Getting the most out 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 structure with sand and/or eelgrass.
• Selecting Lures: Winter Chinook are actively feeding, so choose lures with lots of action. Spoons and hoochies behind flashers work well, as do small plugs. 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. The Green Hornet has been on fire throughout BC and Alaska. Herring Aid, Night Magic, White Knight and Cop Car are also 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: Faster troll speeds allow you to cover more ground, find more fish and attract those actively feeding salmon. Adjust your speed to the current, the downrigger cable should be at about a 45 degree angle.
• Work the Current: When fishing stronger current, try trolling across or 90 degrees to the current. This will help maintain a more consistent lure speed and action.
• Flashers and Leader Lengths: For most spoons you’ll need flashers to enhance their action and leader lengths of 30-40 inches can be very effective. For more active lures like the Loony Spoon, you can use longer leader lengths or simply fish them without flashers. You will likely land more fish without flashers and even smaller chinook put up a great fight without the drag of flashers.
• 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.
  
  Any other tips and tricks to add? Leave a comment and let us know!