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All about salmon fishing
Sockeye salmon is a medium-sized migratory Pacific salmon. The maximum dimensions are about 80 cm long and about 8 kg in weight. It resembles a chum salmon in body shape, but adult fish are much smaller. In addition to migratory forms, it can form residential subspecies that live in lakes, in addition, there are dwarf forms. Not widely distributed.
Sockeye salmon fishing methods
Fishing for this fish is exciting and reckless. The methods of fishing and tackle are the same as for catching other small Pacific salmon, with only one feature, sockeye salmon is often caught in lakes. Sockeye salmon responds well to typical spinning and fly fishing lures, and is also caught on animal baits. Therefore, local anglers often catch it with float rods.
Catching sockeye salmon with spinning
Like all salmon – sockeye salmon, the fish is very lively, so the main requirement for tackle is reliability. It is better to choose the size and test of the rod based on the conditions of fishing. Fishing on the lake and the river may be different, but you should choose medium-sized lures. Spinners can be both oscillating and rotating. Given the peculiarities of fishing on fast rivers and possible fishing on a jet, it is necessary to have baits that hold well in the lower layers of the water. Reliability of the tackle should correspond to the conditions of catching large fish, as well as when catching other Pacific salmon of the corresponding size. Long rods are more comfortable when playing big fish, but they can be uncomfortable when fishing from overgrown banks or from small inflatable boats. The spinning test depends on the choice of weight of spinners. The best solution would be to take spinners of different weights and sizes with you. Fishing conditions on the river can vary greatly, including due to the weather. The choice of an inertial reel must be associated with the need to have a large supply of fishing line. The cord or fishing line should not be too thin, the reason is not only the possibility of catching a large trophy, but also because the fishing conditions may require forced fighting.
Catching sockeye salmon on float gear
To catch sockeye salmon on float rigs, various animal baits are used – worm, insect larvae, fry, fish meat. Feeding activity is associated with residual food reflexes of migratory fish, as well as the presence of residential forms. When choosing gear, it is worth proceeding from the parameters of reliability. Even when catching dwarf forms, do not forget that larger specimens, including other types of salmon, can also react to baits.
Fly fishing for sockeye salmon
The fish responds to baits typical of Pacific salmon, the size of the baits should be appropriate for the possible trophy. The choice of tackle depends on the experience and desires of the fisherman, but, as with other medium and large salmon, it is quite possible to use high grade tackle, including two-handed ones. In case of interest in lighter gear, two-handed class 5-6 and switches may be optimal for fishing.
Baits
The main types of baits for catching sockeye salmon are the same as for other types of Pacific salmon. Do not forget that due to the variety of life forms, as in the case of chars, it is possible to catch fish of different sizes. Before the trip, it is worth checking the conditions of fishing.
Places of fishing and habitat
Sockeye salmon is most common along the American Pacific coast. However, the fish lives in the Kamchatka rivers and lakes, Anadyr, and also on Sakhalin. It is less common on the coast of the Sea of Okhotsk, although the habitat reaches the Japanese Islands.
Spawning
The fish has a pronounced homing. She always returns to the points of her birth. It stands out among salmon by its preference for life and spawning in lakes. A special feature is the search for spawning places for the exit of underground keys. It becomes sexually mature quite late, often at 5-6 years of age. Before spawning, the fish turns bright red, with a green head. After feeding, the fish begins to enter the rivers in May, and spawning continues until the end of July. The fry live long enough in the river.