What Size Fly Rod is Best for Salmon Fishing?

It takes a fair amount of skill.

Having the right fly rod is very important when fishing for salmon because they are very strong fish. Some species of salmon can grow to be over 50 pounds, so it’s important to use rods that are the right size and strength for the fish. This article will talk about the best sizes and sets of fly rods for fishing for different kinds of salmon.

General Rod Recommendations for Salmon

Most anglers agree that a 9 to 10 weight fly rod is ideal for tackling salmon species like king coho sockeye and steelhead. Here are some general guidelines

Rods with 8 to 9 weights work best for small salmon up to 15 pounds or when using light tippet and flies. Provides more sport on lighter tackle.
9-10 weight rods – All-around choice for most salmon fishing. Handles fish from 10 to 30+ pounds well.
10-11 weight rods – Best for giant king salmon over 30 pounds. Provides backbone to battle massive fish.
12+ weight rods – Occasionally used for kings over 40+ pounds. Two-handed often preferred for these sizes though.

So for all-around salmon fishing from medium to large fish, a 9 or 10 weight rod will be versatile without overpowering smaller catches. And they provide enough backbone in case you hook into the fish of a lifetime.

Rod Length Recommendations

8-9 foot rods – Ideal for single-hand rods and spey rods under 13 feet, Balance well forcasting and fish fighting
9-10 foot rods – Provide extra length for casting leverage and controlling longer runs.
10+ foot rods – Two-handed spey rods used for casting heavy flies and covering more water.

If you are swinging flies or indicator nymphing, the extra length of a 9-10 foot rod is excellent for extending your reach and covering more water. The longer butt section also aids in lifting and controlling active fish during the fight.

Action Preferences for Salmon

Rod action refers to how fast the blank flexes under load. For salmon:

Medium or medium-fast actions are best for all-purpose salmon rods. These provide a blend of sensitivity yet strength. Popular for single-hand and switch rods.
Fast action rods supply backbone for fighting big fish but can be tiring to cast all day. Better for dedicated king salmon setups.
Moderate/slow actions offer a softer flex for playing fish on lighter tippet. Fun for sea-run cuts on smaller rivers.

Rods like the Sage X or G. Loomis GLX provide a lively medium-fast flex that casts with precision, yet has reserve power in the lower sections. Medium or medium-fast is a great balance for an all-around salmon stick.

Spey Rods for Salmon

When it comes to covering big water on larger rivers, many anglers opt for two-handed spey rods in the 12 to 15 foot range. These long rods are excellent for roll casting or spey casting heavy flies long distances. Common spey rod weights include:

7/8 weight spey rods – For smaller steelhead and trout. Not ideal for salmon.
9 weight spey rods – All-around spey rod for medium salmon up to 25 pounds.
10/11 weight spey rods – Provide extra backbone for king salmon over 30+ pounds. Popular guides choice.
12+ weight spey rods – Maximum strength for giant kings and casting heavy flies. More specialized.

For battling big salmon, a 10 or 11 weight spey rod is an excellent choice to cover water efficiently while having the muscle for hooked fish. Popular models like the Sage SALT HD provide excellent performance.

Reels for Salmon Fishing

While the rod handles the fight, the reel’s job is to store lots of heavy backing and provide smooth, reliable drag pressure when big salmon make their runs. Key reel features include:

Large arbor – For quick line pickup and preventing coils when reeling in loose line.
Sealed drag – Prevents water, sand, and grit from fouling the drag over time.
Strong drag – Must be smooth yet powerful to slow fast runs while protecting lighter tippets.
Extra backing capacity – Needs to hold 200+ yards to accommodate long salmon runs.

Quality reel brands like Nautilus, Hatch, Abel, Tibor, Galvan, and Sage live up to the demands of salmon fishing. Expect to spend $500+ for a fully machined salmon fishing reel.

Fly Lines for Salmon

The right fly line is critical for casting performance, presenting flies properly, and handling steelhead and salmon runs. Some guidelines when selecting fly lines:

WF (weight forward) lines – Best all-around taper for casting and fish fighting. The WF taper gradually tapers down to the thin running line.
Sink tips – Attach a heavy sinking tip to a floating line for getting flies down deep. Useful for king salmon or deep pools.
Switch lines – Tapered for lighter spey rods under 12 feet. Easy casting with mini bellies.
Skagit lines – Heavy front taper to cast large flies and sink tips for winter steelhead. Less need for backcasting room.
Tips – Interchangeable tips that attach to compact heads or shooting lines. Easy to customize sink rates.

For all-around salmon fishing, a quality WF floating fly line paired with some sink tip options covers most situations. Scientific Anglers, RIO, Airflo, and other top brands all make excellent lines for salmon.

Leaders and Tippets for Salmon

Since salmon and steelhead have sharp eyesight, lighter fluorocarbon leaders and tippets are preferred over standard nylon:

10-15 lb fluoro leaders – Provides low visibility while handling sudden runs.
12-15 lb fluoro tippets – Strong enough to turn large salmon, but light enough for natural fly movement. Heavier for kings.
15-20 lb shock tippet – Adds abrasion resistance when salmon may rub against rocks and logs. Attaches via double uni knot.

With their speed, strength, and turbulent habitats, salmon will require heavier and more abrasion resistant terminal tackle than trout. Carrying a selection of fluorocarbon leader and tippet strengths is advised.

Best Flies for Salmon

While salmon will take a variety of fly patterns, these are some proven top producing flies for tempting salmon:

Egg flies – Beadhead nymphs that mimic salmon eggs drifting downstream. Deadly during the fall spawn.
Intruders – Bulky rabbit fur or marabou flies that imitate baitfish. Available in many color patterns.
Stoneflies – Large foam stonefly patterns that imitate the real hatch. Great searching fly.
Streamers – Baitfish imitating patterns like sculpins, leeches, or baitfish for aggressive takes.
Hareball Leech – Simple but versatile rabbit fur leech pattern in muted colors.
Alevin – Flies that mimic salmon fry with stubs, beads, and marabou. Resemble swimming bait.

Carrying an assortment of egg patterns, stoneflies, intruders, leeches, and streamers in sizes 2 to 6 will cover most salmon fishing situations. Adjust colors and profiles to match local food sources.

Setting the Hook on Salmon

Due to their bony mouths and power, setting the hook effectively is critical when a salmon takes the fly:

Keep the rod tip low and to the side on the take to provide tension. Avoid abruptly yanking up high.
Allow the salmon to take the fly fully in its mouth before setting. Do not strike too early.
Use a smooth, deliberate strip strike to drive home the hook firmly on the side of the jaw.
Let the flex of the rod also help set the hook with fluid pressure, rather than blunt force.

With practice, you’ll become adept at detecting the take and using a controlled, sweeping hookset to connect with salmon.

Fighting Salmon on the Fly

Once hooked up, use these tactics to battle salmon successfully:

Keep the rod low and tip up during runs to apply maximum pressure. Resist lifting the rod high.
Point the rod at the fish during runs and headshakes to absorb energy. Avoid pulling straight back.
Keep tight line contact at all times, letting the reel spool out when needed. No slack!
Be prepared to chase up and down the riverbank to stay connected. Salmon cover lots of ground.
For jumping fish, drop the rod tip to cushion the impact and prevent thrown hooks.
Learn to palm the reel during long runs to avoid burning your fingers.
Lean on the rod and use your body weight rather than your arms. It’s a physical battle!

Staying

what size fly rod for salmon

Your Salmon Fly Reel

The parts on your salmon reel should work well, and it should always smell like WD40 or another lubricant. I’m sure WD-40 attracts salmon because for many years, salmon strikes always happened after I used this oil or while it was on my hands (before tying on my fly) after oiling a guest’s reel who showed up on the beat with an unserviced squeaky fly reel. Also, make sure your reel has at least 30lbs breaking strain braided backing. If your reel gets a lot of use, check it and replace the backing if needed at least every other year. Mold can grow on any backing that hasn’t been waxed if it stays wet on the reel for too long, which happens all too often. If your fly line backing gets weak somewhere, you don’t want a big, strong, and fit Scottish Springer to let you know about it.

Your Salmon Fly Rod

The best length for a salmon fly rod has always been between 14 and 16 feet. I’m not interested in this short switch rod nonsense because, like all the other trendy new fly line designs, these rods don’t think about fly control at range. This makes me think that they weren’t properly thought out with salmon fly fishing on bigger rivers in mind or weren’t designed by people who really know salmon fishing and what makes the best chances of success. With an 11-foot switch rod, it will never be easy to connect a fly line to the fly. A longer rod might be better for this. I’ve always used a 16-foot Bruce.

Which Weight Rod is For You? Fly Rod Breakdown

FAQ

Can you use a 7 weight fly rod for salmon?

Silver Salmon For single-handed rods, a fast-action 10′ 8wt is customary, however, you could get away with a 7wt or a 9wt in some situations. For two-handed rods, many anglers prefer an 11-13′ 7-8wt rod.

Is an 8wt fly rod good for salmon?

People often use the same fly rod to target Silver Salmon and Chum Salmon. There’s nothing wrong with using an 8wt single-handed rod for both species. That being said, if you want to upgrade to a 9wt when targeting Chum Salmon on a large river, your arms will thank you for it at the end of a week-long trip.

Is a 6wt fly rod good for salmon?

Atlantic salmon fall into the 6 to 9 weight range. I’d only recommend a 6-wt for smaller rivers where you are only likely to tangle with grilse under 6-lbs. It’s not that the salmon might smash the rod to pieces, a highly skilled angler might land 20-lbs of silver on a 4-wt, but it just takes too long.

What size fly for salmon?

Temp in Degrees (F)	Fly Size
51 – 55	6 – 8
56 – 60	8 – 10
61 – 65	10 – 12
66 plus	12 -16

How much weight should a fly rod be for salmon fishing?

For most salmon fly fishing, we recommend fly rod weights, 8, 9, or 10. Depending on conditions (casting distance, depth) and size of the fish, consider weights 7 or 11. Use tapers WF, DT, or ST. How do you set up a fly rod for salmon fishing? You’ll want 200 yards of 20-30 lb backing.

What fly rods do you need for salmon fishing?

When it comes to fly fishing for salmon and the fly fishing gear you need, you have two types of fly rods to choose from; switch fly rods and Spey fly rods. Switch fly rods are great salmon fly rods for smaller rivers. They are just like single-handed fly rods and but with a small handle on the bottom of the rod.

How do I set up a fly rod for salmon fishing?

Use tapers WF, DT, or ST. How do you set up a fly rod for salmon fishing? You’ll want 200 yards of 20-30 lb backing. Off your 8-10 weight fly line (usually WF or ST depending on conditions/depth), you can usually use a straight (non-tapered) mono leader of 20-30 pounds depending on the size fish. There are many ways to rig your fly.

How long should a fly rod be for salmon fishing?

When fly fishing for salmon how long your fly rods are makes a huge difference to the waters you can fish. When using equipment like Spey rods, you need them to be longer so you can manage the line and make your Spey casts effectively and the happy medium is around 13ft.