Welcome to our review of the best salmon lures!
Salmon fishing is one of the most popular hobbies, especially in the U.S. Salmon is still one of the most prized catches for anglers, and it’s not hard to see why. Having the right salmon lure can mean the difference between a successful catch and a long day of no bites.
Salmon is found in both freshwater and saltwater, so you’ll need a non-corrosive and long-lasting lure. In this salmon lures review, we’ll look at some of the best salmon lures available in the market so that you can find the perfect one for your next salmon fishing trip.
Whether you’re heading to a lake, river, or ocean, these top-rated lures will help ensure you have plenty of success in salmon fishing. Read on to learn more about each salmon lure to decide which one is right for you.
Our Top 10 Picks of the Best Salmon Lures
4. Sougayilang Spoons Hard Salmon Lures
5. Silver Horde Coho Killer Spoon
What Are the Best Salmon Lures of 2023?
Here are the 10 best salmon fishing lures to consider for the ultimate salmon fishing experience
1. Luhr Jensen Coyote Spoon
One of the best salmon lures on the market is the Luhr Jensen Coyote Spoon. Spoons are perfect for trolling, which explains their popularity in Oregon, Western Canada, and Washington.
In addition to its strength, the plating on the Luhr Jensen Coyote Spoon makes it corrosion-resistant for saltwater performance. The plating is designed to optimize flashes, which helps to attract salmon.
The Coyote Spoon also features a bright UV finish, reflecting more light and adding to its water visibility. The lure also comes in several different bright colors for you to choose from.
2. Blue Fox Rattlin’ Pixiee Spoon
The Blue Fox Rattlin’ Pixee Spoon is one of the best salmon lures for rivers, as it’s designed to go deep, even in fast waters.
The Rattlin’ Pixie Spoon comes with all the benefits of the spoon, with the added benefit of sound. Made of premium brass, its weight makes it ideal for casting long and deep. The hammered finish reflects maximum light and enhances the lure’s flash.
The Blue Fox Rattlin’ Pixie Spoon swims in big wide motions, which catches salmons’ attention. The rattle then gets under the salmon’s skin, which irritates the fish into biting the lure. Once the salmon has taken the bait, setting the hook is easy.
3. Acme Kastmaster
The Acme Kastmaster is among the best salmon lures for casting. The lure is strong as it’s from solid brass. Besides strength, the lure is corrosion-resistant and retains its luster even after prolonged use in salt water.
The Acme Kastmaster is quite heavier than other salmon lures on the list, making it ideal for fishing in deep waters. You’ll have no problems using the lure in the ocean and saltwater. Its casting abilities are unmatched, and its balance produces wild actions that attract salmon and other fish.
The lure comes in various colors and patterns, with some patterns, like the brown trout mimicking other types of fish. Try experimenting with different patterns or start with shiny classics like gold and silver.
4. Sougayilang Spoons Hard Salmon Lures
The Sougayilang Fishing Spoons are perfect for river fishing. These fishing spoons are gold and silver plated, displaying brilliant flashes in the water. Their reflective surfaces make them irresistible for salmon to take the bait.
The lure features a unique ‘S’ shape, which enhances their swimming motion and allows for smooth movement underwater, mimicking live bait. The superior quality of the body and the metal treble hook make these lures exceptional.
These lures also have a dimpled texture on their surfaces, which creates extra noise to attract fish. Their realistic appearance and extra features make the Sougayilang Spoons effective at attracting even the most challenging fish.
5. Silver Horde Coho Killer Fishing Spoon
The Silver Horde Coho Killer Spoon is one of the best salmon lures. It features a small metal spoon, a realistic 3D appearance, and a lifelike flutter action.
If you’re looking for single-hook salmon lures, this is the lure for you. This three-inch dynamic spoon is perfect for deep fishing and is quite effective at attracting and catching salmon.
The Silver Horde Coho Killer Spoon comes in various colors and patterns, which you can choose depending on the weather conditions.
While its small size makes the lure versatile and practical, you should spring for larger sizes if you want to catch large salmon.
6. Rapala Super Shad Rap
The Rapala Super Shad Rap is one of the top Rapala salmon lures with lifelike swimming action and superb construction. A lot of work went into the design, which paid off. The Rapala Super Shad Rap is very realistic, which makes it an exceptional crankbait for salmon.
The Super Shad Rap is made from Balsa wood and fitted with heavy-duty hooks to withstand the rigors and fights of saltwater species. As such, it’s one of the best salmon lures for lakes.
The lure features the classic Rapala swimming action, which makes it look like a swimming baitfish. The patterns and colors can imitate the prey of predator fish, making Rapala Super Shad Rap highly effective.
7. Pro-Troll ProChip Flasher
This is is an innovative lure designed with movements that attract salmon. The EChip technology in these designs makes the lures move in ways that mimic live bait well, making them irresistible to salmon.
The EChip also duplicates the electrical nerve discharge of live bait, which makes these lures very effective at attracting salmon. The Flasher also has a spin and kick speed that significantly improves your catch rate.
Salmon are attracted to bright colors, and these lures come in many different colors. The lure is also made from durable, high-quality materials, so you get what you pay for.
8. Hotspot Flasher
The Hotspot Flasher is one of the best lures for catching salmon in deep waters. While it’s quite similar to the Pro-Troll Flasher, it does not have the EChip technology to stimulate the movements. Still, the Hotspot Flasher moves really well.
The Hotspot Flasher is designed to attract salmon using sound and color. It comes in various vibrant colors, and the lure makes noise to entice salmon. The noise and color combined with movement make this an ideal salmon lure.
You can get the medium or large lure, depending on the size of fish you’re going for. The Hotspot Flasher is a great option for anyone looking to fish in deep waters.
9. Goture Shrimp Lure
A salmon’s diet mainly consists of shrimp, so you cannot go wrong with shrimp lures. The Goture Shrimp Lure, for example, is particularly good at enticing and catching salmon.
The Goture Shrimp Lures are realistic and lifelike, and they swim like shrimps. These features make the lures very effective at catching salmon. Made of high-quality Silicone material, the lure is softer, more flexible feel.
The inner fishing hooks of the Goture Shrimp lures are covered with a fluorescent material that glows in the dark. As such, the set is ideal for night fishing as well.
10. Blue Fox Classic Vibrax
Another high-quality lure from Rapala, the Blue Fox Classic Vibrax, has a two-part body designed to emit low-frequency sound vibrations that attract fish.
On the list of inline spinners, the Blue Fox Classic Vibrax comes out on top. Aside from the vibrations, the flash and swimming action of the lures make them perfect for salmon fishing. Each lure has a shiny surface that produces bright flashes, and the spinning action mimics baitfish.
The body is made of machined brass plated with silver or copper or painted with bright colors or UV bright finishes. The free-turning brass gear and anti-line-twist design are top-notch additions that set this lure apart in salmon fishing.
Things To Consider When Shopping for the Best Salmon Lures
Now that you know the best salmon lures, here are tips to help you choose the perfect lure for your next salmon fishing expedition.
- The type of lure: Various types of lures work in different ways. You must decide whether you’ll go for flashers, spinners, plugs, spoons, or jigs. Spinners and flashers are among the most common lures.
- Durability: The durability of the lure depends on the material it’s made from. Ideally, you should go for metal lures. However, bronze, steel, and plastic are also common choices. Salmon is pretty strong and will often attack, so you should ensure your lure can withstand a lot of force.
- Vibrations: Lures that vibrate are best for murky water. The vibrations help the fish find the lure even if they can’t see it. You should avoid using lures with vibrations in clear water, as the noise and rattles could spook the fish when they see them.
- Ease of use: If you’re new to salmon fishing, consider lightweight lures, which make testing easy. Some lures with metal balls act as lead weights, which increase the distance as you toss the lure.
Final Verdict
Once you’ve picked a high-quality lure, nothing can stand in your way as you set out for salmon fishing. A good salmon lure, coupled with good fishing techniques, results in a successful fishing day.
The best way to find out what lure works best for you is to experiment. Some anglers argue that the color of the lure is the most important factor to consider, but maybe you’re fishing in unclear waters. Take time to experiment with different lures until you find the one with the most strikes for you.
FAQs
Do Salmon Take Lures?
Salmon take lures. Their predatory instincts make them snap at the lures in aggression, especially bright and flashy lures. Salmon also go after lures that mimic the appearance of fish or shrimp.
What Color Lures Do Salmon Like?
Bright colors trigger a salmon’s predatory instinct, which increases the chances the fish will strike at your lure. When choosing lures, pick the most visible and attractive colors for the salmon.
Chinook Salmon are attracted to black, blue, green, and other dark colors mainly because these colors mimic baitfish in appearance.
What Kind of Lures To Use for Salmon?
There are different types of lures you can use for salmon. Spinners and spoons are the most popular ones. Ideally, you should choose shiny lures that attract the fish.
What Are the Best Salmon Lures for Bank Fishing?
Spinners and casting spoons make the best salmon lures for bank fishing. They are designed for swift, deep water. Ideally, you should use larger and heavier models for deep, fast-moving water. It’s also advisable to choose silver or chrome-colored lures, as they stand out in clear rivers.