New setup for salmon steelhead

[FishyMe]

I would like to get a 8wt rod to try fly fishing for salmon on the American this year. I would like to spend no more $400 for everything. Any recommendations? I fly fish but not often. Would it be best for a switch (will be new to switch), single hand or Spey rod?

Thanks for all your help.

[winxp_man]

Might want to check out at least 9wt rods for single hand system. People will have different opinions but these fish can battle when hooked.

For switch rods I would check out at least a 8wt rod and no less. Spey you can catch then with a 7wt rod but they will have lots of power to put a damn good bend on the rod. I have hooked a few salmon with my 7wt Sage One spey rod and a fish that looked to be about a 20lbs hen gave me no control over the fight.

[FishyMe]

Thanks for the info. If anyone has a 9 wt they are looking to let go, let me know.

[East Bay Ed]

Check out Albright. Their top of the line rods are on sale at great savings right now. You might want to check them out on line.

[Rick J]

TFO has various rod models that should fit well within your budget

[Mike R]

I'm gonna crack the can o' worms (its the SH forum, after all). You do not need an 8 or 9 wt to fish steelhead on the American (or almost anywhere). Trust me, after holding the rod all day fishing a bobicator, you will want a fast action 6 or 7 wt. They are much lighter and if you learn how to fight fish correctly, you'll never feel undergunned.

If you're gonna swing, get a 6 or 7 wt. switch or spey. A 14' 9 wt spey rod is extreme overkill for just about any fish that swims. A 12'6" to 13' 7 wt spey rod will be perfect for everything on the West Coast.

Now, if you plan on salmon fishing, sure, get a little beefier (salmon-only) rod. But if you want something to fight foul-hooked salmon when you're SH fishing, get whatever you want.

Look into just about any 9'6" to 10' 6-7 wt rod with a fighting butt.

Mike

[FishyMe]

Would a 12'9 7wt spey be good? I have a friend selling a redington cpx with a cablas wlx reel with line for $300 shipped.

[Rick J]

not a bad choice but heavy for the American unless you really plan on targeting salmon - I would opt for a 5 or 6 wt for the Sac rivers. The 7 would be a good choice for coastal rivers

[Mike R]

not a bad choice but heavy for the American unless you really plan on targeting salmon - I would opt for a 5 or 6 wt for the Sac rivers. The 7 would be a good choice for coastal rivers

Rick is right on here. That 7129 is gonna be pretty heavy for the valley.. Something in the 12'6" 6 wt range is a pretty good spey rod for our rivers.

[winxp_man]

Rick is right on here. That 7129 is gonna be pretty heavy for the valley.. Something in the 12'6" 6 wt range is a pretty good spey rod for our rivers.

Actually I had all of the SH this year hooked with a 7wt Sage One spey and glad I have the 7wt rod. A friend of mine that hooked and caught quite a few steelhead this year on the American river with a Sage One 6wt spey and after watching me fight a few fish said he should have gotten a 7 wt rod.

Here is the specs for the Redington spey rods.

CPX 12664 SPEY 12'6" 6 7.1oz
CPX 12974 SPEY 12'9" 7 7.7oz

I don't know how much .6 oz will make that you can tell the difference in weight.


@ Mike R. The op was saying he wants to fish for salmon no mention of SH. Just saying and salmon can sure run on you once hooked! I got two on my 7wt Sage One spey and wish I wouldn't have hooked into them because they can over power you pretty easy.