Eaters or Biters?

Adapted from Capt. John King's two-part article, first published January 2009 on MichiganSportsman.com. Original: Part I · Part II.

Late in the summer, adult King Salmon start acting like two different fish. Capt. John called them "eaters" and "biters," and learning to tell them apart changed how he rigged.

Eaters

  • Hold deep, in cold water from about 52°F down to 38°F.
  • Still feeding. They swallow meat, so the hooks end up deep inside the mouth.
  • John's "magic" temperature for meat: 38–44°F.

Biters

  • Ride higher in warmer water, about 55–70°F.
  • Not really feeding. They slap at lures and end up hooked under the chin or on the snout.
  • These are the fish that come unbuttoned.

The proof: September 2, 2008, Manistee

  • 9am to 2:30pm in 160–180' of water.
  • Meat rigs on the riggers, 80–125' down: every fish deep-hooked.
  • Flies on the divers, 55–70' down: every fish chin-hooked.
  • John switched every fly to double snelled treble hooks. Result: 10 of the next 11 bites landed.

How to use it

  • Run meat deep for the eaters and flies higher for the biters.
  • Put double snelled trebles on your flies late in the season.
  • Keep hooks sharp. Biters give you only a moment.

Shop the setup: Meat rigs · Trolling flies · Double snelled hook options · Flashers

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