ive kept thousands salmon /steel in ca since 1990 all hooked in the mouth mostly fished nimbus clay banks and sailor bar just below hatchery. i used minimum 25'-30' leader small bead and a #2 gami small pencil lead was the ticket just enough to tick bottom fish will be nice and bright august- sept i really miss being down there . but its much easyer pickins here in wa got plenty practice from nimbus dam im glad i did it destroys fish in wa same method from cali.