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What you need to catch Pink Salmon in Washington's Rivers

August 13, 2025

What you need to catch Pink Salmon in Washington's Rivers

Our Best Lures and Gear for Pink Salmon fishing in rivers

Many of the rivers in the Puget Sound region of Washington State will see a huge migration of Pink Salmon every two years, and they instantly become the most popular fish to catch in the area. It's 2025 and we are seeing the beginning of a great return, so if you are interested in catching a few, we have some great recommendations for lures, tackle and gear!

You'll notice that we have several different techniques featured here, but for the most part, the number one lure color is Pink! These salmon usually bite pink lures better than anything. We hope you get out and catch a few yourself this season!

Must Have Casting Lures for Pink Salmon

Here are a few of our favorite casting lures. Twitching jigs are the most universal. Make sure to carry an assortment of 1/4 to 1/2 ounce jigs to cover the bases. If you're posted up in the tidal stretches of our rivers where the pools are deep and slow, a metal jig like a small Buzz Bomb or Kokanator can work as well in-river as they do out on the beaches of Puget Sound. Make sure to switch out your hooks to single-point!

Pink Salmon Humpy Jig

Humpy Death Jigs

This plastic hoochie jig is really durable and one of our top suggestions for river fishing.

Pink Salmon Twitching Jig

Humpy Death Jigs

A little heavier than the Humpy Death Jigs at 1/2 ounce, this one is a great lure to use in deeper pools.

Pink Salmon Twitching Jig

Aerojig Rabbit Twitching Jigs

This twitching jig is one of our best sellers for river fishing, and very effective. Comes in 3/8 to 1/2 ounce.

Buzz Bomb Pink Salmon

Buzz Bombs

In some of the deepest lower river pools, a 2" Buzz Bomb can be a Humpy catching machine! Single point hooks in most areas.

River Metal Jig Pink Salmon

P-Line Kokanator Jigs

These 1/2 to 3/4 ounce metal jigs are effective in those deep tidewater pools of the lower river, switch out the hook for a siwash to stay legal.

Snohomish River Salmon Fishing

Downtown Snohomish has ample bank access, a great place to cast jigs or float fish.

Drift Fishing for Humpies

Drift fishing is a technique that sets you up to work your presentation just above the river bottom. As your lead sinker taps the gravel, your drift fishing rig is positioned just above in the strike zone. Very popular on the Puyallup, Nisqually, Green, Snohomish and Skagit Rivers to name a few.

Pink Salmon yarn

Lil' Corkies

Corkies are buoyant drift bobbers that add color and float the hook of your drift fishing setup, size 12 to 10 are most popular for Pink Salmon fishing.

Pink Salmon yarn

Glo Bugs Yarn

Tie a tuft of pink yarn onto the hook snell of your leader for added color! Any hue of pink is a good choice for Humpies.

Gamakatsu Salmon Leader

Gamakatsu Salmon/Steelhead Leader

These pre-tied leaders come in a 3 pack and make tying up the drift fishing rig and easy deal.

Gamakatsu Salmon Leader

Rolling Drop Swivels with Safety Snap

Perfect swivels to get your drift fishing setup dialed in. Tie off your leader and mainline to the ends and snap in a cut and punched piece of pencil lead.

Gamakatsu Salmon Leader

Pencil Lead Spools

Pencil lead has been a standby for river fishing, as you can create the exact size that allows your gear to tumble along the river bottom.

Pink Salmon pliers

Lead Posting Pliers

These pliers are a river fisher's best friend. Cut and punch pencil lead, line, pinch hooks, everything you need!

Pink Salmon Fishing Washington

Pink Salmon have large oblong black spots on their tail, tiny scales and a white gumline, almost all of them are wild in Washington State.

Bobber & Jig Fishing for Pink Salmon

You'll often find Pink Salmon concentrated in those deep and slow moving stretches of river where a float and jig becomes a great tactic. We like to carry a variety of jig sizes and colors, sometimes a hot pink works really well, sometimes a pink/white or chartreuse becomes the heavy hitter!

Pink Salmon Bobbers

Clear Torpedo Floats

Clear Torpedo Floats in 3/8 to 1/2 ounce work well in all water conditions!

Pink Salmon Bobber Weights

Bobber Weights

Use a torpedo inline weight to get that bobber to bottom out and get the casting distance you need on the river.

Pink Salmon Jigs

Aerojig Rabbit Fur Jigs

This is a really solid Humpy Jig for float fishing. The rabbit fur is really durable but still gives off a great undulating action.

Pink Salmon Jigs

Aerojig Hackle Jigs

This low-profile jig is perfect when Pink Salmon are pressured and not biting well, tip the hook with a sand shrimp tail for added attraction.

Skagit River Salmon Fishing

Lower Skagit including the North Fork and South Fork are popular places to plunk for Pink Salmon.

Plunking Gear for Pink Salmon

Plunking is a popular technique on many of our larger rivers, especially in areas lower down near tidewater. The lower reaches of the Skagit, Snohomish and Green are popular plunking areas, the trick is to cast your plunking gear in the travelling lane of migrating Pinks and wait for the fish to come to you!

Pink Salmon Plunking

Spin-N-Glo's

Plunkers usually stick with the Size 6 Spin-N-Glo's and use a piece of prawn or sand shrimp for the winning combo.

Pink Salmon Beads

Plastic Beads

Thread a couple small beads on the leader before your Spin-N-Glo to keep line twist to a minimum.

Pink Salmon Plunking

Pyramid Sinkers

The pyramid sinker is the perfect weight for plunking in our rivers, usually 1 to 4 ounces is used during the Humpy Season.

We have a really good selection of river fishing gear, check out our Salmon Page for even more great lures for Pink Salmon fishing.