Spare Rod and Reel Combo

Well it's time to start thinking about those river monsters up north and once again I wanted to pick your brains. I'm looking for a nice spinning combo to have for my backup and to let my father use if I can get him up there this year. I see cabelas was having a reel sale so I thought I'd ask your advice. Esp. since you fellas have steered me in the right direction many times before. I would like to keep it at a reasonable price if possible.
 
Thanks for the help team.
 
CP

Anyone know about the Pflueger supreme XT's? I found one in cabelas. model 9040. It holds 250 yards of 10' test. Is that 2 big? They are sold out of the smaller one. Found this while looking at the presidentials. Thanks 3FAN.
 
CP

Thats what I was wondering dimebrite. I didn't want to go overkill,but I also was thinking about the new line diameters. Afew breakoffs could take that down in a hurry thoough. WHat would you string it with? 10 or 12? I was thinking the heavier then run a lighter leader of 10 or 8 pound test. or do you think I need heavier. I landed 2 kings on 8 pound tippet last year with my flyrod, but I had a little room on that day and didn't really have to put the brakes on them. lol I guess its a fine line between right and wrong.
 
Thanks for your input.
 
CP

Just got back from Gander mountain. They had the exact reel I was looking at for a cheeper price. They beat cabelas by 20 bucks. The reel was marked at 149 on sale for 99 in cabelas. At Gander it was 129 marked down to 79. Only catch is I have to order it online, but they don't charge shipping and handling. I lloked at a sweet st croix 9' noodle rod for 100 bucks. But they had a shimano for 79. The shimano had alot more wiggle to it than the st. Croix. Anyone heard bad things about shimano rods?
 
CP

I second the sage rods, have two sage 5 weights, with reel have 1100 in to one and 500 in the other. For salmon I personally try to not spend huge amounts of money on rods, they can snap the best rod money can buy like a tooth pick. Cant comment on a shimano rod myself, have a low end st croix 8 weight 9' imperial I fish salmon early with, great rod for under 2 bones. once again, cant go wrong with those fenwick rods, I have 9 myself, and if they break from proper use during fishing they replace for free, you pay shipping, last one I sent back cost 11$, and it broke from a buddy grabbing up to high on the rod while fighting a fish, but like dime said if it feels good to you thats all that matters.

i have a loomis 14 ft. 6-10 line class noodle/float rod. it has some good backbone, but i know i could fish 2 lb. if i wanted to. i would be a little scared of jumping to 10 for salmon with it. i'm gonna try it this year.then i have a st. croix 12 ft. 2-6 and also an old school excelon 2 lb. line class which is like a whip. i have a lot of fun with that. i landed a 1o lb. brown with it in oswego two years ago. lot's of fun. i'd say a true spinning/salmon rod should be a 10-15 lb. line class, maybe 10'6'' or bigger. remember the longer the rod, the looser the tip will be. i know some guys use 15-18 lb line class. it's all a matter of preference. i use a 9 weight fly rod for salmon with 10 lb. test. have used as light as a 5 weight. i don't recomend it though. even a 7 weight is pushing it. good luck

CP, you want to float sometime when you come up let me know, It looks like there is gonna be plenty of water this year and I anticipate a nice early run, before the mass of snaggers show and ruin the fishing.

wholy crap sorry about the spell ck hope you get the jest

Ordered the reel yesterday and will be making a trpi to cabelas in 2 weeks. If I don't find a rod that I like there I will buy one when I get up to pulaski or stop at Gander on the way up. Now if I can find a place that sells cortland camo line I'll be set.
 
CP