Trolling is one of the most popular and easiest ways to catch salmon. Trolling generally involves moving the boat between 2.5-3.5 knots. Lures are set at the best calculated depths to utilize the action of the boat and cause a salmon to strike. Some early methods including using weights or divers on the line to take it to the desired depth. Now most people use downriggers which consist of a spool, manual or electric crank, a 30-60 inch steel arm, and 200 lb test line or wire with a 10-20lb weight attached to the end of the line. There is a short line and clip attached to the weight which in turn attaches to the line. The clip will release the fishing line once a salmon strikes the line causing enough force to make it release from the clip.

It is possible to effectively troll anywhere from 5-300 ft down. An attracter is generally used to bring the fish close to the lure. The attracter usually flashes and causes a thumping noise made to imate another fish. Most attracters are generally called flashers and in some way will look close to the one picutured to the left. They generally will measure around 12 inches long. During the 60’s and 70’s most flashers were metal, but now the majority of flashers sold are plastic with an attractive face glued on.

The two main set ups are flasher and hoochie and flasher and spoon.

(a lure similar to the one pictured to the left). Spoons are generally anywhere from 3-7 inches long. For larger spoons it is necessary to use a longer leader. The “leader” is the line between the flasher and hoochie or flasher and spoon.

A hoochie is an imitation squid. Most hoochies these days are glow, however, that is not always the case. The leader for a hutchie is usually between 30-45 inches long. Hoochies are usually pretty similar in size, however they can vary a little. They are usually around 4 inches long.  Needle fish hoochies are about 1/3 the thickness and slightly shorter. Hoochies used for sockeye salmon are usually orange or pink and about 1/3 the size in thickness and length.

Some fisherman prefer only fishing spoons and some prefer hutchies. Most fisherman do a combination of both as salmon will still hit a spoon even if the feed is mostly squid in an area. They will also hit on hutchies when there are mostly bait fish in the area since salmon travel around and they are used to seeing both. Both squid and small bait fish can be in one area.