Pink Salmon

Never even seen one in person, but would like to give em a try. Not looking for any secrets, just general info, mostly where n when. Southern most options in particular, since I live in Eugene and don't want to drive further than necessary.

Anyone here gonna be chasing em soon?

Thanks in advance for any info!

Southern Puget Sound and Hood Canal will be the closest to you with high numbers of returning fish.  The next month will be hot in saltwater.  They like to bite, just keep your offering small.

Awesome, thank you!

Hood Canal is supposed to see over 2 million pinks this year, and the Nisqually prediction is 1.5 million. Areas 12 and 13 should be flooded with pinks 2 weeks from now.

I appreciate it! Do they travel fairly shallow like coho?
Just troll a 360 and small lure? Close to shore, or out in the middle?

They're all over the water column, so there's usually no need to go terribly deep. When they're around you can find them in 10 FOW or 600 out in the shipping lanes.


Definitely don't need a 360--they'll hit anything. Standard trolling rig is an 8" white flasher or dodger with a small pink hootchie about 24" back, but again, they'll hit anything. You can throw pink jigs, buzzbombs or spinners at jumpers or drop them down on schools that show up on sonar.

12 and 13 should both be open for chinook, so you could try targeting them at the same time.

I really appreciate the great info!

I got a pink at Depoe Bay today while trolling for coho. Pretty neat! Heard of a few others caught today as well.

Really cool.

Was hoping to get one today, but no dice. Fish checker hadn't seen any as of 2pm. Oh well.