What Causes the Best Bait for Salmon?

When it comes to salmon fishing using the right bait can make all the difference between an epic day on the water or coming home empty-handed. Salmon are aggressive predators but can also be quite finicky so having baits that trigger their feeding instinct is critical. Through years of experience fishing for salmon in rivers and offshore, some baits have proven to consistently produce strikes and hookups. So what causes certain baits to be the best for salmon? There are a few key factors.

Natural Prey Items

Salmon are predatory fish that hunt a variety of smaller bait fish aquatic invertebrates, and other creatures. Using baits that mimic their natural prey is a great way to get their attention. Some of the most popular and effective salmon baits include

• Salmon Eggs – Salmon eggs are a top salmon bait for good reason. They look just like the real eggs salmon would feed on naturally. The scent also helps trigger strikes.

• Sand Shrimp – A favorite food of chinook salmon, sand shrimp imitations are very effective bait when fishing for kings.

• Herring – Whole herring or cut-bait works well when trolling for salmon offshore. The scent appeals to their keen sense of smell.

• Sardines – Like herring, sardines are a major forage fish salmon prey on. Sardine fillet strips or whole fish work when trolling.

• Squid – Squid is a versatile bait for salmon. It stays on the hook well and emits a strong scent trail to draw in fish.

Action and Movement

Salmon are drawn to baits that mimic wounded or fleeing baitfish with erratic movements. Baits like hoochies, spoons, and spinners all have action and flash when trolled or jigged to provoke strikes. Kwikfish and other plugs have built-in actions that mimic injured baitfish when trolled. Adding attractors like dodgers and diving planers creates more movement and vibration to also help trigger salmon.

Scent Dispersion

Salmon have an excellent sense of smell, allowing them to hone in on bait scents from long distances away Using naturally smelly baits like shrimp, herring, and sardines helps dispersion of scent in the water But even artificial baits can be enhanced with Pro-Cure bait scents or ground-up fish like anchovy or shrimp to amp up the scent appeal. Oily fish like herring and sardines also leave an oil slick scent trail when trolled or jigged.

Bright Colors and Contrast

Though scent is most important, visible factors like color, flash, and contrast also play a role in attracting salmon. Using baits in bright fluorescent colors like chartreuse, orange, pink, and green provides a stark visual contrast in the water. Metallic and UV reflective finishes also add flash. When the water is off-color, louder bait colors and lots of flash are key to visibility. On sunny days, natural translucent colors are often best.

Durability

Baits must be durable to withstand repeated strikes without falling apart. Natural baits like shrimp and salmon eggs tend to only last for a few strikes before needing replacement. But well-constructed artificial baits can catch dozens of fish before getting retired. Materials like soft plastics, rubber, tough nylon, and wire leaders help artificial baits endure multiple attacks by sharp teeth and brute strength.