Just beginning to lean the ends and outs of fishing for Springers and of course I have a ton of questions but for the sake of not boring one to death I will begin my soujourn by asking what I call my first installment of a multitude of inquiries with basic salmon rods and reels 101 ...
Anyway, what would you suggest I start out with in regards to a good (but not too spendy $$ ) Rod and Reel for fishing salmon with? Is it possible to spend less than $150 and get a quality combination?

Thanks-

Mac

I have a Lamiglas certified pro 8'6" 8-17 pound test with a shimano cardiff reel that I am selling for 150 dollars. let me know if you are interested or have anymore questions.
David
fishingfam@nventure.com

for saltwater the old eagle claw starfire with a penn 209 will get the job done, just ask any old timer

i use a lami medium heavy with an abu 5000 in rivers

For the bucks you are willing to spend.... Berkley IM7-Air with ABU 5500 series.

Penn 209's are great... they've been in production just about forever, cost 50 bucks, and parts are readily available. John's Sporting Goods in Everett is a Penn repair shop, and stocks a complete line of replacement parts. I've busted an Eagle Claw rod right at the grip... a $30 rod that breaks is no bargain. I have a pair of Shakespeare Ugly Stick BWD1101 rods, they run around $50. and are almost indestructable. Mine are 8'3", but they are also available in 9'0"

Dan

As far as the rod goes I would look into getting an ALL STAR rod. Great bang for the buck I believe they are around a hundred bucks maybe a little more but worth it.
you should find them at the bigger shops and some smaller ones depending on where your at.


with reels you cant beat the durability of a Abu 5500 or 5501 for the price: you can get one off of Ebay if you wanted to save a few dollars.

Now just spool that up with 10lb Maxima UG and your set to go.

good luck this season

Catcher-
10 lbs. Maxima?
I thought I would be putting on at least 30, 40 or possibly 50 lbs. test! Right ...or wrong?

Thanks-

Mac

McSteely Fenwick make some nice rods at $89.95 You can get a nice rod and a Abu 5500 C3 with know less than 20# test you are at about $150.00.Fenwick has been around for a long time.

Mac - be more specific. Exactly how do you plan on fishing for these salmon? Downrigging, or mooching in the salt? Drift fishing in a river? Float fishing in a river? Hover fishing from a boat? Boondoggin and/or side drifting from a boat? Running divers? Flossing from the bank, etc.

Personally, I'd tell you to tailor your fishing gear towards the methods you plan on using, not necessarily the species you are targeting.

Tell us how you plan on fishing, and you'll probably get a better idea of what model/size rod to look for. I'd think that rod type, length, and lure/line size ranges would be more important over specific brands of rods.

Same applies for the reel.

Parker-
Since I live in the Tri-Cities I plan on learning the art of fishing with a anchor and float on the Columbia and Snake (below the dams).
Thanks-

Mac

Bunch of rods to choose from. I would go not less than 10'5" for floats. Some guys like spinning smoe like baitcasters depending on what you go with $150 for a package is fairly easy. I would look at the Shimano Convergance or the Berkley IM7. There are 100's of reels to choose from. Look at Ebay. I bought a bunch this year and saved at least 30% on everything.

Berkley Air 7'-9" 1 piece, or the same in 8'-6" 2 piece. Both are rated 15 to 50 lb test. Match it up with an Abu 5500 C 3 or 4 if you're going to do much casting or a 6500 C 3 if you're planning on doing much anchor fishing. Should cost just about what your are budgeting.

MacSteely, 30, 40, 50lbs. test? why so heavy? I've been using 25 lbs. Ultragreen for kings in Alaska for years and have yet to see a need for anything heavier.
Last season, had a guy bring a halibut to the boat on a salmon rod (25 lbs. mainline) that was every bit of 200 lbs., tagged and released.

AAKINGS-
Heck, I don't know why 30, 40 or 50lbs test? Shows my rookie inabilities or the 101 class of still learning what will work!
Th info. that has been given to me by all is very helpful (also, my head is a bit dizzy on all the great advice! )...
If 25 lbs. ultragreen works then I will take heed.
After watching a video put out by Nick Amato the guide suggested 40 or a 50 lbs. mainline with a 25 or 30 lbs. leader- does this sound right?

Mac

my personal outfits are spooled with 20# and 15#. I consider the 20# a tad on the heavy side but I pull flashers with it and feel it holds up better to abrasion from the flasher. the 15# is my plug outfit. My newbie outfit has 30# for obvious reasons.

Mac,

George at Fishin' Plus in Pasco has Lamiglass rods built on the IM 7 blank just like the Berkely AIR 7 mentioned here. I've fished the two next to each other and prefer the guides on the Lamiglass. It's a great looking rod and it's quite inexpensive. I think I paid $60 for mine.

For reels, I like an Abu 6501--just a bit bigger than the 5501. I worry needlessly about getting spooled by a 40 lb. monster. Cabelas has one for 80 bucks.

I usually use 15-17 lb. line for salmon. Sometimes 20, but I've not found it necessary to go that heavy when you have a good rod and reel.

Look me up sometime and we'll go. Springers are closed everywhere but the Snake now, but summer salmon opens in a month.

Dan

http://www.piscatorialpursuits.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=002845

this should work for what you will be using it for and its in your price range