King Salmon
(Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)
Also known as Chinook, Tyee, Blackmouth, Tule, Quinnat, or Spring salmon.
Average Size: 20-25lbs
Alaska state record: 96.4lbs
Tackle used: Everyone has heard the statement, “to catch big fish you have to fish with big lures”, when fishing for the large Alaskan King’s this is definitely a true statement. While fishing conventional tackle we often fish with large crankbaits or “plugs”. Some of our favorites include Luhr Jensen “Kwik fish in the sizes K-14 or K-15 and the Storm Lures “Magnum Wiggle Wart’s”. One can use a variety of colors, but we have found that green and or chartreuse produce very well for us. If flyfishing is your game, large 2/0 or 3/0 marabou and rabbit strip flies in the same colors work well.
Habitat: While traveling through the many river systems King salmon tend t move through and hold in the deeper river channels and buckets(8-12 foot depths). Whether using flies or conventional tackle, the key to hooking these fish is using whatever means to get your lures down to there level.
