Tips For Choosing A Salmon Fishing Rod
And Best Selling Rods Rated By Fishermen

It's to your best advantage to select the perfect salmon fishing rod catered to the type of salmon fishing that you do. In turn, you should have much more success and fun fishing and catching salmon with your new elite salmon rod.

There are some important factors that come into play when making your choice for using the right salmon rods.


When choosing a fishing rod for salmon fishing, take the following considerations into account:

  • How you will be fishing.
  • Where you will fish at.
  • Your price range.
  • The quality of the fishing rod.
  • And just as important is comfort.

Most Common Salmon Fishing Rod Types

Salmon Spinning Rods

These fishing rods are the most commonly used by anglers. They are simply easier to cast with when matched appropriately with a spinning reel, making them the ideal set-up for beginners, yet they are absolutely effective and fun for battling those beefy salmon.

Salmon Bait Casting Rods

A baitcasting rod and reel combo attract the more advanced fishermen. Although they can be more susceptible to backlashes, the reels are less bulkier, and are very productive.

Salmon Trolling Rods

Trolling, aka "mooching", is one of the very most efficient and effective methods of saltwater and freshwater fishing. Trolling rods undergo a whole lot of stress, which is why they are built tough to withstand the constant tensions and pressures of the various weights of the terminal tackle associated with it.

Salmon Fly Fishing Rods

Salmon fly rods, as opposed to a trout fly rod, are essential for handling those bigger salmon. A typical salmon fly rod would be in the 9' to 10' range. And an 8-weight is an ideal choice, whereas a 9 weight may seem to be a bit overkill, and a 7 weight may be a little small as it might not have enough backbone to handle those hefty 25 pounders.

Salmon Saltwater Spinning Rods

These salmon rods are built tough and sturdy in order to take on the power of those bigger sport fish, as well as to endure the constant thresholds of the relentless entities of saltwater. As the saying goes, don't bring a knife to a gun fight.

Tips For Selecting A Salmon Fishing Rod

Weight And Balance Of A Salmon Rod

Naturally, the lighter the rod you can get away with, the better. And of course, balance is also a key factor. The rod should comfortably balance in your hand when holding it at or near the reel seat. In turn, this provides you the best comfort and fun, rather than having to struggle and deal with greater fatigue and stress.

Salmon Rod Lengths

The length of a salmon rod mainly depends on what type of rod you will be using for the method of salmon fishing you do. The most common rod lengths used by salmon anglers are in the 8' to 10' range. These seem to work best for playing the bigger fish. The butt sections are as equally important. A general rule is anywhere from 6 to 12 inches.

The rod butt will normally rest into your torso while playing a fish. So, if it's too long then your arms end up stretched out while fighting the fish, thus resulting in becoming quickly fatigued. If it's too short then it may not sit properly in your rod mounts, especially when you are trolling.

Salmon Rod Composites

Most salmon fishing rod blanks are usually constructed out of fiberglass or graphite, or a combination of both materials for added strength and flexibility.

An excellent example of a rod built with a graphite inner core and an outer layer of E-Glass is the Shakespeare Ugly Stik Big Water Salmon/Steelhead Casting Rod.

Additional Tips About Salmon Rods

A salmon fishing rod is primarily designed with supreme strength and power for battling fish, as opposed to casting capabilities. They are constructed with the strength to power a solid hook set right into their bony jaws, and to handle those long and intense battles that salmon are well known for.

These tips will hopefully help you to make a much more educated decision when you plan to select and buy your next salmon fishing rod. Thanks and have fun fishing.



*Amazon's Choice - OKUMA Classic Pro GLT

  • Designed for trolling
  • Size: choose from 8'6" or 9'
  • Action: Medium and Medium-Heavy
  • 2 piece E-glass blank
  • Titanium oxide guide inserts w/ stainless steel guide frames

More Things About Salmon

Check out an extended list of the different types of salmon rods and best sellers here.


Facebook Comments

Leave a comment, question or tip in the box below.