Top 4 Salmon Locations

If you're worried that being landlocked means salmon are out of your league, you haven't fished in New England. Find yourself among lush scenery and truly wild salmon at the West Branch Penobscot River, which rates as one of Fish and G­ame magazine's top 5 spring salmon waters [source: New England Game & Fish]. Moving further inland, from April to May, Lakes Michigan and Huron offer a fine, if chilly, spring salmon run. When the ice breaks and temperatures are still low, fishing can require patience, but with the right location and equipment, you can find yourself fighting a strong Chinook at these hotpots.

Besides the Great Lakes, Idaho offers a bounty of options along the Snake River streams and dams. Idaho Fish and Game commissioners opened the spring 2008 season in April, in anticipation of around 100,000 Chinook salmon crossing the Lower Granite Dam throughout the season. Snake River and other dams opened at this time as well. Anglers from Utah, Idaho and Montana make the trek to the Clearwater River Salmon Fishery each year to try their luck. Ellis, Idaho, is home to the Pahsimeroi Fish Hatchery, which also releases and monitors young salmon each year. Continuing westward, Cowlitz River, Wash., begins its run in March.

Want to wait til the weather's a bit more hospitable? Continue reading to find some good summer salmon spots.

As temperatures warm up and salmon move into their summer waters, fishing techniqu­es and depths change to reflect this. On Lake Michigan, the summer run begins in June or July, and anglers utilize downriggers as a means for bagging Chinooks. Attached to the side of a boat, downriggers are mechanical "arms" that extend the line far away from the boat and take it down deep by means of a 10-pound (4.5 kilogram) lead ball. A plastic clip attachment secures the weight to the line. Downriggers are beneficial because they allow anglers to fish in the 80 to 120 foot (24 to 36.5 meter) range. Of course, if the weight doesn't release as it's supposed to, hauling in 20 pounds (9 kilograms) of fighting silver bullet can be a chore. Lakes Michigan, Huron and Erie are guarantees for salmon. One of your best bets is Lake Michigan's Wisconsin side, which offers stellar early morning fishing in June at Algoma.

Though completely landlocked, South Dakota offers an astonishing number of salmon to the avid fisherman with downriggers. Pierre, the state's capital city, is home to the Oahe dam. Located on the Missouri river, this spot begins its salmon run in mid-to-late June, and early morning (think 6 a.m.) anglers will be rewarded for fishing the rocks alongside the upper face of the dam. All Chinooks begin life at Whitlock Bay's spawning station, making them an entirely landlocked fish [source: South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks].

If you're taking a trip to watch the leaves change colors and take advantage of the cool, crisp fall air, why not take your salmon rod with you? Read on to find the best autumn locations.

As leaves change from green and bright to red and subtle, thes­e sleek fish also morph from flashy silvers to deep reds, greens and steely grays. Salmon fishing in the fall brings cooler temperatures, different techniques and new kinds of fish to the table, with sockeye, coho and chum making their initial seasonal appearances all over Washington. Although the sockeye has been on the endangered species list since the 1990s, the glossy fish goes red and green (on the outside) in the fall, and is one of the most desired fillets available [source: Stahl]. Head to the Cowlitz River in Oregon to meet up with the red-fleshed (but silver-bodied) coho, which made their best showing in years in the fall of 2008 [source: Brown]. Known for their rich, red flesh, coho are one of the best eating of the Pacific Salmon and are slightly smaller than the Chinook.

After boating your limit, head to Puget Sound, where anglers have been hooking into chum since the 1980s, when record numbers were released by local fisheries. Distinguished from the Chinook or coho by its less rich and more pink flesh, the chum salmon offers a mild flavor and is perhaps an easier catch because of its smaller size.

And for those able to leave the lower 48, Alaska's a sure bet for salmon year round. Hop a plane and fly to Valdez, which boasts an annual salmon derby for men, women, and kids in the last days of summer or early fall.

If you're interested in Alaska, you're probably brave enough to read on to the next page to find out the best winter salmon locations.­

From coast to coast, we've seen how salmon are as convenient as your local freezer section, but if you can handle putting on a couple of layers, why not venture ou­t­ into the winter chill and find your own fish in the wild? Head to upstate New York to check out some fishing along -- where else? -- the Salmon River. Here, you can fish for large coho salmon alongside fans of steelhead trout, a migratory species.

Heading out west to Montana, make a stop in Eureka and spend some time on the Tobacco River for the winter Salmon Festival, a two-day event that offers everything from fishing (of course) to fun and games for the kids. If you're up for a challenge, go further northwest to explore Homer, Alaska, where guides are willing to help you hook your dream fish among the glacial waters.

Now no matter what the season you get a hankering for some serious salmon fishing, you can pack up and head throughout the 50 states to find a salmon to suit your taste.