Rod/Reel for Salmon Fishing

[Fly Goddess]

Flygodddess, did you say a 13+ 4wt.? Tell me more!

I wish I could tell you more, but like I said, they are not out on the market yet. I don't think it will be long however.
I ascked DEC about an extra tip like the ECHO 2 realizing that the extra tip on a SPEY would be exactly that....an extra tip (not two different actions like on the 2).
He thought that was a great idea, specially packing around a rod that long. It would definitely make the people happy.
Don't quote me but I think I heard a $400. price being mentioned.

[pspaint]

A 4wt. spey rod would be awesome!!! I've been using an 11' 5wt. TFO spey, for the smallies, and it's a blast! The four would be sweet. Did he mention what type of action they would be? He designed FlyLogic's spey rods and i've heard they're more traditional. I like the med. fast Skagit or fast Scandy rods, personally. I can't wait to see what they come up with. Have you tried any of the new TFO, Meiser designed, spey's yet?
I forgot about that one, Marty. They are real smooth. Kurt has one of the smaller sizes and I was really suprised by how nice it was.

[GBurgFisher]

A 4wt two hander would be pretty intense. I just want to try out the two tip models. They have one tip for presentation, and one for (i guess) high line speed. I suppose the latter would be a bit stiffer?? I'm not sure, but I want to cast one to see if there really is a noticeable difference.

While we are on the subject of gear...What about line? Do you guys usually use something with a sinking tip, full sink, floating??

[Fly Goddess]

A 4wt two hander would be pretty intense. I just want to try out the two tip models. They have one tip for presentation, and one for (i guess) high line speed. I suppose the latter would be a bit stiffer?? I'm not sure, but I want to cast one to see if there really is a noticeable difference.

While we are on the subject of gear...What about line? Do you guys usually use something with a sinking tip, full sink, floating??

I am trying to remember everything DEC said on line so hopefully some spey casters will jump in. The line is VERY important. Dec said he had a client go out and buy a 6/7 Spey rod and bought matching line. They both tried to cast it and found it most difficult. Dec said he should have gone with the 7/8 line in that Spey is all about the GRAIN. The new Dec Signature series by ECHO has the Grain listed on the rod rather than a weight like a normal one handed rod. He also said he use to splice several lines together, but they are now being Factory Manufactured. For the most part he uses a floating line with different lengths of leader but does use sink tips with a VI being the most used.

A little note, which I found useful, was he said to take a nine foot piece of heavy stiff mono, cut into about 1 foot sections and connected with a BLOOD/Barrel Knot , leave the tags a little long forming what is going to look like Barb Wire. This will make a leader for practicing casting on the LAWN. A little resistance......COOL!

[pspaint]

The line weight, in terms of grain, has always been a big problem for matching up to the spey rods. It's only been in the last couple of years that some sort of "standard" has come about. RIO, has a listing of most of the spey rods out there and the lines that work best. They give 2 ways of running it. The first, is for experienced casters or for higher line speeds, the other for less experienced casters and a little slower tempo. Before the major manufacturer's came out with line designations, most people used either heavy DT lines or, like Flygoddess said, built their own. My first spey, was a 12'6" Orvis and it took a while to find a line that worked on it. Fortunately, the tackle industry has been making it much easier.
GBurg, I usually use floating lines for most of my salmon/steelie fishing. Our streams and rivers aren't all that deep, so the floaters work well. For versatility, you can run mini-sink tips or sinking leaders, in place of an actual sink tip line. The fly lines I like best for SS fishing are, Rio's, Clouser and Salmon Steelhead lines. They handle weight very well and mend easily.

[Pete Hiatt]

I fish almost exclusively for steelhead and salmon out West. I use a 9' 8 wt and a 10' 8 wt. Salmon can overtax these without a really good reel. A salmon can easily take 100 yards of line out. I generally use a Martin Mod 72 which is a 3:1 multiplier with about 2' per wind. I find you need that to keep up with an incoming salmon. The reel is quite inexpensive at about $35.

[Chris Jacobs]

I would use my steelhead rig for salmon fishing, Sage VT2 8wt 9'6", as it is the biggest rod I have.

The SR is a zoo during the salmon run, I haven't fished the fly only section but in Pulaski, it is shoulder to shoulder during the tournament.

[comanche]

believe me-i live there it is worst in the so called fly only zones-and absoulutely no-one really fly fishing??

[DBenner]

I fish mostly for Atlantic Salmon and the occasional smallmouth bass and speckled trout. I only have one rod, a St. Croix Avid 908, 9 foot, 8 weight with a Teton Tioga reel. It has 175 yards of backing on it with the fly line. I do change up the leaders for the different fish, but I find it works well, a little heavy for the trout, good for the big bass poppers and salmon flies. You can fish all day and not get tired with it and the reel has a beautiful drag.

Dwight

[Pete Hiatt]

Whatever rod you get, I feel the reel is the most important item. I am strongly in favor of a multiplier with a return of two feet per wind with a great drag like the Martin star drag. It is only about $35 and only draw back is open gears you must keep away from sand. If you get a non-multiplier, get as large a diameter as you can which increases the return distance per wind.