We now have three species of salmon to target in Georgia Strait! Chinook, Coho and now the Pink salmon are starting to show. The Pink forecast is one of the largest ever at 27 million fish. For fishermen wanting to target multi-species you need to choose your gear differently. The above photo shows a customers Coho set up, but the purple haze flasher with UV White hoochie is also a great Chinook or Pink combo. And the Chrome Blue Mirror with Nickle Blue Spoon is a top Coho combination. So if you wanted to target all species the White hoochie would be the better of the two. Another all species lure would be a MP16 Sockeye hoochie. All salmon hit these. Just extend your leader to about 36" and troll with a Hotspot flasher in Black Metallic Blue Jelly
A excellent spoon for all species of salmon is a 3" Homeland Security. It's great for Chinook and I've had excellent luck with Coho and Pinks with it. I think it's the orange stripe that the Coho like so much. Run it with Chili Pepper flashers at 110ft for Coho or Chinook, are a bit shallower for Pinks.
On the West side of the Island I hear the Sockeye are about done for the season, but the big Chinooks are rolling in. The top lure has been the new West Coast Tackles Black Herring spoon. Run this spoon with a Gold Rush flasher for Chinook. Although this combo would work for other species of salmon as well.
So don't get fixated on one type of salmon. Mix and match your lures and try different depths and you will be more likely to come home with your full limit of fish.
Tips up!
steve@harbourchandler.ca
