How to Catch Coho Salmon | Trolling, Jigging & River Tactics

For the full breakdown, see our best Coho Salmon Bait guide.

A coho that struck at 50 feet deep at dawn may be hugging the bottom by midday, and a river fish that ignored your spinner at high flow might take a twitched jig when the water drops. The difference between a limit and a skunk is knowing where they are at each stage. Whether you plan an ocean trip and want to try the best coho salmon bait or a river wade, the exact setups and depth adjustments below will put more fish in your net.

Saltwater Trolling for Coho: Speed, Depth, and Gear

Trolling is the most consistently productive method for ocean coho. The critical variable is speed, because coho react to the action of your lure, not just its appearance. The variation comes down to local conditions, so test slight speed changes and turns to find what triggers strikes on the day you fish.

Depth matters just as much. Coho commonly hold in the top 30 feet of water during low light (dawn and dusk), but they can range from the surface to 100 feet or more. Always use a fish finder to locate baitfish and schools, and start shallow—work deeper until you mark fish. Run herring or artificial lures behind a flasher, using a 10-foot, 15-pound-test monofilament leader behind a cut-plug herring rig with a 2- to 8-ounce trolling sinker. If you use downriggers, deploy to your target depth and troll with occasional zig-zags or speed variations to trigger reaction strikes.

River Coho Fishing: Spinners, Jigs, and Float Fishing

Once coho enter rivers, they hold in predictable spots based on water level. When flows are low, fish stack in deep pools; when the river rises, they move into travel lanes and “steelhead water”—the faster riffles and runs between pools. The key is to cover water thoroughly and read the holding water correctly.

Spinner Fishing

Let the lure sink after the cast, then retrieve slowly enough that the blade spins at the minimum speed to stay off the bottom. A stiffer 6.5- to 8-foot rod with 20-pound braid and a mono leader handles spinner fishing well.

Twitching Jigs

Use a slow, smooth up-and-down rhythm while maintaining contact with the jig. Start with the jig swinging through the current, then lift and let it fall in a controlled cadence. A starting jig size of 1/2 ounce works in most river conditions, but adjust up or down as current speed and water depth dictate.

Float Fishing with Eggs or Bait

This presentation works especially well in deeper pools where fish are staging and reluctant to chase a fast-moving lure.

Many anglers preparing a river trip find it helpful to read practical reviews of the best coho salmon bait before heading out.

Common Mistakes That Cost Catches

Trolling speed errors: too fast and your lure looks panicked; too slow and it has no action. Alaska guides emphasize running with the tide, while Oregon’s guidance covers a wider speed range. Neither is wrong—the trick is to experiment within the window until you get a hookup.

Wrong depth for the time of day: coho are shallow at dawn and dusk and push deeper as the sun climbs. Starting at 20 feet at noon in clear water likely skips right past them. Check your fish finder and adjust.

Ignoring tide and current angle: multiple guides stress fishing with the tide, not against it. In rivers, current angle and the location of travel lanes matter as much as the lure itself.

Too bulky a presentation: river coho in clear low water are wary. Recommended hook sizes top out at 2/0, with smaller and lighter-wire hooks producing more takes. In selective fisheries, single-point barbless hooks are often required.

Not checking regulations before you go: coho fisheries can open and close quickly. Verify retention rules and any selective-gear requirements for your location before you launch.