Salmon fishing equipment

Lures, graphite rods and a dazzling array of flies, are you sure you have the best salmon fishing gear? Salmon are very picky eaters and biting them is a tricky business. Having the appropriate lure for a certain condition is considered fair salmon fishing practice.

How about you stumble upon a 50 pound King Salmon with just an 8 foot light tackle? You’d be cursing your breath for that little oversight on your part. Even your wife will curse you to death; I would if I accompany you.

So never bring small equipment. Of course, you can still fight that 50-pound salmon to submission with the 8-foot rod, and if you successfully land the Chinook, you deserve a pat on the back from the president. Hell, I’d fly to your destination if you let me know. But chances are, Joe, it’s a losing battle.

Are you heading to salmon fishing with the best equipment? Here’s a salmon fishing gear checklist if you need it.

Remember, the best does not mean the most expensive. It’s all about a salmon fishing team doing what it’s supposed to do: fishing rods that won’t slip, lines that won’t break, and lures that fool even minnows.

Lures, baits and flies

Angling, when done in a schematic way, is mainly: locating the game, preparing the tackle and fishing. Using the right lures always guarantees a bite. The only tricky part is preparing the right things. Cured salmon roe is considered by many to be the most irresistible delicacy, but it comes at a price. Of course, they are not reusable. While flies can be a promising piece of equipment for salmon fishing, adding ‘scents’ can amplify your ‘appeal’ to salmon.

Fishing rods

Salmon fishing rods should have a mix of features – they need to be flexible to handle the damn silver salmon aerial displays, but they need to be sturdy enough to handle the rock-like pull of a Chinook, while still being quite maneuverable to provide a decent jiggle. Of course, you can bring several options to deal with various situations. Graphite steel provides the best flexibility while retaining some lightness and strength. Bamboo poles are also a popular and cheaper option.

Coils

In the past, traditional reels were of simple construction. Its construction has no resistance; fishermen have to “palmar” the rotating edge to slow down the rotation and the fish. New reel designs now allow for a ‘drag’ mechanism that would reduce line feed should the fish decide to move away from the angler. Power assisted reels are often useful for landing heavier fish, or if the angler does not have enough muscular strength to subdue a frenzied fish, which is especially useful on larger game fish such as tuna or tarpon.

Lines

Using the proper line always dictates a successful catch. Thinking of getting a Chinook? These fish are often shy to bite the bait and would fly off at the slightest provocation. Using a less visible line like Canjun Advantage Line will make your game unable to smell you. Silvers are more voracious feeders, sometimes it doesn’t matter if you are using a thicker line.