New to Salmon fishing and chasing the run of kings coming in at Milwaukee. I've been seeing a lot of fish jumping in around the harbours and assuming they're salmon feeding. Is that the case? As people are hooking up salmon. Is it worth casting at them or is that a pointless exercise?
Wisconsin Fishing Discussion
Beginner Salmon question
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While its true that once they start changing colors, they become basically incapable of eating as their stomachs basically collapse...so they are just living off fat reserves (this is why they lose that pinkish color in their flesh)...but they do still bite...these are swimming stomaches for their whole lives, that doesn't just turn off altogether.
They crack spoons and cranks in the harbor near river mouths and it most certainly is worth the effort.....a chinook hitting a spoon or crank is one of the most powerful things an angler can feel in this state. Everyone should experience it. Don't use second rate tackle either....a reel with a good quality drag system is a must.
They can also be caught bobber fishing if you know the right areas, ad this can be extremely productive and a blast.
Fish in rivers are generally less likely to bite, but they still do, it just requires more time and effort...and that can be a sight fishing game....once on redds, its best to use a fly rod.
IMO getting them in the lake is the most exciting way to catch them...I would take one in the lake over 10 in the river...JMO.
As mature King Salmon come into the harbor area this time of year they are generally done feeding, it's more aggression strikes then them actually trying to eat.
One theory is the jumping is female Salmon doing so to loosen their eggs. Another is it's pressure and/or stress. In either case it has nothing to do with feeding.
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