Many of us make the title photo look tame, especially us at Oregon Lure where we can think of a new color combination or lure idea and have it printed, tied and in the water quickly. We have tried many color and style combinations over the years and have tested many more combinations of cut, style, and color than will ever end up being produced. You could say we have a couple options to choose. The next problem is when you are looking to buy a lure you don’t want to waste your hard-earned dollars for something that won’t add to your freezer, give you that next Instagram post, or give you the next story to share at the BBQ while grilling your fish. The question is how to choose the right lure especially in the days of amazon, online shopping, and unlimited options.
This series we will start with my favorite fish to catch Salmon!
Salmon fishing is how Oregon Lure got its start from the need to have a substitute for the herring shortages in 2020 to creating the best salmon lure on the market. The team at Oregon Lure have fished salmon all over the United States from the Great Lakes, Alaska, and our back yard of Oregon we have fished, caught and dined on salmon. Fair warning to anyone thinking about catching salmon, fresh caught will ruin grocery store salmon for you forever.
What do Salmon eat naturally?
Through multiple studies of the stomach contents of salmon the main source of food comes from Shrimp/Crustations, Squid, and Bait fish including herring, anchovy and smelt. The Shrimp/Crustation/Krill family is the reason for the pinkish orange color of salmon who would be white grey without the large amount of the these shellfish in their diet. (Graham, C, Pakhomov, E & Hunt, B A 2020)
Choosing the Right Color Lure
With the information we can extrapolate the best colors for lures. Shrimp and crustation range from opaque white all the way to red and pink. The pink, orange and red colors are often favored due to the color of some of their favorite natural prey, and the reason salmon meat is that rich red, orange pink color (Guilford, G 2015). Squid the impetus for the famed hoochies come in a large variety of colors from the shiny opal color to blue purple and green. Squid colors are also iridescent making Glow and Ultraviolet attractive to salmon (Drummond Davis, N 2003). Finally, the most famous of salmon bait, what our grandparents and great grandparents fished with. Herring, who range from black and white to green and blue. The important part if you are looking to mimic herring is the dark top and lighter bottom to provide the contrast.
If you’re looking for our favorite color, we suggest Pink, for mimicking shellfish when fishing in salt water. Before the salmon head up stream the will dine heavily on krill and shrimp. Silver and black or glow and black, or green and black to mimic herring especially in rivers and later in the season as salmon get large. Finally, ultraviolet, purple, blue, and glow in the dark to mimic the coloring of the squid, especially fishing in deeper waters.
Deciding on the Best Style of Lure
Lures are made to mimic salmons’ natural prey and to also be more attention grabbing than the other bait fish. With lures we are trying to make the most movement, shine and contrast without looking overly fake. Below are some of the most commonly used types of lures when salmon fishing
Plug Cut Lures - Used to mimic the action of slow/wounded bait fish. Generally spinning to provide contrast in the water. Plugs like the solid wobbling plugs and the plug cut style. These are great options for use when trolling especially when fishing deeper waters at slower speeds as they have lots of action even at slow speeds.
Hoochies - Mimicking squid usually in bright colors and glow in the dark to attract the fish. Hoochies can be customized with many different accessories. Attaching a spinner to add motion and flash when trolling or reeling, or fins Infront of the hoochie to give the hoochie a spin for added action. Hoochies are very versatile, as with a few small attachments you can make a hoochie work in rivers, the ocean, trolling and bank fishing.
Spoons - Also used to mimic bait fish and built to either spin or wobble based on your preference. Usually with one painted side and one polished metal side to provide the contrast and flash. These are seen around the world in many sizes, and shapes for different types of fishing.
Wobblers (for lack of a better term) – Designed to wobble back and forth. Most often used in drift boat fishing and bank fishing. These are sensitive lures designed to use the rivers current for their action, impeding their direct path to get late season salmon to strike.
Finding the Best Scent
The key words when looking for any fishing bait is fat, or oil. Scents that aren’t easily washed away. These will help the bait disperse and travel in the water while also taking time to dilute.
Mackerel
Mackerel is a top choice when it comes to salmon bait because of its strong scent and oily, which releases a steady stream of fish-attracting oils into the water. This oily fish mimics one of salmon’s natural prey as many of us know catching a large mackerel while salmon fishing.
Tuna Blood Line
Tuna blood line is prized for its potency in salmon fishing, especially for anglers targeting trophy-sized fish. The bloodline of a tuna is rich with amino acids and natural oils that drive salmon wild. Its strong, natural scent disperses through the water, mimicking the essence of live prey and triggering an instinctual feeding response from salmon. There are many great options for tuna blood line, from canned to griding up the blood line from tuna you or someone else caught.
Herring
Herring is one of the most popular and effective baits for salmon fishing due to its availability and high fat content. Salmon are naturally drawn to herring, both in its fresh and cut form, making it a go-to for anglers. Herring mimics the natural prey of salmon in many rivers and coastal areas, making it an ideal match for the species.
Krill/Shrimp
Krill and shrimp are staple prey in the diet of many salmon making up a large portion of there diet, which makes them a natural and effective bait choice. These tiny crustaceans release a light, yet distinctive scent that salmon find irresistible. Their scent closely mimics the natural feeding environment of salmon, especially in oceanic and estuary waters.
Anise
Anise has become a popular scent additive in salmon fishing due to its unique ability to mask human odors and enhance the attractiveness of other baits. Its sweet, licorice-like scent stands out in the water, and some believe that salmon are particularly drawn to it, especially in heavily fished areas.
Garlic
Garlic is another effective scent for salmon fishing, widely recognized for its ability to attract fish. Though not a natural scent found in the wild, garlic has proven to trigger a feeding response in salmon. Its pungent odor is highly detectable in the water, helping to mask unwanted smells from tackle or handling. When paired with other natural baits like herring or mackerel, garlic can add an additional enticing element, drawing salmon in from a greater distance. It’s particularly effective when fish are lethargic or not actively feeding, as the strong scent can stimulate curiosity or aggression.
Building the Perfect Setup
Salmon in the ocean are found consuming large amounts of shrimp and krill, squid, and bait fish. A hoochie, plug-cut lures, or Spoon will work great. Aim for a lure that matches what a salmon naturally eats like Pink, Silver, Black and Green or combinations of them. Hoochies and plug cut lures cater to the use of scent and bait making them a great choice Try out the Vittle Vault – max from Oregon Lure for your next lure. With hoochies providing the versatility of fishing multiple ways customize your favorite hoochie with the bait basket – micro to provide action and scent
Salmon in the rivers, will begin to stop feeding as their focus becomes spawning. The prey that they will consume also change from their diets in the ocean. Salmon will become opportunistic hunters and more aggressive striking at fish that annoy them rather than for food. You will need to grab the attention of salmon that are more focused on spawning. Spoons work great here due to the flash of the spoon. The other options are wobblers that wobble and wiggle right in their face, disrupting the water and often bumping salmon. Great colors are Silver, Green, Yellow and Pink. Aiming for being as flashy and annoying as possible. Also consider Ultraviolet here as the color will shine like a beacon to the salmon.
Sources:
Drummond Davis, N (2003). Feeding Ecology of Pacific Salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) in the Central North Pacific Ocean and Central Bering Sea, 1991-2000 https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/regulations/regprocess/fisheriesboard/pdfs/2018-2019/july_petitions/davis.pdf
Mulligan, T & Komori, K (1999) Oceanic feeding habits of chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, off northern California https://spo.nmfs.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/26huntfi.pdf
Graham, C, Pakhomov, E & Hunt, B A (2020). salmon diet database for the North Pacific Ocean https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7538949/
Guilford, G (2015). Here’s why your farmed salmon has color added to it https://qz.com/358811/heres-why-your-farmed-salmon-has-color-added-to-it