New to downrigging for salmon, Salmon fishing Meaford

[ggg]

Looking for some advice for hooking a salmon.
I have a downrigger and fish near Meaford.
Caught some nice trout, but no salmon.
A couple of questions:
I'm told 50 - 70 feet down in100+ FOW.
Should I use a flasher?
I am trying various spoons...any advice on colors?
I am trying different speeds (1 - 3 knots) any advice?
Thanks In advance for sharing!
P.S. I'm the one downrigging from a sailboat!

This post has been edited by ggg on Aug 29, 2021 - 07:57 am

[Disco]

At any time the Salmon could be in the area your fishing.

Water temp where your bait is presented is extremely important.

Salmon like around 48 Fahrenheit. They feed out of temp all the time. If you can find them keep changing you tactics and baits as what works one day will not work the next. Flashers, flies, spoons, body baits etc all have their place and time and all work. If you have limited baits and tactics stick to the natural colours for a start.

Rainbows travel higher up at warmer temp so if your catching them often and no Salmon your probably in warmer water. May have to go deeper.

[Newburg007]

I think you're like many of us who have been in tough with salmon on the bay. I fished 5 hour last Saturday in your area to catch one salmon, and only saw 2 others landed; the charter boat had his full spread out and was near for a couple hours throughout the morning and I never saw a rod fire. Fish would rise to the bait but not hit.

The bait balls and fish marks will tell you that you're in the right area. Drag a spoon just above the bait ball, ...and give a quick prayer. Your speeds sound good.

Temperature is a factor I find less critical for the salmon in your area. On L. Ontario, temperature is like a religion. A case in point -- a couple weeks ago, a buddy was out and caught 5 fish down 65' in in almost 70oF water.... ???? Two lakers and 3 salmon. Neither of those fish you'd expect in that temperature. He said the lure was at that depth because he was setting up and the temperature probe on the second rigger wasn't down yet.

Time on the water is obviously the key. And the effort to make changes when things are not happening -- changing speed, direction trolling (current below affect your presentation), colour, size, .....

Good luck. And post your "next" salmon!

[sdcaller]

Take a look at my posts on my trips to Collingwood.

Lots of info. there.

SDC