Make the most of the winter chinook salmon season!

Winter chinook fishing can be an awesome experience! Here are some tips to help you make the most of your time on the water:

• Go Deep: Winter Chinook hang out in deeper waters, usually near the bottom. Focus on flat-bottom structures with sand and/or eelgrass—those are their favorite hang-outs.
• Selecting Lures: Winter Chinook are actively feeding, so choose lures with lots of action. Try spoons and hoochies behind a flasher, or small plugs without flashers. A combination of glow, UV or highly reflective finishes will also make them stand out in those dark winter depths.
• Lure Color: Try blues, greens, purples and whites as they can be seen at greater depths. Herring Aid, Green Hornet, Night Magic, White Knight and Cop Car are all good choices.
• The RIGHT action: Lures with erratic, darting actions will attract more fish. At depth the light is minimal and game fish rely on their lateral lines to detect the motion of crippled baitfish.
• Speed Up Your Troll: If your lure speed is between 2.8 and 3.2 mph you’ll cover more ground, fine more fish and attract those actively feeding salmon. Your downrigger cable should be at a 45 degree angle.
• Work the Current: Fish with the current or across it to cover more territory and ensure your lures have the best presentation.
• Flashers and Leader Lengths: For most spoons you’ll need flashers to enhance their action, and shorter leader lengths is generally the rule. For more active lures like the Loony Spoon, you can use longer leader lengths or simply fish them without flashers. Even undersized chinook will put up a great fight without a flasher and you'll likely land more fish.
• Be Patient and Persistent: Winter Chinook can be a bit tricky to find, so keep moving until you find bait or mark fish.
• Safety First: Dress warmly, bring all necessary safety gear, and keep an eye on the weather.