Typical drift fishing gear includes an 8 1/2- or 9-foot rod rated for 15-30 pound line, and either a bait casting reel or a spinning reel. For larger fish, like Chinook salmon, use 20-25 pound line. For smaller fish, like pink salmon, use 10-15 pound line.
Table of Contents
What size rod is best for salmon fishing?
Rod length – 9’6″ allows you to mend line in both float and drift fishing applications which are the most popular techniques for salmon fishing in rivers. 10’6″ is ideal for float fishing, but 9’6″ will work in many conditions and is more optimal for drift fishing.
Can you salmon fish with a fly rod?
While some people may think fly fishing is only for certain species, that’s a myth. Fly fishing anglers can target almost any type of salt or freshwater fish, including king salmon.
Is an 8 weight fly rod good for salmon?
Because a Silver Salmon is smaller than a King Salmon, a solid 9′-10′ 8 or 9 weight single-handed rod is the best tool for the job.
What fly rod is best for salmon?
An ideal fly rod for salmon is a 9′ 9-weight fast action rod. Also, a lifetime or 25-year warranty is ideal as well. A 9 weight provides the backbone to turn a +25 pound salmon, but still has the flexibility to cast large streamers and heavily weighted flies.
How do I choose a salmon rod?
What makes a good salmon rod?
The best salmon rods tend to be at least 8 foot long with a medium power rating at a minimum and have a moderate to fast action. Not all rods are created equal.
Why are salmon rods long?
A longer rod is going to allow you to navigate that seam for a longer length. As your float drifts further and further from your location, it will become more and more important to keep as much line off the surface of the water as possible.
Is a medium heavy rod good for salmon?
Is a medium-heavy rod good for salmon? Medium-heavy fishing rods are good for fish bigger than 25 pounds. That does not mean you cannot use them for smaller fish, but you lose some accuracy when casting. For trolling or drifting a medium-heavy is good.
Can you use a 5 weight fly rod for salmon?
A 5 weight fly fishing rod is a versatile rod suitable for catching freshwater fish like perch, trout, small bass and salmon. It is the most common fly fishing rod used in a variety of locations including streams, rivers and lakes by fly fishing anglers.
How do you rig a fly rod for salmon?
What is a 10 weight fly rod good for?
10wt fly rods are pretty good for casting heavier and larger dry flies. Plus, they’re great at for casting over longer distances against the wind. In addition, 10wts are a good choice when it comes to fishing from different positions such as standing on the boat or from the shoreline.
Is a 7wt fly rod good for salmon?
Many of our guests also use 7 weights when targeting some salmon species (sockeye, chums, pink, and silver salmon) and pike as well. Although larger rods in the 8 or 9 weight range can make easier work of casting heavy flies/rigs and fighting larger species, a 7 weight is able to get the job done in most circumstances.
Is an 8wt too big for trout?
The 8-Weight Rod This rod is ideal for stripers, redfish, black drum, sea trout, flounder, largemouth and smallmouth bass, carp, catfish, snakeheads, pickerel, bluefish, pike, bonefish, big trout, salmon, small tarpon and can be used for panfish.
What is a 9 weight fly rod good for?
8- and 9-weight Fly Rods These are good choices when fishing heavy Freshwater to medium Saltwater applications. Heavy Freshwater examples would include carp or bass fishing with large bugs, while good medium saltwater examples would be bonefish, baby tarpon, snook, etc.
Who makes the best salmon rods?
The best salmon rod for casting lures is the 9’2 Lamiglas Infinity and for the best economy rod for salmon fishing, it’s the 9’6 Lamiglas X-11 Salmon rod or the 10’6 Fenwick HMX Salmon & Steelhead Spinning Rod. The best float rod for salmon fishing is the Lamiglas “The Closer” Centerpin Rod.
What is a 6-weight fly rod good for?
A 6-weight fly rod is the perfect size freshwater rod for casting streamers, dry flies and nymphs. It is the middle ground between lighter weight rods (3wt to 5wt) and heavier fly rods at 7wt and up. Six weights can be setup for every size trout, all sizes of bass and smaller salmon and steelhead.
What is a 8 weight fly rod good for?
These rods can handle all kinds of lines, wind, and flies ranging up to larger patterns like bass bugs and saltwater streamers. The amount of power in an 8 weight also means it can take on some bigger, stronger species, yet more average-sized specimens remain enjoyable because it’s not too much rod.
What size fly rod for king salmon?
Fly Rods: Ten, eleven and surprisingly twelve weight rods, with stiff butts , are required to fight King Salmon, the largest of the Pacific Salmon. Graphite models are the best choice, due to their lightness, strength and casting ability. Length of rod should be 9 feet.
What weight fly rod for Alaskan salmon?
Seven and 8-weight rods with floating or sink tip lines are ideal for the silvers and chums and Sockeyes. Pinks can be fished effectively with 5 or 6-weight rods. Use a floating line and a sparsely tied and lightly weighted fly pattern, for sometimes almost nonstop action.
What is a 6 foot fishing rod good for?
A short (6 feet or less) rod is ideal if you want to make short, accurate casts. When pinpoint accuracy is less critical, a long rod (over 7 feet) is the way to go. Dingy or dirty water and heavy cover are two situations where short-range accuracy is part of the recipe for success, and a shorter rod can really shine.
What size fly rod for salmon steelhead?
An eight weight rod will suffice for Steelhead though you may want to consider a nine or ten weight for King Salmon. Don’t worry about length too much, nine foot rods are the standard but some anglers prefer the extra control of a slightly longer stick.
What is needed for salmon fishing?
Choose Your Rod, Reel, and Line But for salmon fishing, you may want to already look for an 8.5 to 9 feet long fishing rod and a variety of fishing lines to suit your catch (for example, a 20-25 lb. line for Chinook salmon and 10-15 lb. for Pink Salmon). You may also need a non-corrosive reel for fishing in saltwater.
How long should a salmon trolling rod be?
Length. You’ll want to select a downrigger rod that is at least 8’6″ in length. Longer rods allow faster line pick-up when the clip releases, aiding hookset. Anywhere in the 8’6″ to 10’6″ seems to be a pretty popular sweet spot for downrigger trolling for salmon.
What is the best length for a float rod?
Medium Float Rods (12’6″ to 14′): Good for a wide range of conditions, these rods provide excellent control over most drifts and can comfortably fish to a depth of about 12 feet. They are the standard length for float fishing.