Salmon gear - recommendations

On 4 Jul 2005 08:17:16 -0700, "Scarlet Pimpernel"
wrote:

This year I'd like to try fly fishing for pink salmon, but fear that my
5/6 weight trout kit isn't up to the job. So I need some heavier-duty
fly kit for the bigger fish (10-25 lbs). But I have no clear idea how
much heavier its got to be...

Would an 9ft 8-weight be ridiculously inadequate? Or do I have to be
looking at a double-handed rod?

I have fished for Chinooks (Kings) in Ontario (Saugeen River) and have
landed more than a few using my Sage XP7100-4 (four piece 10 foot 7
weight). I use a Lamson V3.5 large arbor reel with steelhead tapered
floating line. Great reel with a good drag. I used this same rig in
Alaska last year and landed 30 inch rainbows, 15 pound Silvers
(Cohos), and lots of big Chum (Dog Fish) and little pinks (humpies).

I wouldn't hesitate to use a 6 weight on the pinks, but if there are
other bigger species (chums, silvers) in the river, you might have
more than you can handle if you hook into one.

FWIW, I don't think an 8 weight would be overkill. However if the
pinks are smallish, it *would* be overkill.

See:
http://hometown.aol.com/davplac/Alaska18-Aug04.html


Dave