There is a lot of mystery and closely held secrets around getting pre spawning kings to bite on a consistent basis. While around for years, a relatively unused tactic in many locales now being adopted by savvy anglers is float fishing for salmon.
In a nutshell, you are rigging up cured, fresh or artificial spawn to float downstream under a plastic float similar to how you might target steelhead.
We have spent a lot of time working with a number our our Pro Staff members who are aficionado’s when it comes to float fishing in general, and got a great look and helpful insight into taking big kings under a float.
For the most part, if you have good access to fresh skein, that is without a doubt the bait of choice. We have experimented with artificial egg clusters as well with good success.
The setup is pretty simple, take a stiffer style float rod and put on your reel of choice. Reel selection can range from spinning outfits, baitcasters such as the Shimano Corvalus 400, and others even use Centerpin reels. There are advantages to each of those choices, most comes down to personal preference.
You can also go a couple of different ways on mainlines. Some do prefer a 30lb braid mainline, while others like to go with the stretch and shock absorption of our new floating mono.
Either way you are going to leader down to 15lb fluorocarbon float leader material, put on some splitshot or inline weights, and tie down to a 15lb or 10lb egg loop drop to your hook.
There are a number of hook options as well, most guys are doing something along the lines of a #1 or #2 Octopus style hook with a strong offset shank for the egg loop knot.
When rigging up your bait, there are two primary options. First, chunk cured skein wrapped into your egg loop is going to be an obvious choice. It is quick, easy (and messy!) but always a great place to start. Another option is to take a skein chunk and wrap it into a spawn sac to create a golfball size hunk of skein.
For some reason, as noted by Pro Staff, the round compact shape sometimes seems to hold scent better and longer, and gives the option of wrapping in different colored netting to add some flair. Chartreuse and Pink sac material get the nod here.
It is important to note that when fishing cured skein or roe, you have to keep it fresh and “juiced up” with scent to keep it appealing to wary kings. The thought behind taking these pre-spawn fish, though not actively feeding, is that kings trigger on protein based scents that their bodies crave in order to keep them nutritioned enough to last throughout the run up to the spawning grounds. Though not triggered by hunger, a forced intake of protein in the form of skein proves to be the ticket to getting these fish to hit.
This is not a “lining” event where you feel your mainline run through the mouth of a fish and heave your way into a snagged fish. These kings are actually inhaling these chunks to quickly digest to get that protein their bodies need. Krill based scents in both cures and artificial egg clusters seem to entice more than other scents.
Working deep holes not covered up with rolling fish is the place to be when targeting these fish. You can pound on them all you want up where they are spawning, but you will rarely get them to go. Where you don’t see them, in shady deep holes and runs, is where you will have the best action.
Below are a couple of video’s run on a quick drift trip with Pro Staff Capt Kyle Buck of Great Lakes Guide Service. Kyle is also a Pautzke Pro Staff member, and is heavy on the Fire Brine during this segment, and it definitely paid off.
The first clip walks a first time float angler through working a hole properly, mending techniques and other tips.
The second clip shows a quick look a the cured chunk skein wrapped in spawn sac netting.
The third clip was taken literally on the second drift after the intro, where a big hen drops the hammer on the float!
/pic9772196.png)
