Coho Salmon fishing
Oncorhynchus kisutch. Dark metallic blue to green back with silvery sides and small black spots on the back and upper tail lobe only.
Coho Salmon fishing uses a trolling spoon or a herring on 8 to 20 lb line. Coho gather at the mouths of streams and wait for water flow to rise, such as after a rain storm, before heading upstream to spawn.
Published by Fishypedia · Sources last checked September 19, 2026
Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.
- Active times
- –
- Line
- 8–20 lb
- Hook sizes
- A size 4 to 1/0 single hook for bait and drift rigs
- Stocked in
- 7 states
- Peak in AK
- May
Identification
- Dark metallic blue to green back with silvery sides and small black spots on the back and upper tail lobe only.
- Spawning fish turn dark with reddish-maroon sides, and males develop a strongly hooked snout and large teeth.
- Typically 8 to 12 pounds and 24 to 30 inches, smaller than Chinook but larger than most trout.
- Like Chinook, all coho salmon die after spawning.
Sources: wdfw.wa.gov, accessed September 19, 2026 , fisheries.noaa.gov, accessed September 19, 2026
Top lures
Cast to fish staged at stream mouths waiting for higher flows before running upstream.
Top baits
Line & tackle
- Line
- 8–20 lb
- Rod power
- Hook sizes
- A size 4 to 1/0 single hook for bait and drift rigs
Sources: wdfw.wa.gov, accessed September 19, 2026 , adfg.alaska.gov, accessed September 19, 2026
Stocked behavior
Coho gather at the mouths of streams and wait for water flow to rise, such as after a rain storm, before heading upstream to spawn.
Common mistakes
- Fishing upstream water when fish are staged at a stream mouth waiting for higher flow to move.
- Piling on Chinook-weight gear; for coho you may not even need weight for your lures, and fish can sometimes be found quite close to the surface.
- Overlooking small urban and neighborhood streams; coho can use these if cold, clean, year-round water is present.
Best time to fish Coho Salmon
Most commonly stocked in May in Alaska, based on 1517 stocking events on record.
Most commonly stocked in June in Idaho, based on 85 stocking events on record.
Most commonly stocked in April in Michigan, based on 39 stocking events on record.
Most commonly stocked in October in New York, based on 76 stocking events on record.
Where it's stocked
36 locations shown. Tap a pin for details. · Open this area in Google Maps
Alaska
Idaho
Michigan
New York
Ohio
Texas
Wisconsin
State records
| State | Weight | Angler | Water | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 30.56 lbs | – | Platte River, Benzie County | 1976 |
| Montana | 4.88 lbs. | Irven F. Stohl | Fort Peck Reservoir Face of Dam | 1973 |
| New York | 33 lb. 7 oz. | Stephen Sheets Jr. | Lake Ontario, Oswego Co. | 1998 |
| Virginia | 8 lbs. 12 oz. | Melvin Chilton | Philpott Reservoir | 1971 |
| Washington | 25.27 lbs | Brad Wilson | Quinault River, Grays Harbor County | 2001 |
| Wisconsin | 26 lbs. 1.9 oz. | – | Lake Michigan, Milwaukee County | 1999 |
Common questions
What lures work for Coho Salmon?
Trolling spoon, a spoon in silver, chartreuse, and pink. Bucktail jig, a jig in pink and chartreuse: Cast to fish staged at stream mouths waiting for higher flows before running upstream. Streamer fly, a fly in pink, chartreuse, and white.
What bait works for Coho Salmon?
Herring. Sand shrimp.
How big do Coho Salmon get?
The Michigan record is 30.56 lbs from Platte River, Benzie County in 1976. The Montana record is 4.88 lbs. from Fort Peck Reservoir Face of Dam in 1973. The Washington record is 25.27 lbs from Quinault River, Grays Harbor County in 2001. 3 more state records are on this page.