How do you know it when a King Salmon bites?

How do you know it when a King Salmon bites?


King salmon are not like trout or bass. They do not bite like any other fish, in fact, they don't really bite at all. Spawning salmon are in the river only to breed. King Salmon and Sockeye salmon (reds) stop eating once they hit fresh water.

There are many opinions among fishermen as to why King Salmon bite at all.

Using eggs as bait. Why do the King Salmon pick them up?
The theory that makes the most sense based on what I've seen and heard is that when the salmon are spawning and you put something bright in front of their face that has an egg sack on it, they pick it up in their mouth by instinct. They do this not to eat it but to move it, thinking it has floated out of its resting place. They may mouth it just make sure that another fish does not get it.

Using lures such as a quickfish. Why do the King Salmon strike the lures?
Most Kenai guides and fishermen I have spoken to believe that the salmon are simply showing aggression by striking out at anything in their path. The salmon is headed up river and in its path sits a quickfish lure fanning in its path, rather than just going around it, it will just bite it! If you watch salmon as they spawn, they will constantly chase and snap at one another.

Many fishermen will say that they've had King Salmon hammer the bait and hit it hard. Fishing on the Kenai River in Alaska normally involves back trolling downstream to the fish very slowly.

King Salmon do definitely take the lure into their mouths and the result is a bite. A bite is not always a big yank or tug. Sometimes a bite starts as a momentary slackening of your line then a tug but in the end your rod bent horzontal like a snag is the sure sign of FISH ON!. At this point anyone fishing in a boat with you should reel in their line as quick as possible and someone should raise the net to alert nearby boats to give way. This is standard fishing courtesy. If bank fishing let others nearby know you have a fish on so they can give you room also, many fish are lost due to tangled lines.



Zeroing in on the bite of a King takes a little focus. If you fish long enough, you will begin to get the rhythm of the river bottom. You'll know what a rock feels like. You'll also know when the tick in your line (or the absence of a tick in your line) is unusual. That's likely to be your King. You'll have plenty of opportunity for trial and error. Whenever you feel something not quite right, you can snap your LINE. If the line does nothing, then you know that it's a false alarm. If you snap and the line just about gets ripped out of your hands and your rod points down sharply, then you know that you're about to battle the mighty King.

Managing your line will make the biggest difference in sensing the bite of a King. If you keep your line too tight, then you will feel every little bump and twitch. If you allow your line to float loose, you'll miss even the strongest strikes. Getting good at drifting your line is one of the key elements to King fishing (and one of the most entertaining.)When using quickfish and other lures you will get used to the motions it makes, at first you think every big bump is a bite but then when you really get a bite you will quickly see the difference.

Also, good gear can make a difference. This is where spending big bucks on a King Fishing Gear can pay off. However, the rod makes little difference compared to managing the tightness of your line. For most, the 8ft Ugly Stick by Shakespeare gives plenty of sensitivity for catching Kings. A good reel I recommend is the Abu Garcia's Big Game reel, strung with #60-80 Berkley Big game mono.

Well I hope this article helps you catch a Giant King Salmon.
Happy Fishing and Tight--------Lines Gary