Silver Salmon Fishing with Lures – Best Lures, Techniques & Pro Tips
February 01, 2025
Silver Salmon Fishing with Lures – The Ultimate Angler’s Guide
Silver salmon, also known as coho salmon, are one of the most exciting fish to catch due to their aggressive strikes, powerful fights, and aerial acrobatics. Whether you're fishing in rivers, streams, or coastal waters, using the right lures and techniques can make all the difference in landing these hard-fighting fish.
This guide will cover everything you need to know about catching silver salmon with lures, including:
✔ Understanding silver salmon behavior
✔ Best lures to use
✔ Effective fishing techniques
✔ Seasonal tips for silver salmon fishing
✔ FAQs for successful fishing trips
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Understanding Silver Salmon Behavior
Before selecting lures and techniques, it's essential to understand silver salmon behavior to maximize your success.
1. Silver Salmon Feeding Patterns
✔ Aggressive Hunters: Coho salmon are known for their aggressive feeding behavior, making them highly responsive to flashy, fast-moving lures.
✔ Surface & Mid-Water Feeders: Unlike king salmon, which often stay deeper, silver salmon frequently hunt closer to the surface, making them ideal targets for lure fishing.
2. Seasonal Movement of Silver Salmon
✔ Spring to Early Summer: Silver salmon remain offshore in saltwater, feeding on small fish, shrimp, and squid.
✔ Late Summer to Fall: They migrate into rivers for spawning, becoming more aggressive and territorial—the best time for lure fishing.
✔ Winter: In colder months, silver salmon become less active, making slower lure presentations more effective.
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Best Lures for Silver Salmon
Silver salmon are aggressive and curious, making them highly responsive to a variety of lures. The best lures mimic wounded baitfish or fast-moving prey, triggering their predatory instincts.
1. Spinners – Best for Aggressive Silver Salmon
✔ Why They Work: The flash and vibration attract silver salmon from a distance.
✔ Best Sizes: 1/4 to 1/2 ounce
✔ Best Colors: Chartreuse, silver, pink, orange, and red
✔ Top Brands: Blue Fox Vibrax, Mepps Aglia, Panther Martin
🎣 Pro Tip: Cast spinners into slow-moving water or eddies and retrieve with a steady motion, occasionally adding twitches to mimic injured fish.
2. Spoons – Ideal for Fast Currents & Open Water
✔ Why They Work: The fluttering motion mimics a wounded baitfish, triggering predatory strikes.
✔ Best Sizes: 3 to 4 inches
✔ Best Colors: Gold, silver, blue, and red
✔ Top Brands: Kastmaster, Little Cleo, Krocodile
🎣 Best Technique: Cast upstream and let the spoon sink before retrieving with a jerking motion to imitate a distressed baitfish.
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3. Crankbaits & Plugs – Perfect for Aggressive Strikes
✔ Why They Work: The erratic swimming action and rattling sound provoke aggressive attacks.
✔ Best Sizes: 3 to 5 inches
✔ Best Colors: Fire tiger, metallic blue, silver
✔ Top Brands: Rapala X-Rap, Kwikfish, Flatfish
🎣 Pro Tip: Use a stop-and-go retrieve to create an erratic motion, making the lure appear like a struggling baitfish.
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Top Techniques for Catching Silver Salmon with Lures
1. Casting & Retrieving
✔ Best For: Fishing in rivers, streams, and nearshore waters
✔ How to Do It:
- Cast upstream or ahead of where silver salmon are likely holding.
- Retrieve at a steady pace, adding occasional twitches.
- Experiment with retrieval speed to trigger aggressive strikes.
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2. Trolling for Silver Salmon
✔ Best For: Fishing in large rivers, lakes, and coastal waters
✔ How to Do It:
- Use downriggers or divers to get the lure to the correct depth.
- Maintain a steady trolling speed of 2-3 mph.
- Experiment with lure colors based on water clarity.
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3. Drift Fishing with Lures
✔ Best For: Fast-moving rivers and streams
✔ How to Do It:
- Position yourself downstream from holding spots.
- Let your lure drift naturally with the current.
- Use spinners, spoons, or plugs to mimic baitfish movement.
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FAQs About Silver Salmon Fishing with Lures
1. What Time of Year Is Best for Silver Salmon Fishing?
✔ Peak season: Late summer to early fall
✔ Best conditions: Overcast days with slight water movement
2. What Pound Test Line Should I Use?
✔ For rivers & streams: 10-15 lb test
✔ For trolling & big fish: 20+ lb test with a fluorocarbon leader
3. Can I Use Live Bait for Silver Salmon?
✔ Yes! Herring, shrimp, and roe work well, but lures are often more effective.
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Conclusion – Master Silver Salmon Fishing with Lures
✔ Key Takeaways:
✅ Use spinners, spoons, and plugs for the best results.
✅ Adjust your retrieval speed to mimic injured baitfish.
✅ Experiment with different lure colors based on water conditions.
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