SALMON PAR
NATURAL PREDATOR BAIT
SALMON PARR – FROZEN SEA FISHING & PIKE BAIT
Salmon parr make a high-quality whole-fish bait with firm flesh, tough skin and a natural baitfish profile. They offer something different from oily sea deadbaits such as mackerel and herring and can be used whole or in sections for both sea fishing and pike.
Their biggest advantage is presentation: a whole salmon parr produces a neat, substantial fish bait that stays together well, while the firm flesh also allows it to be cut into strips or sections for sea fishing.
SALMON PARR FOR SEA FISHING
Salmon parr can be used as a whole or sectioned fish bait for rays, huss, cod, bass, conger and dogfish.
Because they're firmer than many softer fish baits, they're particularly useful when you want a bait capable of surviving casting, tide and nuisance fish.
RAYS & HUSS
For rays and huss, use a whole smaller parr, half fish or substantial section.
Fish it on a Pulley Pennel or Up & Over Rig.
A Wrigglers Octopus Beak Hook is a strong choice for a conventional fish-bait presentation.
For anglers using circles, match a Wrigglers Mutsu Circle or True Circle Hook to the size of the bait.
Keep the hook point and gape completely clear.
COD
For cod, cut the parr into a long flank strip or substantial section, leaving the skin attached.
Fish it on a Pulley Rig with a Wrigglers Takumi Wide Gape Long Shank or Octopus Beak Hook.
For a bigger presentation, combine salmon parr with squid and fish it on a Pulley Pennel.
BASS
A tapered strip cut from the flank gives you a good bass-sized fish bait.
Keep the skin attached and fish it on a Running Ledger or Pulley Rig.
Use a Wrigglers Chinu Hook for a smaller strip, stepping up to an Octopus Beak or Takumi Wide Gape Long Shank Hook as the bait gets larger.
CONGER
Larger sections can be used when targeting conger.
For genuinely heavy fish baits, use appropriately heavy trace material and terminal tackle.
At the heavy end of the Wrigglers range, Stainless O'Shaughnessy Hooks in 10/0 and 12/0 can be matched to substantial conger baits.
SALMON PARR & SQUID
This is a particularly useful combination for sea fishing.
Salmon parr provides the natural fish profile and firm flesh, while squid adds additional toughness and helps create a bait capable of standing up to a hard cast.
Use a smaller cocktail for cod and bass or build a larger presentation for rays and huss.
Fish it on a Pulley or Pulley Pennel Rig with a Wrigglers Takumi Wide Gape Long Shank or Octopus Beak Hook.
Secure it neatly with bait elastic without burying the hook.
SALMON PARR FOR PIKE
This is also where salmon parr makes a very useful bait.
A whole parr gives you a natural-looking freshwater deadbait with a firm body and tough skin, making it a very different proposition from softer, oilier sea deadbaits such as sardines and herring.
Fish salmon parr whole or as a section, either ledgered on the bottom or presented beneath a float.
Use a Wrigglers Wire Pike Trace fitted with Wrigglers Barbed Treble Hooks.
Size 8 — smaller salmon parr and lighter presentations.
Size 6 — the main all-round choice for medium-sized parr.
Size 4 — larger parr and substantial deadbait presentations.
Match the hook size and spacing to the individual fish and leave the treble points exposed.
Always use an appropriate wire trace when deliberately targeting pike.
SALMON PARR OR MACKEREL?
They're useful for different reasons.
Mackerel gives you a very oily, strongly scented deadbait.
Salmon parr gives you a firmer, natural-shaped fish bait with good skin and excellent presentation.
That makes salmon parr worth carrying alongside the traditional oily deadbaits rather than simply treating it as another version of them.
BEST WRIGGLERS TACKLE
For sea fishing, match salmon parr with Chinu Hooks • Octopus Beak Hooks • Takumi Wide Gape Long Shank Hooks • Mutsu Circle Hooks • True Circle Hooks • Stainless O'Shaughnessy Hooks • Pulley Rigs • Pulley Pennels • Up & Over Rigs • Power Swivels • Rig Line & Rig Components.
For pike fishing, use Wrigglers Wire Pike Traces • Barbed Treble Hooks Sizes 8, 6 & 4 • Power Swivels & Pike Rig Components.
TOP TIP
For sea fishing, leave the skin attached when cutting salmon parr into strips or sections. Hooking through the skin gives the bait much better security.
For pike, take advantage of the parr's natural shape. Don't cover a smaller fish with oversized trebles — match the hook size and spacing to the deadbait so the points remain clear.
FIRM WHOLE-FISH BAIT • SEA FISHING • PIKE DEADBAIT
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