Salmon fishing this summer

[Troutman Clay]

Hey everyone,

This summer I'll be heading up north island to the prot mcneil region in search of some tidal pinks and coho, but have never done any fly fishing in the salt so am a little bit of a noob in that essence. My question is what should i be buying as far as a rod reel and line goes, as Im not too sure on the weights and lengths for these salmon. Im not hoping to go all out im thinking in 500 dollar range for all the gear, as those Islander Reels I've been drooling over in the store are a little too much, unless i learn to cast with only my arm .

Thanks guys
Clay

[btree]

I got an 8wt set up by snowbee from SalaR's shop in Bowser for about that price and it's served me very well for all sorts of salmon adventures. You could probably go as light as a 6wt, but the wind might be an issue with lighter lines.

I'd spend more on a reel and less on a line or rod. As silly as it might look to those who might be concerned, going with a cheap-o canadian tire 8wt rod matched with a higher end anodized saltwater reel could save you some $.

You usually don't have to cast too far for fishing pinks, but the coho might require a bit more distance. There should be plenty of options - who knows, fish around in the classified section here, or on E-Bay and you might be able to find a steal on an item or two and piece together the rest.

[ggp]

When fishing the beaches for pinks and coho I use a 9ft. 6 wt. rod (some people prefer a longer rod) and an old Hardy Marquis #6 reel, accompanied by two lines, a floater and a clear sink tip....The floater is the line that sees the most use....Keep in mind that beaches differ in the degree with which they descend into the ocean, therefore a beach that drops off faster may require a sink tip or slime line to fish it effectively, versus one that has a gradual slope....But my line of choice will always be a floater first, until the fish tell me different....When the coho show up in earnest I change my tactics and launch my small boat....Although coho do cruise the shore it is a definite advantage to be on the water.....I also change my setup slightly by going to a 9ft. 7 wt. rod and a Marquis #8-9 reel, just for the extra backing....I use a clear sink tip when fishing from the boat, but the floater is never far away, should it be required....It is important to have a decent reel, that has a good drag system and holds a sufficient amount of backing to do the job....You don't have to break the bank to get such a reel!

[LiquidGuides01]

for Coho. I use a 9 ft 8 weight Lamiglas. i like a little more backbone for those big ones!
And for a reel i have my Redington 8 weight... i also do prefure using a tube or boat/row boat on the water so your right there with them and theres not as much chasing although a boat is not necessary if there not far off the beach. For pinks i use a 7 weight Lami 9ft. depends where im fishing i often use a clear slime line,but for most cases floating line. Just make sure you get a reel that can handle the salt even if you rinse it there will be some salt left.

[whitewater_cowboy]

Definitely get an appropriate saltwater reel, or you'll just be throwing that money away. 6 wt. to 8 wt. will cover the possibilities, the heavier tackle is nice in the wind. You might want to consider a switch rod which will really help in the distance department, especially with the coho. Floating or clear intermediate should be all you need line wise... but, I've never fished steeply sloping beach front. The intermediate is nice when the wind blows as all sinking lines are thinner than their floating counter parts and penetrate the wind better. One more thing to consider with the rod would be a multi-piece as they are much more convenient to wash. Follow Btree's advice and speak to SalaR, Nile Creek Flyshop or check out his website (http://www.nilecreekflyshop.com/)... he's very knowledgeable and won't steer you wrong in your investment. Cheers!

[Troutman Clay]

Thanks for the help guys, I`m heading to a fly club tonight so I`ll ask around there and mabey see what they think, Thanks again, and I`ll be sure to get in touch with SalaR in the next few days. Thanks