It goes without saying that salmon fishing is not just a sport but a love of many anglers. Anglers will travel far and wide to get their hands on a perfect salmon catch. If you are an angler looking to catch yourself some salmon, you may be asking, well, where can I catch them? If you are asking this question, you are in the right place. Below, we will discuss some of the best places to find salmon in the US and soon, you will be on your way to catching yourself one.
Alaska – Kenai River
If you were to ask any experienced salmon angler where the best place to catch salmon is, they are going to tell you Alaska. It is a wonderful place to get your hands on great sized salmon.
One specific spot in Alaska is the Kenai River. Here, you will find oversized salmon and there are plenty of them. The local government here created a program where they give out trophy certificates to anglers who catch 75-pound salmons. That limit was increased from 50 pounds due to how many certificates they had to give out for 50 pounders.
Yes, there is that much salmon there!
Looking to visit? The best time to visit is anywhere between May and August.
Alaska – Bristol Bay
Alaska makes it on the list again because it really is an excellent place to find salmon. Another hot location for salmon is Bristol Bay. Here, they have plenty of sockeye salmon for you to catch.
The biggest downside to this location is that it is only accessible by plane, so you will need to arrange transportation. However, it is worth it if you want to grab yourself some nice salmon.
Looking to fish for salmon in Bristol Bay? The best time of the year is between June and September.
New York – Lake Ontario
Throughout the waters of Lake Ontario, you will find coho salmon and chinook. There are plenty of salmon to be caught here so you don’t have to worry about the area drying up.
Since the lake serves as a main waterway into the Atlantic Ocean, salmon must cross through here to get to their breeding grounds, which means you are sure to catch plenty.
Looking to go fishing in Lake Ontario? The best time for catching salmon is between May and October.
South Dakota – Lake Oahe
Lake Oahe is located behind the Oahe Dam and is a massive 370,000 reservoir with about 2,250 miles of shoreline for anglers to explore.
If you know anything about salmon, you know that they do not naturally visit Lake Oahe. So, what does this mean? The Wildlife Game, Fish, and Parks have an artificial spawning station here where they collect around 1 million eggs and hatch them.
With that said, there are plenty of salmon that hatch and are ready to be caught in each season that passes.
Maine – Penobscot River
The Penobscot River is around 105 miles in length and provides a beautiful backdrop for anglers looking to catch salmon. It is a wonderful place for those experienced anglers who enjoy a bit of a challenge when it comes to salmon fishing.
It is said that the Penobscot River is home to the largest Atlantic salmon run in the United States, so you are sure to catch a bunch. The salmon run takes place throughout June and into the first few weeks of July.
California – Lake Shasta
Making our way across the US, California is home to Lake Shasta which is a popular salmon fishing location. Here, you will find kokanee and chinook. In addition, anglers will also find rainbow trout and largemouth bass. You can truly have yourself a nice fishing adventure at Lake Shasta.
If you are looking for salmon, you will want to visit Lake Shasta in the spring as the water is still welcoming for the salmon. Once it warms up, you will be hard pressed to find them.
Anglers who have fished for salmon at Lake Shasta say you can easily expect to snag yourself a 10-pounder without an issue.
Where Will You Go Salmon Fishing?
Thinking of going salmon fishing? If so, definitely check out one of these top spots to catch ‘em! You will find that each one of these locations has plenty of salmon ranging in species to keep you on your toes.
