Bait, I don't downrigger fish the salt, but I do a lot on rigger fishing in the Hanford reach and the mid columbia for salmon and steelhead. The last 7 years, I've been using G.LOOMIS STR1265C rods,thier 10'6" mod. action rods rated for 20# line.I've caught 100's of kings on these rods some upto 56#, yet these rods are lite enough that a 6# steelhead or silver are still fun. They come in GL2 and only run $195.00.....try one great rod.