not scare them off.  I have fished them on the old Sac for years now and we fish them basically trolling slow.  The AR is a bit different, and I am no expert on that river.  Example: no fish for my neighbors last two weekends in Walnut Grove.  3 weekends ago I got two limits in less than two hours for my son and myself.  I really think it is all timing or just plain shithouse luck.  But, if you listen to the locals they will all tell you----"you just have to put your time in".  Come up weekend after next and give it a try!

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Great post all! Thanks. I was kinda thinking that even with all the fish jumping and rolling there is enough room out there to have your little spinner not end up in the face of a salmon.  I am hoping we will have a good chance at some nice chrome salmon sometime this season.