New to salmon fishing

[Mr T]

Lived here my whole life and just now getting into river salmon fishing.  Looking for just a little advice.  I am going to be camped around the Riffe lake area in couple of weeks.  Looking to venture over to the Cowlitz.  Looking at my map book probably around the Spencer road area.  Not picky on the species I am chasing.  Any advice...is this a decent choice?

Next question....recommendation on what to fling out in the river...color choice for corky?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

[BigD]

What's up no one can give this guy a little advice.

Sorry I have never fished the area you are talking about, try a search on the cowlitz river on here, sure you will find something.

[huntergreg]

I can give you a little info pm me............. I have caught a lot of fish at the cowlitz river. 

[TheHunt]

Mr. T,
If you live near puyallup that place is getting good for fishing.  But you will be catching humpy's.  Humpy's are at the bottom of the list for taste. 

[trippledigitss]

Mr. T,
If you live near puyallup that place is getting good for fishing.  But you will be catching humpy's.  Humpy's are at the bottom of the list for taste. 

Well actually Chums would be lower than the pinks. I dont like any of them personally except smoked but I love to fish for them - but I know quite a few people would disagree with you. Alot of people tell me they prefer the pinks over silvers & kings because of the higher oil content.   
 
T - Great time to get into now that the pinks are starting to run. Easy to fish for and agressive biters, great for the family & beginners too. Dont think you find them in the Cowlitz though.

[TheHunt]

I think Chums and Pinks are so close to be lowest it is like UW and WSU football program a few years ago.      

I would agree that they are only good for their eggs and smoked. 

[trippledigitss]

I think Chums and Pinks are so close to be lowest it is like UW and WSU football program a few years ago.      

I would agree that they are only good for their eggs and smoked. 

    

[Heartsblood]

I hafta say, I ate my first pinks a coupla days ago - day I caught 'em in the salt and the day after - delicious! Nothin' like fresh fish ya caught yerself. But it was in the salt.

That being said, I am looking forward to smoking about 2 1/2 pounds of the little devils soon here... 

[Camp David]

Not a whole lot of advice so far.... First important question....got a boat? if not you pretty much confined to river banks....not all that bad, but expect a lot of new friends who have all of the good spots figured out. Salmon do not "eat" once thy hit the fresh water. They will still "bite" but this is out of habit etc... The techniques and bait are a lot different in the river. Cured salmon eggs are always a good start with different plugs (flatfish, spoons, spinners), and other goodies (corkies, jigs) to get them to bite. Timing is key also. You want to there when the fish are there. They normally enter the rivers when the river is high (but unfishable) and you want to fish when the river is clearing up. 

[Camp David]

I think Chums and Pinks are so close to be lowest it is like UW and WSU football program a few years ago.      

I would agree that they are only good for their eggs and smoked. 

    

Fresh caught, bleed and iced pinks are great!  get use to it...might be the only fresh salmon available soon when all the silvers and kings are wiped out 

[jackmaster]

a number 5 bug body silver mepps with a 20in leader with a 3 way swivel put about a 4 inch piece of leader on the bottom of your swivel with a knot in it this way you can add weight until when your casting out you can feel your blade smack into the bottom, i also suggest to cut the trebble hook off and go with a single hook thus cutn down on snags but i have to warn you it gets real expensive fishn this way, spinners aint cheap, oh and try to cast up river at about a 45 degree angle this will also cut down on having to use to much weight, you might also set up a plunkn rod. good luck to ya

[Mr T]

Thank you for the advice and suggestions (the PM's were very helpful thank you).  I have been catching some pinks on a couple of local rivers, and beginning to find a couple of spots that have less pressure and still hold fish.  When my draw archery tag was shut down due to fire danger I was able to hit the river and instead of crying at home. 

My next step is to figure out how to get some silvers on my line along with the pinks! 

[trippledigitss]

If you want silvers hit the salt. Those dang things get lockjaw in the river and wont bite. It is so frustrating! They will roll right in front of you then give you the middle fin and swim on! 

[cohoho]

Silvers in the rivers....  Go small then make it smaller lures, #1 sized Dick Nights, and small spinners always a working option...  They get frustrated at things and lash out, maybe not eating but some of the most aggressive times are when they are moving into fresh water to spawn, they will go after darn anything that gets in their way...  Keep annoying them and you will get them on the line...

My favorite time was Silver fishing in the rivers- Top notch action!  I rarely fished Silvers in salt in AK...  It was my addiction on rivers in Aug/Sep- Hence why I had the alias name of Coho "ho" for the past 12 years...

[Madison]

+1 on the dick nites.  Great little spoons for drift fishing through a hole. 

You can also try twitching jigs or spinners.  all will get fish to bite given the right presentation.

[trippledigitss]

Hmmm.. really. I will have to try that. Not only do I have terrible luck for silvers in the river, I dont do well with Dick Nites either. I dont like them at all - FC tells me "thats crazy talk right there..."    I have a boat load of them in all colors & sizes, guess I'll hafta break them out and give them another shot. I usually use them with a weight on a slip tube thingy or just pinch a couple split shot about 3-4' up the line and drift them. Is that how you guys use them....or....?? Colors? 50/50, spatterback frog, neon green/yellow? ( I cant spell "chartruse"....) 

[TheHunt]

Mr. T,
Head down to the barrier dam on the Cowlitz and watch the folks fishing.  I would suggest not to stand out in the deadline and cast the 70 yard your first time.  Use a jig on the bank and have at it.  If you see folks with 15 and 13 foot long rods they use those to cast those 70 yards.  Watch and learn then engage with the other banky's fishing.  You can walk down from the barrier dam and fish all the way down to the boat ramp.  BUT the fish are all piled up in that dam area and you will be fishing with lots of folks if there is fish there. 

What to use:  You can ask 100 people and get 40 different answers.  Most use eggs and free float them.  Eggs under a bobber is also popular. 

If you try to twitch with a jig be prepared for the jawing of you snagging.  But if all are jigging then you jig, if all have bobbers then you do the same, If you walk into a group that is free drifting eggs and you throw out a spoon be prepared for some jawing.   Mostly because you will get all cought up in their rigging.

[Huntbear]

I have always done real well with corkies or small spinners for Silvers...  eggs and spin glos for chinook.. however, I am relearning my west side rivers, so it is an experience once again.

 

[just in joy]

and to add to the last two post keep a tight grip on your rod as a fish will yank that sucker out of your hands if not paying attention almost happened to me today running my mouth on the river talking with my kids lol.... nice hatchery king caught had to release no rention on the green... Little cleo's worker great I used a 2/3 a better choice would of been something lighter. as mine was hitting the bottom. 2/5 maybe would of been a better choice.

 coho are some tasty fish so far as a family we have 18 on our tags from the puyallup river.