Unless they are avid saltwater anglers or happen to live in the Pacific Northwest, most people who first hear the phrase ‘mooching salmon’ might envision someone standing on a sport fishing dock waiting for a returning boat full of successful passengers who might be cajoled into sharing their catch of the day with them. Actually, the practice of mooching for salmon is a time tested drift fishing technique that has been around for generations and predates the use of downriggers for targeting popular salmonid species.


 And, while the gear involved in mooching remains rather basic, the technique of accurately detecting a bite, properly setting the hook and ultimately bringing a hooked salmon back to the boat is a process that can take years to perfect.

When selecting a good mooching rod, look for a 9 to 10 foot pole with a limber tip and solid backbone at the base. Match it with a strong and reliable conventional reel that has a capacity of holding at least 300 yards or more of quality 25 to 30 pound test monofilament fishing line. Depending upon the current and depth that you will be fishing, tie a 4 to 8 ounce banana sinker to the terminal end and then attach a 4 to 7 foot length of 20 pound test fluorocarbon leader with two 3/0 to 4/0 hooks spaced about 2 inches apart at the business end.

Some types of drift fishing involve the use of live baitfish, mooching on the other hand employs plugs of diagonally cut herring or anchovy, which have been soaked in a special brine that toughens the flesh and makes the bait stay on the hook longer.

Proper hook placement in your bait plug is essential for success; insert the last hook near the narrow flank first, then carefully pin the top hook in an upward direction through the thickest part of the fish just below the diagonal collar cut. This will allow the bait to spin slowly as it moves through the water column.

Salmon will take your bait at just about any depth that they happen to be swimming, although it is not uncommon for them to inhale it on the drop shortly after you have cast out. But once you have reached the desired depth, keep your bait moving by lifting and then dropping the tip of your rod at a leisurely pace. When you first detect a light, pecking nibble avoid the temptation to try and set the hook immediately; not doing so can cause you to lose the fish. Wait about 5 seconds after feeling the bite and, rather than making a hard hook set, begin reeling in steadily while keeping as much pressure on as possible. Once a salmon hooked in this manner breaks the surface, fledgling moochers are often amazed at the actual size of the fish that was initially so timid in its approach.

One of the most important things to remember when casting is to gently lob out your rig so that the banana sinker and the baited hook hit the water separately and there is a lesser chance of them twisting up and fouling during their descent.

Once they get the feel of it, many anglers who are new to this technique may end up discovering that they find it to be a much more satisfying and relaxing way to pursue salmon than franticly trolling the seas or staring at a downrigger for hours waiting for something good to happen.