“Catching Everything on Mepps and Mister Twister Lures with Kraig Albright”

Part 4: Steelhead and Salmon – Just Add Water and Current

Editor’s Note: Kraig Albright of Dayton, Oregon, a competitive bass fisherman, also fishes for rainbow trout, salmon and steelheads.

Question: Kraig, you mentioned that you also fish for steelhead and salmon. What lures do you use to fish for them?

Albright: I prefer the classic Aglia and the Flying C in pink or orange colors. These spinners are so productive that you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to fish them. I cast them straight out in front of me and then let them move with the current across the current stream. If there are any steelheads or salmon holding on the edges of these streams, they’ll eat up those baits. The advantage of fishing these spinners is you don’t have to fish a certain kind of technique to catch salmon or steelhead. Just add water and current, and if the fish can see the lures, they’ll eat them.

Question: How big are the salmon and the steelhead you’re catching?

Albright: I fish the Nestucca River System in Hebo, Oregon, and the salmon in that system often weigh 30- to 40-pounds each. The steelhead will weigh from 12- to 15-pounds each. So, we’re catching really-nice-sized fish.

Question: What type salmon do you catch?

Albright: We catch Chinook salmon, and we can keep two per day.

Question: What pound-test line do you use?

Albright: Water clarity dictates my line size, but usually I’ll be fishing 12- to 20-pound-test line on a 9-foot Lamiglas Northwest Special rod with an Abu Garcia 6500 reel. If we can locate the fish, catching 1/2-dozen in a day of fishing isn’t uncommon. To have this type of success fishing for these species, keep moving and casting until you locate the spot where the fish are holding. Once you find them, they’re not too hard to catch.

Question: When does this type of fishing take place?

Albright: The salmon start hitting the river when this area begins having its first cool fronts in September. The bite usually will be productive through November. The steelhead usually come in a little later. November, December and January usually are the best months to fish for steelheads.