Gear selection
How to choose the right bait? The best models ideally have:
- Active game.
- Small vibration amplitude.
- Stable at different wiring speeds.
Real models only meet these requirements to some extent. A wide range of colors from natural to acid-bright colors allows you to choose the right model. Bright yellows, cheerful oranges, pinks and maroons excite predators. Such baits are clearly visible in the water.
On rivers with currents, sinking wobblers are used. They are good at long distances, thanks to their mass, they fly quickly, are stable in any current and play perfectly with any retrieve. Salmon fishing is licensed fishing, so you need to prepare thoroughly for it.
How to make the right choice based on fishing conditions
Depending on the trout fishing conditions, certain types of wobblers may be completely unsuitable. Trout fishing is divided into pond and river fishing, characterized by the presence of a current.
If trout fishing with a wobbler is carried out on a river, then in this case the following models of wobblers are ideal:
- Minnow. Catching models of wobblers that are suitable for trout fishing. The elongated body of the minnow allows, without additional effort on the part of the fisherman, to provide an animation that is attractive to the predator, even in a body of water with a rapid current. Most of trout's natural food also has an elongated body shape, making this variety of wobbler a versatile one. It is recommended to start mastering trout fishing by using a minnow wobbler.
- Cranks. Cranks are suitable for river sections where there are depressions in the bottom of the reservoir. This type of bait also has an attractive sweeping action that predatory fish cannot help but like. Regardless of the strength of the current, cranks retain animation, which makes it possible to use this type of bait on riffles and in places where a reverse current forms.
- Walkers. These trout lures can also be used for fishing in riffles and other areas of rivers with intense currents. Walkers are recommended to be used with a very light rod and ultra-thin braided cord. This arrangement makes it easy to make long-distance casts even with very light artificial baits.
- Stickbaits. Stickbaits are bladeless models that are recommended for use in sections of rivers with low currents. With proper wiring, stickbaits can provoke a bite even from passive fish.
The following models of wobblers are most suitable for catching pond trout:
- Minnow. This type of artificial bait is suitable both for fishing in fast currents and for reservoirs where there is no water movement. To catch pond trout, it is also recommended to use small, 25-50 mm long, silver-colored artificial fish.
- Shads. It is better to use shad with a length of 30 mm, due to the too round shape of this bait. Trout prefer small-sized food, so using larger shad can expect fewer bites.
With the right model and color of wobblers, bites can follow one after another, so when choosing a bait you should pay attention to the quality of the hooks. If the tip becomes significantly dull, the tee must be replaced with a new one, otherwise a large number of false bites and fish coming off the hook during fishing are possible.
Important! To protect yourself as much as possible from low-quality products, you should not purchase inexpensive wobblers. Such models very quickly lose color, the hooks become dull, and the independent action of the bait is practically absent.
Wiring technique
The best period for salmon fishing is late winter and spring. It is at this time that the largest specimens are found. Wooden Lithuanian wobblers from Vladas are in demand among fishermen. This is a budget and easy-to-catch option. Model No. 8 is often used, which dives one and a half to two meters. The current hits the blade, the wobbler sinks and moves through the water at an angle of 45 degrees. When the bait goes to the very bank, the rod is positioned perpendicular to the river, and the wobbler will be kept at a distance of three meters from the edge of the bank. If you need to lead to the shore, then simply bring the rod closer to the shore. To pull the bait out of the current, simply speed up the action of the reel. When the current is strong, it puts pressure on the wobbler, and it begins to go up a little, you have to give the rod a little.
Salmon wobblers from a fisherman's bag
Homemade specimens from Lithuanian craftsmen are always in the arsenal of experienced fishermen. These are high-quality models with a strong blade that easily clears stones and dives to a depth of up to three and a half meters. The game is a little sluggish, not noisy, but the fish are big.
Lightweight wobblers without sound and with pure vibration are used on small rivers for trout fishing. They are made of balsa (the wood is half the weight of cork), they play well, but they require semi-light, lighter tackle. New banana-shaped models are sinking, the blade is curved, saddle-shaped, increasing speed during streams, allowing you to prowl chaotically, teasing the salmon, and then the fish attacks.
Wobblers from the Polish company Salmo, made of foam, dive up to two meters and do an excellent job. The most popular wobblers from the Japanese company Timon Tricoroll.
These floating models have a magnetic casting system that allows them to fly further. This system also improves the stability of the game in the current. A ball is placed inside the body of the wobbler, which is attracted to a magnet located in the middle of the body, so the position of the wobbler in the water is always horizontal. By casting sharply, you force the ball to move to the tail, the range increases, and when the wobbler splashes down, it returns back.
The shape has not changed, the color spectrum has become more contrasting and acceptable for dark layers of water. The workmanship of these baits is impeccable.
Wobblers from the Japanese company Smith with a silvery blue hologram ND82S fly far even with the smallest sizes, and play well in strong currents. You make very short blasts with recoil back and get a bite. Finnish two-piece Rapala wobblers work in fast currents. Their bright fluorescent color attracts large salmon fish.
The trick of the two-piece is that the fisherman clearly knows: the wobbler is working, it transmits nodding vibrations to the tip. Two-piece boats are suitable for trolling (fishing from a moving motor boat or speedboat) on the river; unlike conventional models, they do not capsize on streams.
Choosing fishing bait for salmon fishing
Salmon fishing is probably every fisherman’s dream. But this is completely, well, that is, not the least bit surprising. A magnificent fighter, a wonderful gastronomic delicacy, salmon has always been and will remain a desired prey for fishermen around the world. Salmon fishing is essentially a Finnish brand , and the fish itself symbolizes the country of a thousand lakes (it’s not for nothing that there are so many salmo paraphernalia in Finland: clothes, badges, posters, paintings, etc.).
And since such fishing is a brand, then fishing lures for it represent an absolutely definite line, the composition of which practically does not change over time. Which is easy to explain.
Let's divide these baits into conditional groups.
Trolling lures
Spoons
Few will be surprised that the first bait mentioned in this article will be the legendary, trouble-free Kuusamo Professor. And variations on it. Kuusamo Onega (released by the tandem of Kuusamo and Eko fish), as one of these, also deserves to be listed here.
Salmon have different color preferences. Anglers who practice this type of fishing know that they shouldn’t be surprised by the lack of bites on the lure, which was a great attractor for fish last season. Taking into account the specifics of fishing (at least four spinning rods are simultaneously involved in it), we can only state the need for simultaneous placement of spinners that differ radically in color (silver, orange, purple, green, yellow, as is known, are preferable to others).
“Lemongrass”, “Russian Flag”, “Fire Tiger” are the most popular colors recently, which, according to many, work better than others. Relatively recently, an offer from Yo-Zuri appeared on our salmon lure market, namely the Arquid Salmon Special model. The bait is still popular among professionals who are inclined to experiment. However, reviews for this type of spinners are extremely positive.
Therefore, you can safely select more budget-friendly analogues of this new product. Practical advice: using spinners up to 15 cm in length will increase the number of successful bites. The fact is that salmon have a narrow mouth. Considering the nature of its “strike” and bite (very often salmon grabs the bait from the side), using spinners 20 cm long or longer is not advisable.
Wobblers
One of the eternal leaders among salmon wobblers is the X-Rap Deep from Rapala. This series is characterized by the presence of noise effects and active play. The size of the wobbler is from 10 cm. Salmon fish is by no means tiny, and, therefore, it is not worth grinding with bait. Unlike spinners, a larger wobbler size will in no way contribute to an increase in the number of trips.
Thanks to its good catchiness, X-Rap Deep is also perfect for twitching. Experts recommend trying composite Rapala wobblers, which have proven themselves for a long time, in fishing.
The Akara product line of wobblers includes a number of models that are perfect for salmon fishing, in particular the AKARA YE037 model. The classic minnow AKARA HW1007B is also suitable for trolling fishing.
Yo-Zuri's well-known Crystal minnow is also worthy of mention. Indeed, a “working” series of wobblers. Salmon can also be successfully caught using lures such as Super Rogue, made by American wobblers Smithwick. Regarding the depth of wobblers, we note: in salmon fishing horizons of 1-4 m are caught. It is wise to use baits of different depths, because you have to calculate the horizon in which the salmon is standing.
Lures for casting
Quite rarely, rotating spoons are used to catch salmon by casting. However, for connoisseurs of turntables, we will point out the Aglia long model from Mepps. Finns catch salmon with similar lures. Oscillating spinners such as the Finnish Rasanen, Kruunu, Latka, Suurhauki from Kuusamo won the hearts of fishermen not yesterday. Therefore, if you plan to catch salmon by casting, it makes sense to take care of purchasing baits of this type, quite possibly analogue ones. “Spoons”, which have a sweeping game, also prove their worth on the pond.
It is also reasonable to add wobblers Rapala Countdown Sinking and Magnum Sinking, their analogues, to your arsenal before salmon hunting.
General advice: regardless of the price of the bait, in the vast majority of cases the tees on spinners and wobblers need to be replaced. This is especially true if you plan to go trolling fishing. The fighting qualities of salmon multiplied by water resistance will not leave standard hooks a chance to hold your trophy.
N. Kuznetsov
Sea fishing
Saltwater wobblers differ from freshwater ones in their larger sizes, hooks and coloring. But there are also purely marine models that have no freshwater analogues. Marine models are almost pencil shaped and have a filling inside them that ensures maximum casting distance. The color of the baits is flashy, bright, using reflective film. Offshore distances require a more visible bait.
When going to an unfamiliar body of water, it is useful to study the height above sea level, determine the current and riffles. Happy fishing!
