I have used hickory, mesquite, and alder they all work well. For salmon I prefer the hickory or alder although I have used mesquite on salmon. I like mesquite when I make venison or elk jerky. Heck when I used to live in Arizona we would just gather mesquite for firewood when out hunting it was everywhere. Nothing like a good steak cooked over a mesquite fire. Mmmmm Mmmmm good.