20 Best Chinook Salmon Lures For Rivers (2023 Updated)

The durability of this bait is really unmatched by any other bait I can think of, I have one that literally is missing half of it’s body, the plastic lip, and even the middle hook after dozens of beatings from Pike, Small Mouth Bass, Large Mouth Bass, Walleye, Musky, and even Bluegills all in one lure! I always have it one me as a lucky charm! It’s action is beautiful and perfect as expected from Rapala and always produced fish throughout the day.

And can be used for any tactic like trolling and casting. For patterns I have Silver, Blue, Yellow Perch, and Gold Plated Fluorescent Red. All are very good patterns, I would recommend Silver for sunny days, Orange for cloudy days, and any natural pattern at any time.

For sizes I’ve always used 4-3/8″ and up to 7″ for Pike, Walleye, Bass, and Musky. I don’t really recommend using any smaller as they become very light and hard to cast in the wind, unless your fishing for Crappie and all other species of Panfish.

I personally would recommend buying three patterns for each light level, one bright neon for cloudy days, one shiny/reflective for sunny days, and one natural for any other times. The only downside to this bait is the price.

It may seem like a pinch for the price but it is easily one of the greatest investments I’ve ever made. I have hundreds of lures and this is still my number 1! Thanks Rapala for another beautiful bait, that has caught me countless fish.

The go to bait! The perfect multi-species bait! Advantages Catches all species of fish, large variety of colours, beautiful action, the best durability in the business. Disadvantages Cost.

The Rapala floater has caught lots of fish for me all over North America. Most notably I have caught hundreds of pike with them over the decades (using the larger sizes and primarily standard/common colors).

I mostly use them on topwater, though a faster retrieve causing them to run a foot or two deep can work great, too. Again, I have caught hundreds of grayling in Alaska and the Yukon as well, using the 3 and 5 centimeter sizes — for some reason the grayling can not resist the gold color on a sunny day.

As a note, the Countdown and sinking models work fantastically in the Northwoods on walleyes, especially starting about an hour before sunset. On big lakes, let them get deep. Experiment with the colors.

If a lake has perch or bass, try those patterns for sure.

Typical 4 day delivery. Received the name brand product I ordered. No real deal on the price. Haven’t fished with these lures yet but the review is really for the merchant and not the lures. If you want to know about WP lures, they work (I’ve caught 3-4 lb bass with them).

Use them in open water (they are NOT weedless) when slightly windy or in choppy water, vary the size by the amount of wind/chop and the size of the fish known to be there. The research I found recommended solid colors (white, black, or bone) or translucent (bluegill or munky butt) of which I have only fished the colors I bought.

Vary the size by the known size of the fish in the area (I bought 75 because I already own 90 & 130) but 110 is the most common size fished for LM bass.

I was never a top water type of guy. I know it is very exciting when they nail one. But I never had much success with them. But late last year I bought a cheap knock-off from a big chair retailer and I still didn’t catch anything with it.

I then was placing an order this past winter and these were on sale. I was told if you only own one, make it all black. It contrasts the top of the water and they can see it best. So I got the loon. Let’s just say, so far this year I have caught more fish on this lure than any other lure I use.

Including Ned rigs that catch everything. Or a wacky rig. And just yesterday I caught my PB largemouth bass with it. To say I am a believer would be an understatement. I have occasionally tried the cheap knock-off and never hooked up.

Had just one go after it. The noise it made is totally different than this one. And I think that is the difference. I ended up losing that knock-off and I will not replace it with that brand. I will get another River2Seas.

Why mess with what works? My PB I caught was 4 pounds 4 ounces and 22 inches. Now for you southern folks that is just an average bass. But for me in PA, it is a bigin. At least in my area. Do yourself a favor and get this lure.

If you can only get one, get the loon. It simply catches fish.

I’ve been to Alaska fishing several times and I can say without any reservation that the #5 Mepps Aglia with the silver blade and two tone red/yellow body is THE BEST salmon catcher in my tackle box.

Last trip to Alaska I caught every one of my fish on that lure. I rarely see it in anyone’s top 10 when talking about salmon spinners but it should be. That big #5 french blade just chops the water hard and drive salmon crazy! If you’re planning a trip for salmon this summer or fall put 10 of these in your box and I guarantee you won’t regret it.

I’ve been using Mepp’s spinners for decades as the lure of choice fishing for trout in the many canyon rivers in northern Utah, and they are still the best I have found. Construction quality is always precision and dependable with Mepp’s, though I find I the rocky bottoms and heavy vegetation in and around the shallower Utah canyon rivers are quite rough on them and challenge their life span.

Warped spoons and stripped color flutes from the hooks are usually the first casualty that ends the life of the lures that survive the snags, so I usually only get about 3-4 useful outings from each.

I really punish them, so I think that’s reasonable for such a precision device (though I would like to see them hold up a bit longer). Overall, an effective and highly recommended lure based on decades of experience!.

My absolute favorite bait for my main pond I go to they bigguns just can’t resist them!! My next favorite if the bandito bug when my craws run out the bass won’t turn down a free bug! I’m excited to try the dart next and the new toad yall have is fire!!!! I need a different hook than what I have because I can’t seem to get the hook sets right with them.

Love all the googans and what yall are doing I literally watch all of them daily!!! Keep up the amazing work and I can’t wait to hopefully get down to Texas and get to the HQ!!.

They work great. I mostly fish them like a plastic worm with a slow retrieve on the bottom, but have caught bass on them using them as a crank bait at moderate speed too. Best action in a craw for the price, and they are HIGHLY scented! Pretty sturdy too.

But be careful to check (separate) the claws before casting. Half of them in the pack were still molded together at the tips. Also be aware that the little bass like to bite the claws off! (However, they can still work OK since they also have little legs on the sides).

I didn’t really notice a scent on the dart as much as on the bandito bugs. The Action on the darts is CRAZY!!! I got a lot of bites on it, but with the weather beings so crazy here in Oklahoma right now with the stroms and tornadoes, it’s like the fish are acting weird.

You think you’ve set the hook and got a fish and boom, they spit it out. Even with using the Texas rig trailer, they are biting hard, but dang, it’s like they want it but their playing us. lol.

I have been using the Swedish Pimple for a few years now and it is my go to ice fishing lure. It catches a lot of different species of fish. We use the smaller ones for perch and the larger ones for walleye, bass, and pike.

I usually tip the hook with wax worms, a minnow head or a whole minnow. They catch fish.

The Swedish pimple is one of my all-time favorite ice-fishing lures. It flat-out catches fish. I use the small size for trout, perch and other panfish, and bigger ones for walleye or pike. I sometimes tip it with a live minnow, other times with a scented-plastic minnow or grub, and sometimes I fish it without any added flavoring.

Depending on how the fish are acting I’ll jig aggressively or sometimes work the lure with subtle twitches. I originally thought of these as ice-fishing lures, but have found they work great for casting and jigging in open water for trout, walleye and other fish.

Much better than any other kind of pimple.

Opened the package, clipped it onto a leader, cast it out twice. The third time casting out I caught a Pike. Same thing happened with the second one that I purchased and this time I was in an entirely different body of water.

brand new out of the box, third cast, blammo!!. another Pike. How the heck is that not worth 5 stars?! Btw – it also snagged a Perch.

Years ago, I owned dozens of Rapalas. Original Floaters, Fat Raps, Husky Jerks both jointed and non. I remember having great success with all of them, mainly for Bass. Sadly, I lost track of a Plano box I had them all stored in when I moved a couple years ago, so I lost all of them.

So anyway, fast forward to now. went out and bought a bunch of Size 10 and Size 12 Husky Jerks. Mainly in the Yellow Perch, Glass Minnow and Glass Perch colors. These things are so phenomenal, even better than I remember.

I took a size 12 Yellow Perch out, tied it on, and was getting bit on virtually every cast, and thanks to the 3 VMC trebles, if something hit this lure, it STAYED ON. One of the main forage fish in my area of the country is Perch.

Pike, Pickerel, Bass. they all love to eat them, and this lure in the water gives off a great flash when you’re twitching it. With jerk baits, one often thinks they’re really only good in the fall, and cold water.

Not so. The water in my area is in the mid 70s already, and all it takes is a faster retrieve in the warmer water to get bit. Repeated slight jerks of the rod combined with a slow steady retrieve, synced up with the twitches I’m imparting with the rod tip.

It makes the lure sort of dance very erratically. This was the retrieve that worked the best for me. I didn’t need to pause it very often like you would in cold water. Ended up catching a bunch of fish, multiple species.

Pickerel are sort of a nuisance fish where I live, and I caught several 18-22 inchers, and the lure held up wonderfully to their aggressive strikes & sharp teeth. The only complaints I have with these lures, and the reason I couldn’t rate it 5 stars.

is that these lures don’t really “suspend” like Rapala claims. They have a very slow float to them when paused, not a true suspend. It will sit head down in the water, and rise slowly. Does it make any difference? I don’t think so.

The only other complaint I have is that after I landed about 3 or 4 fish, the lure started running kind of funny until I made some tweaks to it and it returned to normal. It ran true out of the package to my delight, though.

I’ve had trouble with other brands of Balsa lures. Anyway, these are great jerk baits. A true classic, and in my opinion, just as good as any of the more expensive jerk baits on the market. If you don’t have any in your arsenal, you’re missing out.

If you’re struggling to land fish with other lures, give these a try. Especially if bait fish or perch are the main forage. They’re good ALL YEAR round.

The smaller DHJ-12 has long been one of my go-to lures for big summer pike, so I was excited to try the new 14cm model. Looks like I’ll have to switch the hooks first — these are the same size hooks you’d find on a regular # 8 or 10 Husky Jerk.

Any fish big enough to eat a 14 cm lure is not likely to come in on those dainty little things. Come on, Rapala! I can’t imagine why they’d put hooks on it that are so badly out of proportion they are with the rest of the lure! I’ll take these three hooks and replace them two bigger trebles, one on the front and one on the back — never mind the one in the middle.

But once that’s done, this should be good.

I live here in Olympia, WA. It’s hard to come by these baits now. I mean you’ll find the odd colors but not the ones you want. Been looking around for Sunrise and every store that sells them is completely out.

In my personal opinion. The garlic-scented Sunrise is my go-to color for all lakes in Thruston County. I even head down to Skagit County and using that color never has let me down.

These definitely work and are SO much easier to rig than the dough or the nuggets. You never have to worry about them coming off your hook (I usually hook two on a #8 hook, Carolina rigged). You can re-use the same two eggs for an entire session (and more).

The only issue I’ve seen is that they seem to lose their scent after awhile. I used these in the spring with great productivity but when I tried them in the winter I noticed the scent was completely gone from the jar – it just smelled of rubber/plastic.

So yes, even though they are durable, plan on buying new jars after each season.

Trout fishing in northern New Mexico. Tried regular “putty” Power Bait. Nothing for an hour. Didn’t want to disappoint my two young sons with no fish. I put 2 eggs on a size 10 hook. Nothing for 30 minutes.

About to give up. I remembered watching an angler on YouTube who put 2 eggs threaded high on hook to cover the eyelet. Then he covered the hook with regular Power Bait putty. I thought I’d try it for a last ditched effort.

I caught 2 rainbow trout one after the other almost immediately! I am a believer in the eggs, especially combined with the putty.

Consistent fish catcher, I have zero credibility,so just listen to everyone else who has used these things. They are still crazy (good) after all these years. The price point is reasonable, so you don’t have to sell your kids to buy a few and you won’t find yourself crying if you lose one.

I have a few cranks that I like more but these still are often used to fool fish. Btw I’ve caught trout on them too. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it?.

Black chrome Orange Wiggle Wort has been “HOT” lately at the lake caught 6,7,7 largemouth in the last 3 weekends in a row , nothing over 3 lbs but it’s a winner!! The only thing I don’t like is that “hairpin” style eyelet to tie onto-whatever happened to an oval split ring?? Other manufacturers use them and they are great , easy to tie and don’t catch your line on those open curved hooks- how annoying!!.

One of the top lures of all time, been fishing with them since 1975. One of my all time favorites and go to lures as well as start with lures. Prefer the hammered chrome in 5/8, 3/4, 1oz. The hammered chrome seems to have a slight edge over the plain chrome in my estimation.

You may have to get the 1 oz on Ebay vintage listing as I don’t think you will fine it listed. Great cast, trolled or deep water jigged. Will take most fish but I use for lake trout, walleye, N. Pike.

One of my all time favorites and go to lures as well as start with lures. Prefer the hammered chrome in 5/8, 3/4, 1oz. The hammered chrome seems to have a slight edge over the paling chrome in my estimation.

You may have to get the 1 oz on Ebay vintage listing as I don’t think you will fine it listed. Great cast, trolled or deep water jigged. Will take most fish but I use for lake trout, walleye, N. Pike.

This is a go to lure for smaller to medium size Calif Halibut and striped bass from the surf. Anglers tend to throw giant baits thinking 20 lbers and end up missing out on nice quality keepers which are feeding are smaller baits found in the surf.

They cast well and come in numerous colors to match the hatch on the bait fish. Best deal is they only cost $5. 00 in a time when some Lures can run $20. 00 or more.

I used to use these when I was a kid in the 60’s. This lure, in red and silver or a Mepps spinner were deadly. I find myself going back to these classics and having better luck with these than anything else.

Was trout fishing in Arizona and noticed that the locals used a lot of these. So I ordered a few 1 1/4″ silver prism models for back in Oklahoma. The local pond is stocked with trout every Dec – Feb.

Decided to check it out yesterday. It was so cold the eyelets on my rod were freezing over. Anyway, on my 3rd cast I landed a 14″ 1. 35 lb rainbow. Caught a couple more in succession. These fish loved this thing!! People around me were using power bait with no success.

I’m totally sold on these, especially for trout. Just ordered a few more just in case the inevitable happens and I hang one up. Tight Lines!.

I originally purchased a few of these looking for a more high end, durable replacement for my handfuls of 2in Husky Jerks that had fallen victim to their weak lip construction, and I’m glad to say these have outperformed any other lure alike, as far as durability, and productivity goes.

Not only do these have incredibly strong lips, but also have incredibly realistic patterns, an extremely tough outer coating with I believe to be resin, and a really nice, and consistent action. Though I’ve been using these for a year now, and in that time have caught possibly thousands of largemouth, spots, smallmouth, rainbow brown and brook trout, and even an accidental 44inch snook, in the past few months ive caught both a 9.

2lb largemouth, and a 7. 91lb smallmouth throwing a silver black back, and a v2 rainbow trout pattern on 4lb florocarbon, which is ultimately why I’m leaving this review as a sort of thank you to the company for providing such a quality product.

the lures themselves simply couldn’t be topped in quality, come with excellent hooks, and a variety of patterns, and most importantly have proven themselves to catch big fish. Ultimately their slightly high price point honestly has saved me money in the long run, as not once has a single component given way to my numerous crappy casts into the sides of docks, spillways, and exposed rocks, and I couldn’t provide any info as to how to improve this lure.

One recommendation I would like to see one day would be a sunfish pattern, as well as maybe a golden shiner pattern, but as far as what’s out there, it doesn’t get any better.

I was recently fishing a gold medal stretch of river here in Colorado when this lure in Ghost White really shined. I was the first car in the parking lot and the last to leave. All day the only fishermen I saw up there (bordering wilderness) were fly fishermen until about mid day when two other spin fishermen came by while I was fishing this lure in Brown Trout and doing pretty well.

Those two fishermen also had HD Trout lures tied on. Later in the day when they were heading back towards the parking area I asked them how they had done and they told me the Chartreuse Shad was really working well but a fish had broken it off the line.

I ended up tying on my Ghost White ‘cuz it was the closest HD Trout pattern I had to the Chartreuse Shad. That’s when things really picked up. Before that it had been slow for hours with various types of lures.

Now it was on. 15-20 inch brown trout were excited about this new offering. I saw things I hadn’t seen before in multiple trips to this river. On one cast I threw this lure just about straight up stream in a pretty fast bottle neck and had to reel about as fast as I could to keep some tension on the line.

About 6 feet from the bank just as I was about to pull the lure out of the water an 18 inch brown nabbed the lure. The last fish of the day was the best though. With only about an hour left ’til sunset to walk back out I cast the lure across a pretty fast section to near the rock island between the two channels of the river.

The lure was only in the water for about 1 or 2 seconds and had only traveled a few feet when a 20 inch brown hammered it. he tasted really good. Thanks Dynamic for helping to make my fishing trip.

I LOVE Dynamic Lures – HD Trout Lures!!! To me, they work better than Rapala Countdowns and are cheaper 🙂 I used to LOVE Rapala Countdowns because of their versatility on the various fish they can catch, but the Dynamic Lure’s HD Trout does the same and at times, much better.

I still stock up on both if I can find deals on them :-).