Salmon Fishing Rods

In times long ago salmon fishing rods were made of heavy and ugly materials such as greenheart and split cane and wielding lines made of horsehair. This made it back breaking work to fish all day and even meant that some could not fish at all due to injury or old age.

Today things are very different and the salmon fisherman can fish for a full day with comfort and without stress of fatigue. Modern salmon fishing rods are built from carbon fibre and matched exactly to “Spey” lines. In the hands of an experienced fly fisherman a salmon fishing rod of 18 feet will cast more that 50 yards to cover the expanse of larger rivers in spring.

The most popular length for fishing rods for salmon however is 15 feet and this will be perfectly fine for most fishing situations. A casting distance of 30 feet is achievable with ease for most anglers.

They type of fishing rod can also largely depend on the river you fish and the height of the water level depending on season. For example on smaller rivers in the summertime many anglers will prefer to use a double handed rod of around 12 to 13 feet. In fact salmon fishing rods down to 10 feet are used as this will allow a greater delicacy when presenting smaller flies especially when fishing for summer grilse.

Fly fishing rods for salmon has become and increasingly competitive market and today we enjoy a wide choice of brands and manufacturers to choose from. Some famous traditional makers with long history’s include Hardy and Bruce and Walker. More modern companies such as Daiwa and Shakespeare dominate the more affordable end of the mass market while new manufacturers such as Sage and Orvis are all vying to achieve the highest market share.

You choice of fly rod will depend mostly on the type of river you fish and whether you want a traditional look and feel to the rod or something more cutting edge and modern. The rod should feel comfortable in your hands and light enough for you to fish for hours without experiencing any discomfort.

Just as with salmon fly rods, the reels on offer to salmon fly fishermen are a presented in a vast array of choice and design. This can often be very bewildering and the same divide between the old and new exists here as in rods. Traditional old salmon fly reels made by Hardy’s are now collector items highly sought after on the second hand market. Having said that you can also opt for the latest in drag technology from Orvis, the choice is yours.

It’s all about how traditional you feel about your fishing and the level of romance you attach to it’s history.

Whatever your choice, a quality salmon fishing rod is a must as the heartbeat of your fishing experience. It should become over the years like an old friend, a companion that shares the ups and downs, the solitude of fishing and the immense pleasure of doing what you love.