Fishing Michigan

When wading and river fishing for salmon, this is not the time to go cheap on your reels.  Depending on how you plan on fishing for the salmon,  you can choose between a casting and spinning reel.  The rod manufactures will make models for both reels.

When do you use one reel or the other?  First of all be confident in your ability to use a casting reel.  This isn’t the pros you see on TV,  if you haven’t used a casting reel, give yourself some time to practice first before heading out.  Its easy to get a casting reel to start to spin with the line going out,  but very important to have the weight at the end of the line to carry it across the expanse of water.  For the most part casting reels should be used when spoons are your lure of choice.  They have the weight to keep the line moving off the spool of the reel until the end of the cast.  Some of your bigger crankbaits will work in this application as well.  Be wary of windy days,  a lot of these baits are made of balsa wood and are light weight.  They can get caught in the wind, and you have to be prepared to stop the spool with your thumb if its progress has been held up.

Spinning reels are your versitle option for hitting the rivers this fall.  They will perform well in all kinds of conditions and with lure options.  Besides the spoons and cranks,  for the dedicated salmon fisherman,  flies and spawn bags are a favorite bait of choice.

The first characteristic of a good reel for salmon fishing is the drag.  This is a key because you can expect a long run once the fish has taken the bait.  Line will peel off as you try to head the fish off before they make a run for downed trees and other types of debris in waterway.  You will want a reel with instant anti-reverse,  on the hookset you do not want a reel that has that little bit of play.  Reels with the fast cast or little lever that lifts the bail for you can lead to many missed fish.  Most often when drifting baits down the stream or river.  Smoothness is important as well,  while 10 and 12 bearings in a reel sounds pretty darn good, 3 or 4 from a good manufacturer is plenty.  More bearings is a good thing, but the quality of the bearing is actually more important in the long run.  A good starting price for a quality reel (spinning) should be about $60.00.  For a casting reel, right around $80 for an Ambassadeur, or  $150 for a Shimano or Daiwa will put you into a good quality range.

Line capacity is important because of those long runs salmon are capable of.   Its a good thing to actually purchase the reel at the same time as the rod, to get a good balance between the two of them.  Often you can get a combo price as well,  a hundred dollars is a decent starting range, maybe a buck 20.  Remember if you are using a lighter rod, you have to match the line to it.   If you get snagged up on rocks or limbs with 20 lb line, and the rod is rated for only 12 or 14 lb test,  there is a good chance the rod will give (break) before the line does. 

Line capacity will range from 200 yards of 10 lb mono, to 200 yards of 20 lb monofilament line.  Starting sizes for your reel in a Shimano should be in the 4000 size,  Some Daiwa reels offer a 3500 with the ability to hold the right amount of line, the 4000 definitely will.  Cardinals from Abu Garcia, look at the 504 or the 304 models.  Penns are legendary for their drags and a 4300 might get the right amount of line on,  but the SS 4400 will definitely do it for you.

Next up:  Line options.