I think I’m gonna get a 9’ 5wt rod this year.
I have never paid much attention to the rod in hand. My focus has always been on the fly at the end of the line.
I think this size would be a nice salmon rod.
Something I could cast all day with a length to get it out there. Casting a 9’ 8 wt just wears one out.
This sound about right?
later
Mike
My understanding of the matter is that the rod weight is matched to the line and type of flies you are using.
An 8wt rod might have a little more “muscle” for fighting/landing larger fish more quickly, but I’m sure large fish have been caught and landed on lighter gear.
This past fall I used a 5wt rod while salmon fishing on the Miramichi. The only concession to the possibility of landing “the big one” was that the guide I was with tied on a heavier leader.
Not sure if this helps much but it may be a start.
Regards
P.S. I didn’t get the big one, but did get a nice trout!
I have landed steelhead and salmon to 15lbs or so on five and six weights. I landed a fresh 33" chum a couple of days ago on my 8 1/2" 5wt Winston Ibis while fishing for Dolly Varden/bull trout in the Sauk River. I was using a 6wt sinking line and 10lb Maxima tippet and a big size 2 bunny leech with big bright red pompom head. It only took a few minutes but it stayed in the pool and the flow wasn’t heavy. I didn’t put as much pressure on it with the rod and kept the rod angle lower than I would have with an 8wt or larger rod. In fact some of the time I just pointed the rod at the fish and reeled.
My point is that you can fish for big fish with lighter rods if you want but you do have to be careful. Heavier rods and lines and tippets turn over larger flies much more efficiently as well as allow for much more pressure on the fish which can make the landing part much easier and faster. The latter may be easier on the fish if you intend to release it as not as much lactic acid will buildup in the muscle tissue.
You are, however, correct in assuming it will be easier to make multiple casts with a lighter lever as long as the flies aren’t too bulky or heavy. Another way to handle bigger rods is to work out with small 3lb dumbbells or other weights in the off season between several days of fishing. There is an older man(upper seventies) in our fly club who still fishes with 9 foot heavy bamboo rods and heavy lines. His secret is exercising his arms with small weights (full soup cans work great)year around.
Hope this helps. If you do use a light rod, remember to keep the angle around 30 degrees to 45 degrees and to the side or you just may turn your rod into splinters.
Randy Knapp
A 5 wt is just my kind of rod; have an 8 ft and a 9 ft in that I think so much of them. But I’m not so sure salmon isn’t a tad on the heavy side for a fiver. My favorite steelhead rod is an 8 1/2 ft - 7 wt. Big difference to me between it and an 8 wt in the casting department.
Dale
Well I’m fairly aggressive in landing a salmon, so I think I could handle the average 2 to 6 pounder that may strike the line. Basically my conern was distance and weight.
Would like to stay with the 9’ but weight is still to be determined. I know I don’t want an eight weight.I must face the fact that I will never cast a sage,gloomis,st. croix legend or a winston, 
, these rods are simple not even in the realm of my budget.
100 to 120 canadian dollars, LOL, is about the best I will do.
Depending on which salmon you are catching and where will determine the weight of rod. If you are fishing pacific sockeye or cohoe salmon, 5 is a bit light and will likely not last very long. I am using 4 wt Temple Fork Outfitter rods for guided trout trips and am very satisfied with the quality and price. A 9’6" 8wt 4 piece IM 6 graphite is $150 with a no-fault lifetime replacement guarantee ($25 bucks for shipping)no questions asked. You can get the next level up: TiCr for $210. Here is the link to their web where you can find dealers: [url=http://www.templeforkflyrods.com/:4b510]http://www.templeforkflyrods.com/[/url:4b510] , also check at Sportsman’s Warehouse, Cabelas, etc.
Good luck.
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