I have an 8 weight fly rod and I was considering doing some fly fishing for Chinook this year as well as Coho. I got to thinking, is this going to be a heavy enough fly rod for Chinook at all or Coho in fast water? I normaly use it for Steelhead but really want to try and get a couple salmon on the fly while the no bait rule is in effect and throughout the season.

Any thoughts?

While I am at it, what is your favorite wog design for Salmon? Hair, synthetic, foam with marabou or rabbit tail, any others?

I have my favorite fly pattern just mever tied a top water salmon fly so have to ask.

I think an 8 weight would do just fine on most chinook around the Puget Sound area. You may get steam-rolled once or twice, but hey thats what makes it fun, right?

As far as wogs go, I like stacked deer hair trimmed with a razor..Doesn't have to be fancy, just gawdy enough to get their attention and hang on!

Have fun,
Drew

A 5 weight would be okay for Puget sound Chinook, . Can't realy say that with any real experience but out here I don't even call it a KING unless it is over 30#. I just don't know if there is enough backbone to even tire out a 40#+ Chinook. But then again I haven't caught one on it so who knows.

An 8-weight is perfect for coho, which means it is what you need. Sure, you will occasionally hook up with a king, but it won't be often, and unless it's a real bruiser, your 8-weight will be up to the task. You could use a heavier rod to target kings, but you would probably wear out your shoulder from casting it before you got a king to eat a fly (at least anywhere upstream from tidewater).

As for wogs, I have never caught a fish on one, so I'm far from an authority, but I use LOTS of spun deer hair with marabou and krystal flash coming off the back.

Well I hope to hook anything on a fly rod, a big Chinook will just be a bonus and one hell of a fight. Hopefully the fly I use on drift geat will work as well on a fly rod for both Coho and Chinook.

Is it true you "bow" to them when they jump like I have seen in steelhead videos? My uncle told me about this and want to make sure so I don't break them off or break my rod on a big jump from a Coho or a wild confused Chinook.

What size tippet would you use? Or am I better off tying up some jointed ones making them slightly heavier than the 0x I have?

Now I just have to find some pink deer hair and tie up some Wogs to at least give it a try. The rush of a Coho chasing one to shore would make it all worth it even if they don't hit.

I'd use 15-20# test tippet. most of these fish are not going to be leader shy.

Biggest I have is 13# test and 10# tippet. I guess I will have to find some heavier ones or tie up some of my own.

12# tippet is good; 15 is better. As D3Smartie says, they aren't leader shy. If they're not biting, while I'm not sure anyone knows what makes them go from tight-lipped to suicidal, you can more or less rule out your tippet size.

I tied up a 25,15,12 and it worked well, layed out nice and rolled that big fly right over. Gonna get some 20# and make some larger ones, maybe get some 30# and make 30,25,20 and 30,25,20,15.

To be honest I just hope to hook a salmon on them. I know the fly works other ways but on a fly rod would be a huge rush. Especially on a top water anything.

F4A,

A chinook on a fly rod gets to be a lot like work. A 9 or 10 wt is nice if you must do it tho. 8 wt is best all around for coho. Pink deer hair wogs with pink foam strip across top, front to back, with an unturned lip in front. Most fun way to hook coho ever.

Sg

I hear the work part Salmo, I use 12# test for all salmon. My best last year was 32# nook and took me about 40 minutes to land in faster current. Thankfully it didn't stay in the hole so I didn't get my arse kicked by everyone.

Chinook will be a bonus hook up if it happens. Always a chance when using a sinking fly especialy when they work so well on drift gear. Although that pink Wog is looking like a go to for some awesome action. Once I have a couple Coho and know what to expect I might target some nook just for the fight.

Anyone have a suggestion for a good place to get the deer hair. All I am finding is little 2x2 or 2.5x2.5 and that isn't gonna go very far.

I bet it isn't gonna make things any easier that I don't have a disk drag on my reel. Just an adjustable 2 click things inside.

This should be an adventure for sure. Hopefully I can get something to bite and then get lucky and land it.

F4A,

A disc drag on a freshwater fly reel is totally unnecessary. However, they do come in handy if you're targeting chinook. Every one of my fly reels is a basic spring and pawl check - not really a drag - except for a couple I bought for potential salt water fishing. I even used a spring and pawl Hardy St. Aiden for bonefishing, and it's plenty. However permit and tarpon pull so hard and unbelievably fast that the disc drag saves a lot of finger skin that would otherwise be lost. Chinook aren't that fast, but because they can pull so hard for so long, that I used a disc drag reel when I targeted chinook on the Kanecktok.

Sg

Well that makes me feel better. Sounds like all I need to do is go fishing when it opens and hang on.

I also like fishing, but not know how many. Want to learn some more skills。