Don’t give up! Keep casting, and maintain a positive attitude. One thing about fishing a place like this: Once in a while, it doesn’t hurt to take a break. These fish aren’t going anywhere, and you have the spot tied up. Take a breather from time to time, give that arm a rest, then get back at it with a fresh mental spirit. It may take several hours, but repeated casting can yield results.

NO 5: KNOW WHEN TO MOVE
The slower you move, the more thoroughly you can fish a specific salmon hole. The bonus with this approach is that it doesn’t require being in a rush. Even after you’ve fished a hole, you may elect to start over at the top end and cover it again, maybe with a different presentation.

Perhaps fish that weren’t there when you began fishing have moved in. Or maybe they’re already in there, but you haven’t yet found just the right combination. It can take time and effort to get dialed in.

If your schedule is tight, you may not have the luxury of taking the time to find fish. Maybe you have to be to work at a certain hour, or at your kid’s ball game in the afternoon. Now, you could elect to spend your time in one hole. But if those fish aren’t in there, they aren’t going to bite, no matter how hard you fish it.

This is where going on the move, making an effort to cover more water quickly, can pay huge rewards.

When searching for fish, have all your rods rigged and ready to go; this helps save time. Once you enter a hole, hit the spots you know will -- or should -- hold fish.

Once you’ve covered the target water, move on to the next spot. However, if you find fish, then it’s worth spending time in that one place to try and pull more out of there, because salmon often stage in schools.

If you know you’re going to be moving quickly, then have all the gear ready to go. Taking along six or eight rods in the boat, two or three on the bank, is not overkill if that’s the number of approaches you plan on presenting.

WHERE TO GO?
Oregon has a varied range of quality springer rivers. If it’s big water you’re after, the Columbia, Umpqua and Rogue rivers dominate the scene. There are bank-fishing opportunities on each river, but it’s the boaters who typically have the most success.

Run counts can fluctuate on these big rivers, as they can with any river, so be sure to check current regulations, fish counts and any possible emergency closures that may occur.

If you’re looking for a small-stream salmon experience, there are some good options along the North Coast region of the state. The Wilson and Trask rivers, located near Tillamook, are perhaps the most popular and productive springer streams.

Slightly to the south, the Nestucca River is another good bet. These are small rivers, with drift-boats being the best option. There are some bank angling areas, but private property borders most of both rivers. Down the South Coast, both the Coquille and Coos rivers yield spring chinook, but the action can be spotty.