Fishing Michigan

Have you been thinking about joining the thousands of anglers who migrate north each year to search for salmon in the streams and rivers of Upper Michigan?  What kind of rod do you need to use, and better yet where can you find one that will get the job done?  This is going to be a three or four part blog on getting prepped for the annual fall trek.

Starting with rods,  what do you need to look for?  When fighting a fish that can strip 300 yards off a trolling reel in open water, you will need a little leverage.  You can get that to a point by picking the appropriate length in the rod you will be taking north with you.  Starting out at least eight foot,  and depending on your ability to around 10′6″.  The eight foot rods are a little harder to find, 8′6″ and 9 footers are most common.  Think of the length with types of lures you want to use.  Eight to nine foot for spoons and cranks, 9 foot plus for flies and spawn.

What action are you going to look for?  All depends on your technique,  and types of lures you want use to catch salmon.  If you plan on using spoons or crankbaits to land your quarry, then moderate to moderate fast is the action you want in the tip of your rod.  If using flies are spawn sacks are your means to landing these monsters, the rod will require a fast or extra fast tip.

To steal a term from the guys who fling bugs (you fly fishing guys know what I mean), what weight should the rod be?  In general terms,  you have to match it up with the lures and  sizes you plan to use.  Cranks and spoons, then medium to medium heavy.  Nine foot to 10 ft,  med heavy to heavy.  If you want to try and finesse these fish, give them that ol’ fighting chance so to speak, then go with a longer rod (ten foot plus) in a medium weight.

There are the basics,  now go and pick out a rod and price that suits you, and your budget.  Shakespeare makes a 9′ Ugly Stik that will get the job done for the guys who occasionally make the trip north,  moderately priced around $40 or 50 bucks.  You can choose a Cabela’s or Bass Pro house brand from $40 to 90 dollars.  Personal experience leans towards the Cabela’s Fish Eagle II models for $79.00.  Lamiglass, G. Loomis and St. Croix all make good river rods.  Look at the St. Croix Wild River Series or something in the Avid line of rods for your better graphite rods.

Next up will be the selection of reels, then line and to wrap it up with the types of lures to use.  As the water grows cooler, these fish are staging now outside the mouths of the rivers, some may be sneaking in now, but it will not take long before the runs are in full force.