The zed spinner is by far the most popular lure used by salmon anglers fishing in the rivers. It is the lure that takes the most fish. Zed spinners come in a range of weights with the most popular being 28g. The largest weight of zed spinner available is 42g although these are not fished by many anglers. Most experienced and successful anglers fish smaller zed spinners when the river is low and clear. Lighter 22g zed spinners are more popular upriver where the runs and pools aren't as deep. The 28g is the size that seems to work in most situations.
I once fished with one of the Rakaia River's top salmon fishing guides who only fished with bright silver 28g zed spinners. He insisted that for most situations in the Rakaia River that these were the best of all to use!
Silver is the most widely fished colour especially in clear water. Some anglers however will fish a whole range of colours from bright pink, to red, bright fluorescent green, black and yellow depending on water colour. Surprisingly these colours all work! Black or yellow are popular when the water is discoloured from rain or snow melt. Some also believe that these more subdued colours are better when the river is very low and clear,
Hooks must be kept very sharp at all times when salmon fishing. The mouth of the chinook salmon is very hard. With fish few and far between you don't want to be loosing fish because of blunt hooks. When fishing the South Island's big braided rivers the stony bottom tends to dull hook points fairly quickly. Always carry a stone in your gear to give them a touch-up when necessary. In practice most anglers will change zed spinners every so often while they are fishing and worry about replacing and sharpening hooks later. Still other anglers prefer to carry extra treble hooks and replace their blunt hooks using a pair of split-ring pliers.
It is also good practice to cut off the last 6 inches or so of line and re-tie you zed spinner on every half hour or so. Do this also after you have landed, or played and lost, a fish. The knot will be the weakest part of the line. If you don't re-tie your knots every so often you will kick yourself when you loose a big salmon because you line parted from bruising at the knot.
Finally always buy heaps of zed spinners at once. It is better to buy them in bags of ten. Some days you can lose many particularly after a flood has brought down hidden obstructions. If you loose a few you don't seem to care if you have plenty more in your bag. Zed spinners tend to get lost regularly. Though it has to be said that some blokes are more "unlucky" in this regard than others. The salmon will be down on the bottom. That is also where the snags are. If you aren't loosing the odd zed spinner now and again you probably aren't catching any salmon either!
Take a look at the Shimano Moocher reel. You might also be interested what salmon eat at sea? History of salmon fishing in the Waitaki River and Line of Salmon Anglers at the Rangitata River. Read about Otago Harbour Salmon Fishing. Learn how to fix that annoying leak in your waders. Fishing with white salmon lures. Much depends on the speed at which you wind in your zed spinners. Still keen? Take a look at super salmon spinners, even more about salmon zed spinners. Salmon ticers designed for long distance casting (also called weight-forward hex wobblers).
Salmon Angling in New Zealand
