Where Can I Find Salmon? Your Guide to Salmon Fishing Hotspots

Salmon are one of the most popular and coveted game fish for anglers around the world. Their strength, size, and tasty meat make them a thrilling catch. But salmon can be elusive and challenging to locate if you don’t know where to look. This guide will provide tips on the best places to find salmon across North America.

West Coast

The West Coast of the United States and Canada offers some of the best salmon fishing opportunities. Key areas include:

Alaska

Alaska is practically synonymous with salmon. Its remote rivers, lakes and coastal regions provide prime salmon habitat.

• Popular spots include the Kenai River, Bristol Bay, and Kodiak Island Each region offers runs of multiple salmon species like king, sockeye, coho, and pink salmon.

• Remote regions accessible only by floatplane provide the ultimate angling adventures. Fly out with your gear and camp along untouched trout streams and salmon rivers.

British Columbia

British Columbia has an abundance of salmon fishing options on both its coast and interior regions.

• The BC coast offers productive saltwater fishing for chinook, coho, sockeye, pink, and chum salmon. Hotspots include Haida Gwaii, Vancouver Island, and the Queen Charlotte Strait.

• BC’s interior features famous rivers like the Fraser, Skeena, and Babine. These rivers see intense salmon runs in late summer and fall.

Pacific Northwest

The salmon fishing in Washington and Oregon is consistently ranked among the best in the world.

• The Columbia River is famous for its spring and fall chinook runs, as well as summer steelhead.

• Local rivers like the Cowlitz, Lewis, and Sandy also have excellent seasonal salmon runs.

• Coastal opportunities for salmon exist as well, with productive fishing found in Puget Sound and off the Oregon coast.

Midwest

Believe it or not, world-class salmon fishing can also be found in the Midwest’s Great Lakes region. States like Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, and New York have excellent fisheries.

• Lake Michigan offers superb fishing for chinook and coho salmon. Major ports like Milwaukee and Chicago have charter boats that target salmon.

• Inland rivers emptying into the Great Lakes also see salmon runs. The Salmon River in New York is aptly named for its legendary fall salmon fishing.

• Local fishery departments heavily stock many Midwest lakes and rivers with salmon. Contact them for insider info on the best spots.

New England

While not as famous as West Coast salmon fishing, New England offers special opportunities to catch Atlantic and landlocked salmon.

• Maine has rivers like the Penobscot and Kennebec which still get runs of wild Atlantic salmon. Strict regulations govern their harvest.

• Remote ponds and lakes across New England contain landlocked salmon. Local tackle shops can point you towards lesser-known spots holding these hard-fighting fish.

• Lake Champlain on the New York-Vermont border has fantastic landlocked salmon fishing from spring through fall.

Canada’s Maritime Provinces

The salmon rivers of maritime Canada provide exceptional Atlantic salmon fishing.

• New Brunswick’s famed Miramichi River offers world-class Atlantic salmon angling. Several outfitters can arrange multi-day trips.

• Nova Scotia has remote rivers like the Margaree and St. Mary’s. They also receive runs of Atlantic salmon available to catch-and-release anglers.

• Quebec’s north shore features great Atlantic salmon fishing on rivers like the Moisie, Romaine, and Godbout.

Tips for Finding Salmon

• Do your research – Read fishing forums and talk to local anglers to discover lesser-known salmon hotspots. Don’t assume all the good spots are common knowledge.

• Time it right – Salmon runs are very seasonal. Contact local fishery agencies to learn when specific rivers and lakes receive the best runs.

• Go remote – Some of the best salmon fishing is found on remote rivers reached only by floatplane or multi-day hike. Don’t rule out wilderness fishing.

• Use a guide – Hiring a reputable guide can help you locate salmon, especially on large river systems or remote regions. Guides have insider knowledge of the best spots.

• Follow the baitfish – Wherever there are large schools of baitfish like herring and smelt, salmon are sure to follow. Trolling herring imitation lures can be very effective.

Whether you’re based on the West Coast or just planning a fishing trip, opportunities abound to hook bright, powerful salmon. With some preparation and insider knowledge, you’ll be reeling in these hard-fighting fish in no time. Just be ready for a worthy battle once they strike!

For salmon fishing, Alaska is often cited as the best overall destination, particularly the Kenai River for its king salmon and Bristol Bay for its sockeye runs. However, California also offers excellent salmon fishing, with the Sacramento and Feather Rivers being popular choices.