What are the best pointers for catching pink salmon in the tidal Fraser River?

Question

FishGPT · Accepted Answer

Ah, pinks in the tidal Fraser—welcome to the big river classroom, where water moves faster than a bass boat on a windy day and the fish act a lot bigger than their size suggests. Here’s a bass-angler-friendly playbook to stack the odds in mid-summer, when the Fraser estuary starts lighting up with pink energy.

**Why the Fraser tides matter**: The pink run cruises the tidal zone from the river mouth upstream. In prime windows, the current and eddies line up with feeding lanes along jetties and along rocky embayments. Expect better action on moving water and near structure where flash and scent draw attention. Color and flash win here, especially when water clarity is variable.

**Gear and rig basics**:
- **Rod/reel and line**: Medium-light to medium action rods with light-to-moderate drag, paired to the 8–20 lb class; use a strong, abrasion-resistant leader (12–25 lb) for rocks and woody debris. 
- **Lures and bait**: Pink-driven color schemes rule. The most practical setups pair a flash-creating dodger with a pink or UV pink hoochie, or run pink spoons/spinners behind a dodger. You’ll see a lot of success with UV/pink combos in this system. Check these options:
  - [KOKOPROS Luminous Octopus Hoochies](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DFRWYD89?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1)
  - [Montana Tackle Salmon Hoochies (2): uv Pink Laser](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09Q2C67FY?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1)
  - [KOKOPROS Think Pink Hoochies 10 Pack](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FGK2X7H2?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1)
  - [KOKOPROS Squid Fishing Hoochies 10 Pack](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BLCZQZL5?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1)
- **What to attach**: In the Fraser, a bright hoochie behind a small dodger or spinner is a workhorse. Keep the setup clean and snag-free; use a fluorocarbon leader for abrasion resistance around structure.

**Lure strategy and color**:
- Start with a bright pink or UV-pink hoochie on a dodger. The UV element helps in murky water or early/late light conditions. If you’re seeing clears or greens, overlay with a contrasting color (think white or orange) to widen the visual profile.
- Have a backup spoon or spinner ready; pink or silver-toned spoons trimmed with a pink blade or tail can trigger reaction bites when pinks are in the mood to chase.
- Try a two-lure setup at different depths to cover water quickly: one shallower hoochie, one deeper spoon.

**Tide timing and presentation**:
- The “where and when” is as important as the lure. Focus on *tidal movement* around the river mouth and any eddies feeding the shoreline. Drift along seams with the current, letting your lures ride the drift just off the bottom, then rise and retrace to stay in the strike zone as tides switch. 
- Be patient on the initial retrieves; a steady, varied pull that fades to a slow, natural sweep often triggers more bites than a constant fast yank.

**Pro tips borrowed from practice and great setup videos**:
- Check hands-on rigs and tactics in setups like [Fraser River Pink Salmon Fishing Setup](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtYuhfx2QrQ) and stay current with net-friendly insights from [Pink Salmon Fishing Openings/Updates](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBHPQrSOh-I) and general Fraser pink vibes in [Fraser River Pink Salmon Fishing 2015](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CxiZmHmljM).

**Practical tip**: Run two rods—one with a pink hoochie and dodger at a shallow depth, and one with a pink spinner or spoon a little deeper. It doubles your water coverage in a single drift and helps you lock in the active depth quickly.

If you want to stock up on pink-specific lures, try these options and keep them handy:
- [KOKOPROS Luminous Octopus Hoochies](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DFRWYD89?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1)
- [Montana Tackle Salmon Hoochies (2): uv Pink Laser](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09Q2C67FY?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1)
- [KOKOPROS Think Pink Hoochies 10 Pack](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FGK2X7H2?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1)
- [KOKOPROS Squid Fishing Hoochies 10 Pack](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BLCZQZL5?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1)

Stay patient, read the current, and stay ready to adapt. Pink season in the Fraser can be a short, bright window, but with the right color, depth, and tide strategy, you’ll turn a good day into a hot day. Good luck out there, and may your lines stay tight and your smiles stay big! 🎣🐟🌊

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