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Alright, let’s talk about catchin’ them salmon, ya know, the big ol’ fish. Folks call it “drift fishin’,” sounds fancy, but it ain’t rocket science. I’m gonna tell ya how to set things up, just like I do it, simple and easy.
First off, you gonna need a good rod, a long one, like taller than your door, ya know? Maybe eight or nine feet long, they say. And strong too, gotta handle a big fish pullin’ on it. They say somethin’ about fifteen to thirty-pound line, but I just eyeball it, make sure it feels strong enough. For them real big salmon, the ones they call Chinook, use the thicker line, you don’t want them breaking off, ya hear?
Now, for the reel, it’s your choice. Some folks like them bait castin’ ones, some like them spinnin’ ones. I say use what you’re comfortable with. Just make sure it’s got enough line on it, them salmon can run, and they run far.
- Rod: 8-9 feet long, strong enough for 15-30 pound line.
- Reel: Baitcasting or spinning, your choice.
- Line: 20-25 pound for big salmon, 10-15 pound for smaller ones.
Next up, the rig, that’s how you put it all together. You gotta have a weight, ya know, somethin’ to get your bait down to where the fish are. Don’t use too much weight though, or you’ll get snagged on the bottom. And a hook, of course, a good sharp hook. I like them octopus hooks, size one, they say. But any hook that’s sharp and strong will do.
And then the leader, that’s the line between your weight and your hook. Make it long, real long, like three feet at least. I use five feet, give the fish some room to bite without seein’ the weight, ya know? You can even add a little spinner thingy on there, shiny thing, attracts them fish. Some folks use a float too, helps keep your bait off the bottom. It’s up to you, really.
Now, about the bait. Salmon like different things at different times. Sometimes they like them dead baits, like eggs or somethin’. You can use a three-hook setup for that. Sometimes they like them live baits, little fish or somethin’. Then you only need one hook.
For the dead baits, you can use a sinker, let it run along the bottom. Or you can use a dropper loop, that’s a way to keep your bait up off the bottom a bit. And for them live baits, just a hook and let ‘em swim around.
So, you got your rod, your reel, your line, your weight, your hook, your leader, and your bait. Now what? Well, you gotta find the fish. Salmon like them rivers, with a good current. You gotta cast your line out there, let it drift down with the current. And you gotta keep your eye on it, feel for the bite. When you feel that tug, set the hook, reel ‘em in! It ain’t always easy, but it sure is fun when you pull in a big one.
One more thing, this ain’t no exact science, ya know? You gotta experiment, try different things, see what works. Different rivers, different times of year, different baits, different weights, you gotta figure it out. But that’s part of the fun, ain’t it? And don’t forget to be patient, sometimes them fish ain’t bitin’, but you keep at it, you’ll catch one eventually.
And remember, always be respectful of the river and the fish. Don’t leave no trash behind, and only keep what you need. We gotta take care of these things, so we can keep fishin’ for years to come.
So, there ya have it, that’s how I set up for drift fishin’ for salmon. It ain’t complicated, just gotta get the right gear and know a little bit about what you’re doin’. Now go out there and catch yourself a big one!
Tags: Drift Fishing, Salmon Fishing, Fishing Setup, Fishing Gear, Fishing Tips, River Fishing, Bait Fishing, Fishing Rigs
