Catching Chinook Salmon With the Best Bait

 Is there a dedicated spot over the fireplace mantel waiting to be filled with your best catch of the coveted Chinook salmon?

If so, then your desire to understand what Chinook salmon eat to determine the best possible bait has led you to the right place.

You won’t find any mantras like “You have to BE the fish” here. Just logical information on what Chinook salmon eat and how you can create the best bait to catch the Chinook of your dreams. After this quick read, you’ll be able to apply your new practical knowledge to your next run.

Table of Contents

• Chinook Salmon: The Basics
• What Does Chinook Salmon Eat?
• What Is the Best Bait to Catch Chinook Salmon?
• Factors To Consider When Choosing the Best Bait To Catch Chinook Salmon
• Book Your Next Chinook Salmon Fishing Excursion With Pacific Drifter Guide Service

Chinook Salmon: The Basics

Chinook salmon, also known as king salmon, are the most highly sought-after of the species. Valued for their size, they are also the largest of all salmon. An adult Chinook can typically range from 24–58 in. in length and can weigh from 10–60 lbs. An average Chinook weighs 6–20 lbs.

Chinook salmon are also popular for their delicious taste. The meat can be either pink or white, depending on what the salmon has been feeding on. Their distinctive characteristics include:

• Blue-green, red, or purple on the back and the top of the head
• Silver sides 
• White ventral surfaces 
• Black spots on its tail and the upper half of its body
• A black gum line in the mouth

Many may also refer to a Chinook salmon as “blackmouth.”

The species is native to the North Pacific Ocean and rivers of western North America, from California to Alaska. Chinook salmon can also be found in Asian rivers from northern Japan to northeast Siberia and have also been introduced in New Zealand and Patagonia.

Chinook salmon are anadromous fish. This means they spend their lives in both fresh and saltwater. Chinook salmon migrate from the sea up into freshwater to spawn, where they will live in rivers before migrating to the ocean to feed and grow.

The ideal time to fish for Chinook salmon typically falls between May and October, when they migrate from the ocean into freshwater rivers to spawn. The prime fishing months are usually June through September, particularly during the summer. However, the exact timing can vary based on location and the specific Chinook “run“—whether it’s a spring, summer, or fall migration.

Learn all about the Chinook salmon directly from a salmon expert when you embark on an exhilarating fishing expedition with Pacific Driver Guide Service. Simply come ready to create fishing memories that will last a lifetime, and let us handle the rest. Contact Pacific Drifter Guide Service today; your fishing adventure awaits.

What Does Chinook Salmon Eat?

Chinook salmon have a varied diet that changes as they grow and migrate. What Chinook salmon eat depends on many factors, including:

• Age of the fish
• Geographic region; and 
• Time of year

Younger Chinook Salmon

After young Chinook salmon absorb their yolk sacs, the young salmon, called fry, feed primarily on:

• Aquatic and terrestrial insects
• Amphipods
• Crab larvae; and
• Other small crustaceans

Older Chinook Salmon

When the fry grow into mature Chinook salmon, they can eat: 

• Squid
• Forage fish, such as:
  • Smelt
  • Pacific sand lance
  • Sardines
  • Pacific herring; and 
  • Prickleback

What Is the Best Bait to Catch Chinook Salmon?

There are several types of bait to choose from, and the best bait will depend on many contributing factors. Chinook rely heavily on scent, so use fresh bait or scented cures or additives, like anise, krill, or garlic oil, to boost effectiveness.

Book an exciting excursion with the Pacific Drifter Guide Service, where we create an unforgettable and rewarding fishing experience. With more than 30 years of experience and expertise in the Pacific Northwest, we know exactly which bait to use to catch Chinook salmon. Reserve your spot with us and get ready for the time of your life!

Roe

Roe, or salmon eggs, are best for freshwater Chinook fishing.

Chinook salmon are drawn to the scent and appearance of fresh or cured salmon roe, particularly during spawning runs.

Shrimp or Prawns

Sand shrimp and humpback shrimp work well when drift fishing or plunking in both freshwater and estuary environments. They can be used alone or combined with roe for added scent.

Bait Fish

Bait fish are small-sized fish caught and used to attract larger fish. Attractive bait fish for Chinook salmon include:

• Herring
• Sardines
• Anchovies

Chinook are highly attracted to bait fish, especially when plug-cut and trolled behind flashers or dodgers. Cut-plug herring can be especially effective because it gives off a spinning motion and a strong scent. 

Bait fish work well in saltwater or estuary conditions.

Beads

Beads are an artificial bait, designed to imitate roe. Beads can be as effective as natural bait, especially when Chinook are aggressive or bait isn’t allowed.

Beads are commonly used for drift fishing in rivers, especially behind spawning salmon, and are best used in clear water with light current.

Colorado Blades

Colorado blades are teardrop-shaped metal blades commonly used in fishing lures, like:

• Spinnerbaits
• Inline spinners
• Blade baits

They produce a slow, steady rotation that creates strong flash, vibration, and sound—ideal for attracting fish at slower trolling speeds and in bright or clear water conditions.

Factors To Consider When Choosing the Best Bait To Catch Chinook Salmon

There are several factors to consider when choosing the right bait to catch Chinook salmon. These key conditions can significantly influence your success depending on where, when, and how you’re fishing.

Determining conditions that should influence which bait you use to catch Chinook salmon includes:

• Time of year and run timing – Whether it’s spring, summer, or fall, salmon during the peak of these runs tend to be more aggressive and responsive to bait, while early-season Chinook may respond better to natural bait, and late Chinook may be more cautious and require scented or cured bait.
• Water conditions – In clear water, it’s best to use smaller baits with more natural colors, and in murky water, brighter, more visible baits with a strong scent may return better results. Cold water tends to make fish more sluggish, so use slower presentations with a stronger smell. You can use more active bait, like spinners or cut-plug bait, in warmer water. 
• Age of the fish – As we mentioned earlier, younger Chinook salmon have a very different diet than mature Chinook, so choose your bait based on which you are trying to attract. 
• Location – For saltwater fishing, use herring, anchovies, or squid trolled behind flashers, but in freshwater, opt for roe, shrimp, or spinners for drift fishing or casting. In heavily fished areas, Chinook may be cautious of common bait. Try switching presentations or using less common bait, like sand shrimp or squid strips.
• Presentation and rigging – If you’re trolling, use properly rigged cut-plug herring or anchovies for a natural spin. For drift fishing, use roe or shrimp to drift naturally, but be sure to secure them well.
• Local regulations – Don’t forget to check local fishing regulations for gear, bait, and season rules. Some regions may restrict the use of certain baits or methods. Fishing with Pacific Drifter Guide Service means you can relax. We stay up to date with all the local laws and regulations, so you don’t have to.

Book Your Next Chinook Salmon Fishing Excursion With Pacific Drifter Guide Service

Why worry about choosing the perfect bait for your next Chinook run?

When you book a Chinook salmon fishing excursion with Pacific Drifter Guide Service, you get more than 30 years of experience fishing the Pacific Northwest, which includes expertise in baiting for the run.

When you book a trip with us, you don’t have to worry about being turned away on a river due to overcrowding and conservation. We know all the best backup locations, alternatives, and the best times to book. We guarantee a memorable fishing adventure tailored to your needs and preferences.

So call Pacific Drifter Guide Service today and get ready to cross the Chinook salmon run off your bucket list.