Northwest Reel Life April 2023 Volume 2 Issue 10 - Flipbook - Page 17
watch
now
without additional weight. Bring
several options, and don’t be
afraid to add scent or thread a
hoochie on.
For your rod and reel, I’d
recommend using a rod that
can handle ½ to 1 ½ oz. weights,
probably around 8 to 10 feet in
length. I highly recommend using
braided line because you can feel
those sensitive bites easier, but
mono will definitely do the job. A
size 3000 to 4000 reel will have
plenty of backbone to handle
the fish. Remember to rinse your
reel after fishing, saltwater is very
corrosive and can cause damage
if not washed off.
Wondering where to start? Les
Davis Pier, Edmonds Pier, Des
Moines Pier, Browns Point, and
Point No Point are all popular
locations that reliably produce
pinks every year. Any beach with
a point and a good drop-off will
most likely hold fish. Expect to
have some company, though.
Just be patient and try to avoid
tangling your line with other
anglers, especially if the current is
strong. If you go to a pier, have a
plan for netting your catch. Most
piers are too far from the water to
be able to use traditional nets. Pier
anglers have taken to using crab
rings. Just lower them down to
the water and scoop up your fish.
It takes some practice though!
Beach anglers need not use a net,
simply back up and swing your
fish onto the beach.
As always, be sure to check the
rules and regulations before
going fishing. Don’t forget to
swap those treble hooks for
barbless single-point hooks, if
required. You can buy barbless
hooks or simply pinch the barb
yourself with pliers. If you’re
new to salmon fishing, WDFW
offers salmon identification
guides. It’s important to be able
to tell the difference between
salmon species, because they
are regulated differently. You
may be able to keep pinks but
not chinook, for example. In
general, hatcheries do not clip
pink salmon fins, so don’t worry
about checking if they’re hatchery
or wild. The way to identify pink
salmon is by checking the gums
and the spots on the tail. Pink
salmon have large spots on the
tail and a white mouth with
black gum line and tongue. For
optimum meat quality, don’t
forget to bleed and gut your catch
before going home. Despite what
some anglers say, pink salmon
tastes great on the smoker or grill.
Since they don’t have as much fat
as their cousins, they have a milder
taste than other salmon, which
some people actually enjoy more.
My favorite way to eat them is to
season them with some of my
favorite rub and then grill them
on cedar or alder planks. They’re a
great summertime treat that the
entire family will love!
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