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Chinook/King Salmon

Chinook/King Salmon

General Info: Chinook, or King Salmon are the most iconic fish of Big Y's home waters. They are a symbol of the Pacific Northwest that reaches far beyond anglers. People across the world know about the Chinook salmon of Oregon and Washington. These fish can reach huge sizes and can range from extremely challenging to fairly easy to catch.
In Oregon, we have two runs of Kings. Spring Chinook salmon come in when the water is high and dirty during spring runoff/snowmelt. The fish stay in the deepest, fastest water that they can find. Not ideal for fly anglers, but they can be caught with a lot of patience skill and luck. However, a fall Chinook run brings in much bigger numbers of snappy fish that are more than willing to play in shallower water.
Headed North towards Alaska, their singular Chinook run peaks in July, and the Alaskan Kings are usually a bit easier to catch than our Oregon Spring salmon.
Most folks use a sink tip and heavy flies on an 8wt or larger spey/switch rod, but plenty of folks still use their trusty 9'0" single hand rod. The Great Lakes also host a nice run of Chinook salmon. The Great Lakes salmon are known to snap at smaller flies a little more than their Pacific cousins. The Great Lakes fish tend to deteriorate a bit more before heading upstream vs their pacific brethren, so they are not as prized as the coastal salmon.
Preferred Gear
Rods: 8-10 wt. rods. Many prefer a 13' or longer two-handed rod, but a 9' rod will suffice. An 8wt is the most popular, but it is as light as one should use to target Chinook. A 9wt is more suitable for a Chinook rod. An 8wt is a great all-arounder if you are going to target steelhead later.
Reels: Large arbor, heavy drag.
Lines: Dependent on fishery and timing. Heavy sink tips on two-handed Skagit setups are very common, but fall fish can be caught on a floating line and a lightly weighted fly... strange fish indeed.
Favorites: Airflo F.I.S.T Skagit, RIO Gamechanger, RIO Premier 24' Sink Tip, Scientific Anglers Amplitude Anadro
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    Dolly Llama

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    Articulated version of the Conehead Double Bunny. Very highly recommended for Alaska Silvers, and Rainbows.

    $2.49
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    318 in stock

    Articulated Leech

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    A pattern that rocketed into classic status within a few years after it hit the public. Almost all hits on leech come from the head. The action wi...

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    470 in stock

    Dolly Llama Tandem

    $2.79
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    Tandem version comes with two hooks. Articulated version of the Conehead Double Bunny. Very highly recommended for Alaska Silvers, and Rainbows.

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    $2.79
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    342 in stock

    Dolly Llama Gold Cone

    $2.79
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    $2.79 - $2.79
    $2.79

    Articulated version of the Conehead Double Bunny. Very highly recommended for Alaska Silvers, and Rainbows. Now, due to popular demand, with a g...

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    14 in stock

    Dolly Llama Crosscone

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    Articulated version of the Conehead Double Bunny. Very highly recommended for Alaska Silvers, and Rainbows. Now with a crosscone, which allow ey...

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    312 in stock

    Hare Ball Leech

    $1.50
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    $1.50

    One of the best patterns to attract silvers, sockeye, kings, pinks, steelies you name it. Is now Alaska's most popular pattern. Attracts everythi...

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    24 in stock

    Bjorn's Super Prawn

    $1.50
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    Big silhouette pattern perfect for moving big fish to strikes. Popular Alaska and cold water pattern. Attracts everything-Chinooks, silvers, steel...

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    28 in stock

    Showgirl

    $1.50
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    $1.50

    Famous in Alaska, Canada and the West Coast Attracts everything-Chinooks, silvers, steelhead, even sea-run cutthroats. Vibrate colors and that mag...

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    79 in stock

    Strung Out Leech Crosscone

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    Nice leech pattern with tons of articulation. Very highly recommended for Alaska Silvers, and Rainbows. With a crosscone, which allow eyes to ...

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    48 in stock

    Strung Out Leech Masked

    $2.50
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    Nice leech pattern with tons of articulation. Very highly recommended for Alaska Silvers, and Rainbows. With a mask, making this pattern much ...

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    94 in stock

    Shawback Stinger Masked

    $3.15
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    $3.15

    Nice leech pattern with tons of articulation. Great for aggressive and anadromous fish. Strip it, swing it, and dead drift it. With a mask, ...

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    15 in stock

    Foxee Dog - Solitude

    $2.96
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    $2.96

    The Foxee Dog is a fly pattern created by Charles St. Pierre of Northwest Speycasting. A mixture of natural and synthetic materials the Foxee Dog...

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    22 in stock

    Squidro - Solitude

    $3.96
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    $3.96

    This is a fly with tons of attractant. It fishes extremely well for both Steelhead and Kings. Great winter fly because it is heavy and gets do...

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    Dolly Llama With Egg - Umpqua

    $5.50
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    An iconic pattern that was developed for fishing in AK. Now with an bead in front of it for extra attraction. A must have when chasing large trout,...

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