A size 4000 (40) spinning reel is generally the best choice when fishing for salmon. Such reels have a powerful drag system, enough durability, and a sufficient line capacity to battle large salmon in any river.
While it’s usually no problem to beach or hand-land smaller salmon, getting the big fellows safely out of the water can often be a real challenge. That’s why having an appropriately sized landing net with you is essential when fishing for salmon.
As the state has so many great salmon waters to explore, I have written this complete angler’s guide to give you a quick and informative overview.
If you are looking for helpful information about salmon fishing in Washington or are in the middle of planning your next fishing trip to one of the state’s popular rivers, this article is for you!
King salmon are the biggest of the salmon family, reaching a maximum weight of about 125lb and a length of 60 inches. The smallest member, the pink salmon, can reach a maximum size of 15lb and about 30 inches.
Salmon can migrate several thousand miles through the ocean to reach their freshwater spawning grounds. Depending on the size of their natal river, they can cover additional dozens or hundreds of miles swimming upstream.