Red Salmon
Where to find them?
Red Salmon, also known as Sockeye, can be located along rivers, streams, or lakes where freshwater is found. It is sometimes thought that the narrower and longer the body of water, the more likely to stumble upon a large amount of these fish for the reasons of spawning instinct. The best areas to find large numbers of Red Salmon will very much depend on the season and breeding cycles. During the prime years, the fish will populate these lakes and streams in incredible masses of 10 million or more. The most well-known area in Alaskan waters to find a good catch of Sockeye is the Kenai River, which plays host to our freshwater fishing charter.
Physical Features
The Sockeye Salmon’s most surprising feature is its range of appearance. While the fish is in its normal cycle in the ocean, it will appear silvery-blue along the top and sides with white scaling underneath. The head is typically blue with fins ranging from a grey-green to gold palate. You may be wondering, as the name suggests, where the “red” comes into play. When the Sockeye Salmon is ready to spawn, they will take on an entirely new look to enter the rivers and begin the breeding process. The tip of their face will elongate and turn downward, while the body transforms into a deep shade of crimson red and the fins develop into a deep green shade. These fish average 26 inches in length.
Best-bet Bait
Sockeye salmon are known to favor crustaceans, plankton, and small organisms through their lifespan which presents uncertainty as to the best types of bait. It is widely thought that Sockeyes prefer small red lures but for what reason, no one is quite sure. It could be that they are confusing the lure with a pink or red crustacean that they are accustomed to.
Fishing Techniques
Red Salmon will continuously swim with their mouth opening and closing so the overall goal to get the hook as close to the mouth as possible in the initial cast. Begin upstream from the goal location and be set at an angle while staying broadside to the fish using an 8-9 foot medium action rod. Experts believe that the best way to snag a Red is to pull the line the moment you feel it move before the fish has a chance to even consider spitting. Try this technique in waters with a nice dense gravel bottom of 3-5 feet deep.