Coho
Salmon Fishing Techniques and Tackle
Lifecycle and Coloring!
 Coho
Salmon otherwise known as silvers, have white gums
and a black mouth with a few black spots on there tails.
They average around 10 to 12 pounds in weight with some
weighing in the high teens and twenty pound range. Coho
typically live between 3 and 4 years, they often spend 1
to 2 years in freshwater before heading to the sea to live
on average about 18 months. In that time spent at sea the
fish will grow very rapidly to there adult size.
Coho Salmon Fishing Techniques and Tackle!
Coho are a very sought after sport fish in our local rivers.
They retain there silver coloring for some time after entering
freshwater, and are great table fare during this time in
the  river.
When the Coho have reached spawning maturity they develop
reddish sides with a green tinged back. The males develop
large hook mouths which is used to defend there mate from
other males during spawning.
When fishing for Coho, float fishing methods
are used a lot here on the Fraser Valley Rivers. Generally
lighter action rods along with center pin and level wind
reels are commonly used. Coho can be very difficult fish
to catch at times; they can be very spooky and cautious.
There are many times when the angler must use as little
as 8 pound test leaders and small # 4 bait hooks when fishing
for them. Popular lures are crocodile spoons, Colorado blades
along with different colored wool patterns. Cured Salmon
roe dyed in red hot colors are also very effective baits.
Spin casting is also a very productive
way to fish for Coho, here we use spoons and spinners casting
in the slower parts of the river and then retrieving the
lure. When guiding we fish on the Fraser and Harrison rivers
mostly. On the Fraser River there are many gravel bars to
fish for migratory Coho. When spin casting it is important
not to stop retrieving until the lure is almost at your
feet. Coho will often follow your lure all the way in before
striking at the lure, quite often you will see them follow
it and then turn away at the last moment. When retrieving
the lure in, it is always a good idea to move the rod to
the left or right once in a while to change the direction
of the lure. Occasionally stop reeling altogether for a
second allowing the lure to flutter to see if that entices
a strike.
 Fly
fishing for Coho can be challenging but definitely
worth the effort. When fishing the Harrison River the Coho
will stage in the slower parts of the river, waiting for
the late fall rains to raise the water levels in the tributaries
so they can continue to there home rivers. When they are
in these slower sections, you must take a cautious approach
for them. Here we use clear lines with a slow sink rate
to fish for them, lines such as the Airflow Forty Plus clear
and the Freshwater tactical lines with there slow sink rates
are fantastic for this type of fishing. When presenting
your fly to the fish that are holding in the slower currents,
it is imperative that you do not just cast your fly and
line right on top of them. Cast beyond or to side of where
the fish are and then start your retrieve, which are normally
short strips with the occasional pause. Coho will leave
the school to chase and bite the fly, when hooked they do
like to jump and have a tendency to roll in the line and
leader. Flies commonly used for this type of fishing are,
Muddler minnows, flash flies in greens, blues and reds and
wooly buggers in different colors.
 Fly
Fishing Coho Salmon on the Fraser River!
Fly fishing the Fraser River for moving fish, which are
fish that are not waiting in one general area for long,
is a great way to spend the day. Here we have lots of room
on the many gravel bars to move and try different flies.
On the Fraser we use bigger flies than we would use on the
Harrison, the fish tend to be more aggressive in the slightly
colored water than the clear running Harrison River.
When to Fish Coho Salmon!
Our most productive times to fish Coho on the Fraser and
Harrison River are from the middle of October right thru
November, with November being my favorite time to fish on
the Harrison River.
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