Good steelhead/salmon rod/reel?

[McKenzie]

What is the generally recommended rod length/weight for Steelheading/Salmon fishing around here? Would an 8 weight be sufficient - or would I need something heavier, sayin the 9-10 weight range? I've had some 7 and 8 weight rods in the past for bass (ditched 'em and went with a 6 weight for such duty) I suppose I should've hung on to one of 'em.

I am a po' fisherman - $200+ rods are just out of my price range right now. Maybe around tax time I could swing something like that. A rod in the $70-100 range with a reel of matching pricepoint would be easier on my pocket book, and maybe leave some $$$ left for a couple flies. I have some beautiful salmon flies tied up for me by a friend in Illinois of all places. The gent has never fished for salmon in his life, but he can sure make a salmon fly! I've also got a few green butt skunks I picked up in my younger days.

I'm a shore/wading bound schmuck - no boat yet. And while I've been accused of being crazy - I aint floating a belly boat down any steelhead/salmon stream. :laugh:

Any recommendations?

[blazerman]

I would not recommend an 8 for chinook. I've got a 10 for chinook, although it hasn't caught a fish yet. If you just want to go after Steelhead, Silvers, Chums, etc, a stout 8 weight will work great. A 9 weight should cover all the bases for you. For under $100 you can't go wrong with a Temple Forks series 1 ($89).

Ben

[Mark Vickers]

For summer steelhead, a 7 or 8 weight would be fine. For winters, expect to use a 9 wt. For smaller salmon (coho, sockeye, chums) you can use a 9 wt. For chinook, look at a 10 depending on how big of hogs you're going after.

Me? I mostly use my 9 wt for just about everything knowing full well that it's not the optimal rod in every case. I like to think of it in the same sense as the old cowboy saying, "Beware the man with only one gun." (He knows how to use it.)

[Steve L.]

If you're anywhere near Tigard you ought to stop by River City Fly shop on Scholls Ferry road. They could set you up with a TFO outfit that would meet your needs for under $200 total.

I have a 7wt for summer steelies and pretty much use my 10wt for all the winter steelhead / salmon fishing. The 10 is overkill for steelhead, but a beauty for salmon.

One day I'll have a rack of rods for every occasion, but not today :jester:

[AndyK]

Steve, you need a nine-weight. There is a Sage nine-weight out there calling your name! And a RossCanyon BG-5 reel, with a Rio Multi-tip line. You can tell your wife it is my fault... :smash:

[woolybuggerboy]

Go to river City
TFO series 1 8 wt
great all around salmon/steelhead rod

[Steve L.]

Wait, I think I hear something..it is calling my name...I've got to go buy it....Honey, Honey, stop hitting me, let go of my arm , AHHHHH

[cphatts]

St Croix makes good rods for a decent price point. When it comes to salmon/steelhead, don't skimp on the reel. You don't have to go out and spend a fortune, but expect to pay at least $100-$150. Scientific anglers, and Tioga make good mid range reels. Also, Pfluger makes a good reel for the price. I picked up a Trion last year and really like it.

As mentioned above, an 8 weight is too small for Chinook but perfect for steelhead and coho. If you are serious about Chinook as well you'll have to pick up a 10 weight. Unfortunately a 10 weight is way to much for steelhead so if you are serious about Chinook, you will likely have to resort to 2 rods.

[CroupierTSM]

Lammiglass in woodland WA. they have great deals on rods in there show room. I have purchased many G1000 rods there for well under $100. and they often have some nice rods for $50-$60. also they have the best customer service dept. in the industry. a hard to beat combo of quality, price and service. just my 2cents worth. Tom

[HVACGuy]

McKenzie,
Having just gone through what you are, from experience of research only (not fishing yet), Yesterday I purchased a Lamiglass 8 weight rod for 64.00 and a okuma 8/9 reel for 59.00, spare spool for reel 16.00, Teeny line was 54.00 (one line), backer 8.00 (enough for two spools), hard case for 18.00. Pretty much the kit except the spare spool is still empty....I'll be figuring out what line to put on it today and maybe go back to the Sportsmans show for another line. Teeny threw in two DVD's for me and spent over an hour discussing various methods of fishing and rigging. He also put on sceminars which I watched all of.
Rod I got from an outfit from Wenatchee Wa (at the show). they also had 9 and 10 weight rods for the same 65.00. Line & backer I bought directly from Jim Teeny at the show (DVD's free but usually show priced @ 15.00). I picked up the Okuma reel, spare spool and case at our local Sportsmans Warehouse, they also had 9/10 weight reels for 59.00, case also came from Sportsmans and has a spare spool pocked sewn in. Sportsmans has the same rod I bought for 75.00 which I would have gladly paid, most of my casting and spinning rods are Lamiglass and have many fish to their credit. New to steelheading with fly, but many years fishing trout and bass by fly. My other fly rods are ECHO, with ECHO large arbor reels, which are a couple bucks more than the lamiglass, are 4 piece, better feeling rods, quite worth the $139.00 retail, but like you I'm a 'po' fisherman and this is an experiment for me, so I skipped the fancy stuff....BTW if anyone would have had an ECHO 8 weight reel I would have bought it insted of the Okuma, I have good history with these reels and feel they are the best value for less than $70.00. I only went with the Okuma because it was a good deal, right in front of my nose, spare spools are dirt cheap and they have large arbor and full face. I'll probably not regret taking the chance, as long as the drag is quality...we'll see.
TFO was also at the show, in fact they were linked up with Jim Teeny. They also have excellent looking stuff at reasonable prices. If Id'a had a couple more bucks this would have been my first stop.

Good Luck,

HVACGuy

[mandinga]

very thorough Hvac, great response...in fact I think that Jim Teeny now offers his "signature series" rod that is manufactured by TFO.

Andy...just because you cant hide those purchases from your wife that doesnt mean that we cant :laugh: :cheers:Then again, you have been married alot longer than I!

Back to the original question...what can you get on a budget...Well, first of all I think if you can spend $200...well then spend all of it! Look at garage sales, auctions, ifish, used rod racks and many other places that you may find a rod and reel at a bargain price, trust me they are out there. 2 Years ago I bought a Sage Rplxi rod for $150 because they were discontinuing that particular series. That rod sold for $585 2 months previously...and is worth every penny imo.

So, to summarize...Andy has been married for a long time, and you should never settle for what you see at the stores because there are alot of places you can get this nice fly stuff at good prices.
good luck,
dinga out:sleep:

[AndyK]

I'm sure glad my wife doesn't get on Ifish!

[AndyK]

Ah - but she does, she does!

Mrs. K.

[mandinga]

welcome aboard mrs k! :bigshock:

[AndyK]

What's this world coming to :shrug:? I can't even walk away from my computer at home without having to log off Ifish!!!

[McKenzie]

Mwahahahaha! Poor schmuck. Guess ya'll should use different accounts for your puter :wink:

[nookslayer]

I have to say (and I am biased since I have 5 now) you must check ou the TFO rods. I n my very huble opinion the are about the best bang for the buck you can get. Go see Don at River City and cast a few around back and see what you like. You can get a lot of rod for the money you want to spend.
As for the reel I would look into the Pfleuger Trion very nice reel for around $100.00

[Stew]

Check out the new Loomis "East Fork" fly reel while you are at River City.

[Kootenay]

:yeahthat: for about 100.00 bucks

[PDXSteelhead]

You can get a great combo at Bass Pro Shops - Their Classic Series 8wt w/ reel for under $175.

I've been using mine for 4 years and it's been great.

[bbaley]

you can get the Pflueger President reel for about $100 on ebay new which is better construction and larger arbor I think. ($150 retail).

My drag hasn't failed yet and I'm pretty rough on reels. :twocents:

[bbaley]

another $$$ saving idea is the teeny or rio multi-tip lines... saves on extra spools, lines and more time in water...