|
 Fall
Chinook Salmon Habits
By Capt. Jim Hirt
 Captain
Jim Hirt operates his fishing business out of Milwaukee,
Wisconsin as
Blue Max Charters.
In
previous article we covered lure presentation on clear
days. Now let us switch gears and discuss location and
presentation for Salmon in the last several months of
their life.
I will just group them
together and call them spawners. For the fisherman in
our area this includes Coho and Chinook.
On or about the third week
in July to the end of our season and beyond, these fish
are looking for a place to drop their eggs. The active
feeding time of their life is coming to an end. The good
news is they will still hit lures on what I call a
reflex reaction.
|
As the spawners start
their quest for the perfect spot, they will move
from where you would normally look for them on
baitfish. The end of July and early August fish the
55 to 70 degree water in depths of 100 feet or more.
As the season progresses they start to move closer
to natal-release sites.
The four-year-old
kings definitely like color. I like spoons or
attractors and flies in green, orange, chartreuse,
red and silver. As we get into August most of these
fish will be suspended in the 60 degrees or warmer
water. In the month of August I look for the biggest
kings in 60 to 90 feet of water. |
|
|
The lure action changes
everyday. Experiment with size, speed and color. One day
the fish like flashers or dodgers the next it's spoons.
September, the fish start to go up the river. Look for
them in 50 to 40 feet of water, in the harbor gaps and
mouths of the rivers.
Dreamweaver 90002s plugs
out-preformed J-plugs four to one again this season for
big kings. Try them all season long. You won’t be
disappointed.
When these fish get into
the harbor there are three lures I run. Magnum silver or
glow in the dark Vulcan spoons, Dreamweaver plugs and
Magnum Nestor Wobblers made by
Badgertackle.com .
I just discovered the
Nestor Wobbler this year and they caught fish on days
when all other lures failed to produce.
Good Luck,
Captain Jim.
Let’s go fishing!! Jim
charters out of Milwaukee, WI. with Blue Max Charters.
He can be reached at 414-828-1094 or visit his web site
at
http://www.bluemaxcharters.com Copyright©
2006, James J. Hirt, All Rights Reserved.
|
