Rods For kings!!!!!!!!!

I am new to salmon fishing. I went up last year and had many hook ups but limited success landing kings. I was using a sage 9ft 6wt, which works great with steelhead. I know that is much lighter that the suggested rod, but does anyone use a rod that is similiar in size. Just curious how you do if you use a 6wt or so? I got a 10ft 8wt for this year and hope to test it out soon.

ORIGINAL: tippy-toe

I use an 8wt, and I wouldn't fish anything smaller than that for salmon, ...also get a reel with a good drag system.

 
I agree with Tippy, I used a 7wt rod and reel and ended up destroying the gears in my reel.  Unfortunately I did not find this out until I went steelhead fishing and lost about 20 fish as a result of my reel locking up.

Yeah, thats why I had to go with an 8wt. I had plenty of fun but there was not enough power behind the 6wt. I will definitely be ready this year. I am going to try an orvis clearwater II with the battenkill barstock IV reel. It is my first orvis rod but I am impressed with their reels and my buddies rod that I have used a few times. Fishing the Salmon River is definitely different than the PA tribs. The chrome doesn't fight nowhere near as hard as a king.

Thats why I will only buy sage and orvis from now on. You can't beat the warranties. My first rod, I broke the first day out and then again a week after I got it back and then a month later. I have learned to be a little more careful over the years.

The first two times, I was fishing. The last time is bc I was two lazy to break my rod down and put it in the case. It was a cabelas rod. I don't think it was all that great of a rod but it was fine to learn on.

I hope you got to keep the rod as reward

Old Salt:  Care to share the make & model of that rod?  I don't much care for the fast action rods of today.  Perhaps because I grew up on slower action rods & am not an expert caster.

No didn't get the rod but had place to stay and always an opening (even if I sometimes had to share a room with the snoring batard during reak season). Coffee and doughnuts delivered on the river (of course I would willing give up some awfully good water to his clients while I dined ), and free boat rides when there were cancellations or just 1 client. 

Take a mix of rods.........I start with a 9wt, then switch to a 7 wt..........but I now own a GL3 8 wt, so that will get used also........REELS.....I love the FLY LOGIC FLP 567---used with 7 wt line and plenty of backing......this reel has landed plenty of salmon with no problems.......won't burn up on you and it is cheap......around 100 bucks......my dad has been using the same Fly Logic FLO 789 reel for 7 years or so and has never had a problem.....he fishes it on a 10 wt
 
I have also just bought the LOOP CLWC reels........5-8 and a 8-12.........super light weight.........great backing capacity.......and cool to look at.........drag is the standard loop drag dressed in a composite body.......I have used the OKUMA airframe 7/9 composite reel and have never had a problem.........my friend uses that reel as his main reel for kings..........not much backing capacity, about 100 yds 30 with fly line........but, if you can slide your feet fast enough you can keep up with a king.....you can never go wrong with a fly logic reel......they are a bit heavy--but solidly built reels........in owning about a dozen or so of them over the years, I have had only one problem and that was because the fly shop that I had put backing on the reel, put it on too tight and warped the spool........Fly Logic said they have never seen that before...........and their customer service is spot on.......
 
This season I will have a few new toys to play with, the above loops..........and I did get a great deal on a Winston BIIX 11 foot 7 wt switch rod......loading it with BEULAH elixer line.........that should be fun to fish....also looking into purchasing a BEULAH 10 foot 6 inch 9/10 switch rod............going to put a loop 8-12 CLWC reel on that baby..........also bought a used LAMIGLAS 9 foot 9wt and a used St. Croix 9 foot 9 wt--imperial....both should be nice on the water............
 
Past rods that have been used for salmon:  St. Croix 10 foot 6 inch 9 wt--insane rod, this thing could have landed a shark, St. Croix Legend Ultra 9 foot 9 wt, St. Croix Avid 9 foot 6 inch 7 wt
 
My first trip to the river I went with a bunch of sponge on hook guys...........after feeling ashamed for putting sponge on a hook.........I went to the truck and brought out my St. Croix Imperial 5 wt.........needless to say I didn't land one darn salmon!!!  hooked a few............never again.........6 wt is also way too light, IMO........7 wt can get the job done without problems--unless there is heavy flow..........8 wt will work almost anytime..........9 wt will almost always get the job done........

Hey sage, i landed a 26lber on an old orvis western, 9' six weight, way too much work, i fished one day and had to buy an eight weight, my arm and shoulder hurt too much after one day. I currently use a echo 12'4", it is a two handed hod, but works well with regular casts.  Great rod for the money too. It comes with two tip sections also, one for accuracy, and one for distance.  I also scott rods, they compete with any thing on the market.