Line is the most important component of your tackle, so buy the
best you can afford. For king salmon, use 20- to 30-pound-test. For
other salmon, 15- to 20-pound usually is adequate. Most anglers use
nylon mono-filament for salmon fishing.
If your line breaks, your knots may be weakening it or slipping
under stress. Learn to tie the Trilene or Palomar knot. Written instructions
for tying these knots are usually included in a box of new line or
here.
Use sharp hooks. Hooks with 'needle" points are sharp when
new, but others may require sharpening with a file or stone. A sharp
hook will scratch your thumbnail when lightly dragged across it.
Technique
When salmon enter streams to spawn, they stay on the bottom most
of the time. If your lure or bait isn't near the bottom, you're not
fishing.
Don't forget to set the hook. A salmon's mouth is hard and bony.
Set the hook with a hard, upward jerk of the rod.
Try to get downstream from the fish. It will likely swim away from
you (upstream) and quickly tire.
Bringing it in
Don't try to pull in a salmon too soon. Let it wear itself out
by fighting against the bend of your rod and the drag of your reel.
Maintain a tight line at all times.
When the fish is tired and begins to come toward you, pull it in
with a pumping action of the rod. Reel only when you lower the rod.
Don't allow the line to go slack.
Etiquette
When you hook a fish, yell "fish on!" This alerts other
anglers to reel in and step back out of your way.
When fishing, please remember to be gentle with the river banks.
Walking or standing on fragile banks speeds erosion and destroys the
habitat needed by rearing juvenile salmon.
Instead of standing or walking on vegetation, find a fishing spot
in the water, on a gravel bar, on a boardwalk or in a boat. Your care
and respect are needed to ensure salmon will be here in the future.
