Summer Rod for Salmon River ???

[fishtech]

I know summer is many months away but its never too early to start dreaming is it?

I'm seeking advise or opinons. All are welcome!

I enjoy fishing the Salmon River right through the summer months of June, July and August when the water flows range from 185 cfs to 385 cfs. Most of the time the only thing I catch are smallmouth bass up to 15", fallfish up to 14" and the occasional small brown trout or smolt. But there is always the chance of lucking into a Skamania or Atlantic salmon.

My current spey rod is a 13.5' 8/9 wt. which works great as a fall/winter/spring rod on the river but is like using a elephant gun on whitetail deer when I'm up there fishing in the summer. So I plan on getting one of the new Dec Hogan echo spey rods that came out this year to use as my "summer rod". Trouble is I can't decide on which one!
The 3 models I'm considering are the 11'9" 4wt., the 12'2" 5wt., and the 12'6" 6wt.

Has anyone familiar with the summer conditions on the Salmon River tryed any of these 3 rods who could give an opinion as to which one would be best suited for this fishing? I want to be able to cast muddlers up to size 4, bead head woolybuggers size 8 and bombers size 8 with floating or intermediate sink polyleaders.

Any thoughts or insights on this are appreciated. Thanks!

[Nick Pionessa]

the real crux is that lucky skamania or atlantic which would be a lot of fish for any of those rods with the possible exception of the 6wt. the other two are perfectly capable of fish to 5-10 lbs and no problem with the flies you use. i have cast the 6 wt and it's a hell of a nice rod if somewhat noodley unlined. the 5 wt i have never cast but after handling one i wouldn't hesitate to fish for early steelhead with the majority being jacks and the occasional adult. the 4 wt is quite light and i don't think i would use it for lake run fish regularly. on the other hand it would make a killer summer bass rod.

the other alternative is a short rod like the switch's. i have been using a 1107 T&T for the past couple of seasons and i'm amazed at how versatile these rods are. with a scandi or afs head they are great light line rods for bass and even adult steelhead with no problem. lined with a compact skagit and there really isn't anything you can't do. i fish mine with a 15' type 8 tip regularly. or with a scandi head and inter leader on the medium sized creeks. echo will have three switch rods out (hopefully) very soon all 10'10" and 6,7&8 wts. Scott will soon have an 1108 as well. all of these rods will be under $350.

as usual i likely didn't help with your choice any but it is a popular subject these days and hopefully some other folks will have some input.

[jdaly3247]

Speaking on Switch Rods. I have a Meiser System 8 11'. It's loaded with a Rio AFS 520 grain and different Poly's. It simply rocks. It's my first year using a Switch and it has been an absolute joy to fish. Anchor points and overhead casts are done with ease. It can really shoot the running line too!!! GET A SWITCHER!!!! -Jamie

[Geoff Schaake]

Tech, you may want to look at the LS2 1307. that has been my goto rod on the slamin winter or summer. I have the Echo classic 12'6" 6wt and love that rod for smallies but I thank god I had the Scott 7wt and 15lb test when my unicorn hit in August

[gr8lakesflyer]

I would suggest to keep your grains on the low side . 320-380 for shooting heads , 490-520 for mid bellies . No need to get out the heavy stuff for skinny water dude .

I like my :
Loop LTS 11'9'' 7wt with a RIO AFS 5/6 (340grains)
Guideline LPXe 12'6'' 7/8 with a Guideline PT 7/8 (floating) cut at 11.2m (350grains) or a Guideline DDC 8/9 (intermediate) cut at 10.4m (370grains) .
CND Solstice 13'4'' 6/7 with a matching CND GPS 6/7 (512grains)

Hope this helps a little

Mike

[Chris Wilson]

I've been happy with my Snowbee 12' Torridge 5/6 which throws a 400 gr. shooting head perfectly. I've landed some 12 pound Salmon River Steelhead but when I drop down to my 1-2 pound Hickory Shad here in the Mid-Atlantic it's too much rod. The lines work, full sinkers and tips, for the cooler spring water, but it's just too much rod once I get a fish on. For the 5-6 pound white shad it's perfect.

To that end, I have a 3/4/5 Meiser on the way which would get snapped like a twig on any GL Steelhead, so I think you're looking at that 5 weight Echo by the numbers. Plenty of time to try rods between now and spring. Curious to know which way you go.

-Chris