How to Fish With Salmon Spoons

Salmon and caviar image by Tamara Souchko from Fotolia.com

Back in the dim light of early man, anglers figured out that spoons were good for something besides soup and pudding. Spoons are one of the oldest types of lure but often fail to find a place in the tackle box. Especially effective on larger game fish species such as steel head and salmon, spoons are designed to imitate a wounded bait fish when fished correctly. Although it may take some practice, many anglers find great success when they tie on a spoon and cast for salmon.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Medium heavy spinning rod with matched reel
Mono filament fishing line
Salmon spoon

Step 1

Attach the salmon spoon to your fishing line with an Improved Clinch knot. Refer to the web site Animated Knots by Grog for detailed instructions on tying the knot. Moisten the knot slightly before tightening and use snips to trim excess line from the knot.

Step 2

Determine the direction that the current is moving and cast the spoon up stream. Allow the spoon to work down the river with the current. Lift the tip of the rod to raise the spoon up through the water and then lower the rod tip. Use a slow and deliberate up and down motion to help simulate a bait fish.

Step 3

Retrieve the lure by slowly winding the line onto the spool of the reel. Use a steady retrieve that will allow the spoon to wash with the current. However, avoid letting too much line accumulate in the water. A somewhat tight line translates a hit by salmon much more effectively than a limp line.

Step 4

Consider casting the spoon across the current and working it into pockets and other areas where a salmon may be holding. Although salmon runs are opportune times to fish, these large game fish may hold in pockets of still water periodically.

Step 5

Continue to cast and jig the spoon working it down to the salmon. This tactic is especially useful when salmon are spawning and do not typically eat very much. Spawning salmon are, however, aggressive and will defend their spawning grounds by attacking and killing smaller fish. This is where persistence pays off.

Tips & Warnings

Observe how you are hooking fish. If they are foul, or side, hooked the up and down motion you are using may need to be slowed. This will allow the salmon more time to strike and contact the spoon with its mouth.

Misses indicate you should slow your fishing down. Reduce the speed of the jigging motion as well as the line retrieve.

Resources

Animated Knots by Grog: The Improved Clinch Knot

Article Written By Keith Dooley

Keith Dooley has a degree in outdoor education and sports management. He has worked as an assistant athletic director, head coach and assistant coach in various sports including football, softball and golf. Dooley has worked for various websites in the past, contributing instructional articles on a wide variety of topics.

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