The most effective lure is a small-size hot pink plastic mini squid tied 13 to 16 inches behind a 1/0 white or silver dodger/flasher. You can also use a smaller eight-inch dodger/flasher with a slightly longer leader of 15 to 20 inches.

A small cut-plug herring will also catch their share of pink salmon and is an effective way when drift or motor mooching from a boat. Casting a bobber with a herring underneath works from shore too.

Another way to catch a pink salmon is casting a jig. There are many types and colors (think pink again) of jigs to choose and deciding what type of jig to use is pretty much up to the discretion of an angler.

Some of the more popular jigs include buzz bombs, leadhead-style jigs with a plastic squid (“hoochie”) over them, darts, and other weighted casting jigs that mimic small baitfish, with pink, purple, orange, and white being preferred colors. . Pinks are not usually deep in the water column, but it helps to have a variety of weight sizes from one to four ounces.

No matter what style of jig, you’ll need to make sure it is constantly moving and twitching. Cast out and let it sink about a foot per second. Once you feel the jig go slack reel up (don’t set the jig hard because a pink salmon has a softer jawline) until you feel the rod pull down.

When it comes to using a jig remember most store-bought jigs come with a barbed treble hook, and they’re illegal for salmon in Marine Catch Areas 1 to 13 as well as some rivers. Only single-pointed barbless hooks and one line with up to two hooks may be used.

Be sure to check the Fish Washington app or Washington Sportfishing Rules as Selective Gear Rules (single point barbless hook and no bait allowed) or Anti-Snagging Rules are in effect on some rivers.

Conducting a simple alteration of your jig will make it more effective and legal to use. First, the two metal eyelets at the top and bottom of a jig should be bent inward so your leader can run freely through them. For leaders use a monofilament line of 20- to 50-pound test with a length of about four to five feet.

Attach a beaded swivel to your braided mainline and leader to alleviate tangles. I use a six-millimeter acrylic plastic green or red bead above the top eyelet of the jig, and small black rubber stoppers on the top and bottom of each eyelet to prevent the line from fraying.

As for hooks go smaller than you would for other salmon species like a 1/0 or 2/0 size. Tie the hooks tandem style, and much closer than you would when using them for bait. The gap between the hooks should be about one inch or less.

Another effective method is a pink rotator-style jig trailed by a small pink plastic squid. Let it flutter down into the water and then slowly retrieve from shore or a boat.

When pink salmon fishing in the river (make sure to check what rivers are open or closed) is casting and retrieving a hot pink spoon in a size 2×7/8-inch and 1/16 ounce or a number two-size trolling spoon. A smaller 1/8- or 1/4-ounce pink jig fished under a float and either cast with a slow retrieve or bounce it across the bottom.

nother favored river method is trolling small pink crankbait with no weight on your line about 35 to 40 feet behind your boat.

Fly anglers will toss a size four pink comet, marabou flies, or just about any other pink-colored fly. 

Anglers don’t need an expensive rod and reel, and many will use a stout eight- to nine-foot salmon or trout rod (six- to 10-pound line) with a good level wind or spinning reel. Stick to a lighter fishing line of eight- to 12-pound test. A six- to seven-weight fly rod will get the job done for those who prefer to cast flies.

Regardless of the method you choose be sure to coat your presentation with shrimp, anise or herring oil, paste and jelly-type scent attractants.

From a boat in marine areas, downriggers are the most effective way to fish since you can dial in the precise depth of where the fish are located. If you don’t own a downrigger simply attach a six- to eight-ounce banana shaped weight a few feet ahead of the dodger or flasher and set it no more than 30 to 50 feet behind the boat. 

Whatever way you choose to fish be sure to keep all the gear (no more than one rod per person unless the area allows a Two-Pole Endorsement) in the water as double or triple header hook ups aren’t uncommon. Once you hook a pink salmon be sure to circle back around to stay on top of the fish.

The best fishing occurs in the early morning or later in the evening just before sunset, but you can catch them all day long. Fish can be found from just below the surface to as deep as 80 to 125 feet, and they will go deeper especially on bright, sunny days.

The top tip when fishing from a boat it to troll slowly, anywhere from 1.3 to 1.8 mph at most depending on current, tide and wind, and never try to go against the current. Don’t be surprised if you hook a chinook or coho while pink salmon fishing and just remember to check the rules on whether you can keep them or not.

To see what marine areas are generating good pink catches, anglers can find up-to-date catch information on the WDFW Puget Sound creel reports webpage.