Green in the salt

[Jon Goin]

Hello all. My first post, how exciting. I'm a relatively new transplant to Seattle from Eureka, CA; and have officially been a steelhead junkie for years. The salt, however, is fairly new to me, at least for salmonids with a fly rod from shore. I've been a few times now and have had a bit of luck with resident coho and sea-run cutts. I have been using my 8 wt. steelhead rod and, while playing fish is still fun, the rod is obviously a little heavy duty. I've been thinking of using my trout rod (5 wt.) for the resident coho, SRCs, and the pinks that are on their way but I've noticed a few comments here saying that a minimum 6 wt. should be used to avoid playing fish too long and causing CandR related mortality. My 5 wt. is pretty stiff - will I really be playing fish way too long? I'll bust out the 8 wt. for the big coho but until then, what do more experienced folks think about use of the stiff 5 wt? I'd really like to avoid buying another rod being that I was just given a spey rod and am about to invest in reel, line, etc. to outfit it so I can learn the 2-hander for the monster rivers that are around here.

Second question: How important is having a clear line in the Sound?

Any info is much appreciated.

[Evan Burck]

after catching some coho on an 8wt, i'm fairly certain i wouldn't want to catch them, or pinks on a 5wt. a 5wt is ideal for cuts, but i'd say at least a 6wt for salmon.

[Dizane]

First question, your 5 wt. will get you by.

Second question, not very.

[Stonefish]

Jim,
I'd try the 5wt first. After a few fish change to to 8wt if you think you need more stick or just go with a heavier tippet on the 5wt. You can then play the fish quicker. I haven't found the silvers to be extremely leader shy.
As far as hooking mortality, I think you'll be just fine as your hooks will be barbless. If you like eating fish, it is hard to beat the taste of the silvers you'll catch off the beach.
Good luck,
Brian

[urbnfly]

Jim,

I think the type of rod and reel that you use as well as your fish fighting ability is more important than the actual rod weight. I used a 5wt with a really strong butt section this weekend and I was able to land coho in the same amout of time as my dad who was using a medium-heavy spinning rod. That 5wt has a much stronger butt section than most 6wts. I am also a true believer in large arbor reels. You can whip a fish really fast with a good large arbor.

As for lines in the saltwater--

I always fish clear tip lines, even on floating lines. It may not make a different to every fish, but I am sure that it makes a difference to a few. If you don't have a clear line you should be fine adding a poly leader.

Donte

[Les Johnson]

I wouldn't want to be tangling with the freshly-arrived coho that I've hooked the last couple of days with a 5-weight. The ones I had on gave me a very good tussle on a 10-foot 7-weight.
Good Fishing,
Les Johnson

[Clint F]

I use a 5 wt in the sound without a problem, it may take a little longer to land but it works. Also I use a black sinking line and a 9 foot leader that seam to work very well. I hope this helps.


Clint

[Salmon fisher]

You don't need a clear line for the sound, but my intermediate is clear becuase that was pretty much the only option. BTW, a slime line is a very useful line around here, I use mine for 70% of salt water fishing.

I say go for it with the five. I have the same thing (a five and an eight wt.). The only problem i could see is hooking a decent coho or chinook, which are around this time of year. Sunday I had a (large and hot) coho take me into my backing on my eight weight. I doubt I would have been able to land it with my 5 wt.

[Wayne]

I choose to use my 8 weight mostly for casting big heavy Clousers especially if there's wind.

[Stonefish]

One other way to look at this, is what is the difference between catching a large trout in freshwater and a silver in the salt? Guys fish 5 wts all the time for large trout and catching a 3 to 5 lb trout isn't that uncommon, is it?
I personally really don't see much of a difference when comparing a lake or stream to the salt in regards to wind and currents. Lakes have wind, rivers have current and the salt offers both, but is there a huge difference between them? Would break out your 8 wt out at Lenice or on the Yakima just because it is super windy? Casting large clousers is indeed difficult, so is casting large girdle bugs or bitch creeks nymphs in freashwater, yet guys do it all quite often with 5 wts.
Most of the silvers you are going to catch will be 3 to 6 lbs. Alot of those fish will also be hooked within 60 feet of shore, some right at your feet. Sure some larger fish will be hooked, but it isn't like they can't be landed. My largest beach fish was a 16 lb king a few years ago on a 6 wt. It put up a great fight but still didn't take that long to land with 10 lb tippet.
Just my opinion, but if you only have two rods, I'd start with the lighter one. It will really let your beach fish show their stuff. If after a few fish, you feel you are under armed, break out the big guns.
Most of all, enjoy yourself on the beach and catch some fish.
Good luck,
Brian

[Ron Crawford]

I would avoid the 5 weight for a bit of a different reason. Yes, you can land a salmon with it just fine if you have strong tippet and they are not leader shy. but .....

I would go up to a 6 or 7 because I have found that I have more success with Coho and pinks the further out I cast. If I want to cast a dumbell eye clouser more than 60 feet I need more rod than a 5 weight (plus my 5 weight is a medium slow action rod). I am not the worlds best caster and going up a rod weight or two sure helps me have more fun and spend less time undoing wind knots and more time fishing. So I would suggest a fast action 6 or a standard 7.

Check out ebay - you can get some great used rods for cheap.

[gt]

catching fish in the salt or trout in fresh water is a night and day comparison, it just does not equate!

can you use a 5wt? sure, you can use a wet noodle if you like. how much fun is though when the rod is bent through the corks and you have zero control of your fish? that along with what size flies you choose to use should be making your decision for you.

[Stonefish]

My point in reference to fresh versus salt was this. I personally don't think a 4 lb silver will cork a stiff 5 wt any more then a nice 4 lb rainbow or brown. A 4 lb bonefish, different story and I agree that is not a even comparision.
Jimsalad asked for opinions on which of his two rods to fish, a stiff 5wt or a 8wt. Again , just my opinion, but I'd fish the stiff 5wt. Lots of folks use different types of flies, lines and rods to fish the salt around here with great success. The process of finding out what works best for you is part of the fun.
Good luck,
Brian

[wolverine]

This time of year I'd fish the 8 for the ocean silvers and pinks. Not that a 5 won't work, its just that the beach gets crowded with fly & gear guys and they get cranky with people running up and down the beach chasing a fish.

[Go Fish]

I totally agree with Stonefish. I have used a 5, a 6, and a 7 weight in the salt. My go to rod is the 6 weight if there is a chance for Salmon, and I use the 5 weight for local cutties. I only use the 7 weight for Chums. It (my opinion) is more fun to test the limits of the equipment while not endangering the fish. David

[PT]

Bring 'em both. Figure out which one you prefer. Isn't your preference the one that counts?

[tyler]

i’d say that your 8 is the better choice for the beach. you don’t want to be limited when you have to make a long cast with a large (for a 5 weight), weighted fly when the wind is up. also, if the beach is crowded you’ll want to be able to turn and land the fish quickly so as not to lose your spot and/or displace or entagle other anglers. and don’t worry, the pinks and coho fresh from the salt will put a nice bend in the 8.

t

[Tony]

I personally would use the 8, sure at times it might be too much but not always, and consider, sure you could land a salmon on a 0 weight but it would be dead when you are done, so if there are times when you might want to release a fish unharmed with the ability to survive go with the 8 weight. I've seen all too many larger trout played to death at cady by guys with lighter rods, its not a question of can it be done but should it be done if you ask me.
tony

[Evan Burck]

One other way to look at this, is what is the difference between catching a large trout in freshwater and a silver in the salt? Guys fish 5 wts all the time for large trout and catching a 3 to 5 lb trout isn't that uncommon, is it?

The difference can be seen like this. It's like picking a fight with a 300lb guy who sits at home and plays videogames while eating doritos 24/7 vs picking a fight with a 300lb guy who spends 3hrs at the gym every day and follows it up with a healthy dose of whey protein. A salmon is a substantially more powerful fish than an equivalent weight 'bow.

[Stonefish]

"A salmon is a substantially more powerful fish than an equivalent weight 'bow."

I don't agree, but that is why they call them opinions.
Good Luck,
Brian

[Go Fish]

I have seen more backing on my Ross Gunnison 3 from Eastern Wa Bows than I have from Salmon in the Sound. David

[Richard]

The difference can be seen like this. It's like picking a fight with a 300lb guy who sits at home and plays videogames while eating doritos 24/7 vs picking a fight with a 300lb guy who spends 3hrs at the gym every day and follows it up with a healthy dose of whey protein. A salmon is a substantially more powerful fish than an equivalent weight 'bow.

I agree with Stonefish. Resident coho and cutts on an 8 wt.?!?! Way overkill.

I fly fish from the beaches quite a bit, and have it done it since about 1992 or so. Just caught a 3 pound or so coho (21+" measured) just yesterday, and it wasn't any different in fight than a comparably sized rainbow. I used a medium fast action 6 weight, and the fight was over in under 30 seconds. My fast action 5 weight SP+ would have been just fine.

The initial poster asked which of his existing two rods he should use for fishing from the beach. The best advice I've seen so far is to take both. The initial poster said that his 5 wt. is pretty stiff; sounds like almost a 6 weight, which is a great all-around beach stick. I bet that armed with the right line (say, a Rio Outbound, SA Streamer Express, or Airflo Extreme 40+ line), and if the fly fisherperson is a good caster, that 5 weight would be the perfect tool for beach fishing almost all year.

Nice coho are being caught from beaches right now, and coupled with an approriate reel, there should be no problem handling the typical 5 pound coho, even the infrequent larger fish, with the 5 weight. It's a perfect tool for searun cutts.

Now, with that said, make sure the rod is saltwater worthy. Some reel seats (i.e. silver) can have a tough time with saltwater.

I see the 8 weight needed only in very rare circumstances, in the Sound. Fishing rivers for salmon, that's a different gig; the 8 weight would be the more appropriate tool. But that wasn't the initial inquiry . . . :)

[Nate Newman]

If I were you I would use a heavier leader for salmon than cutts, and as long as you dont hook into anything too big you should be OK. you might also want to have some extra backing for salmon.:beer2:

[hendersonbaylocal]

Agreed. Crank down the drag and use heavier tippets. Fish in the salt aren't leader shy... I use 6/8/10 lb maxima exclusively.

[Nate Newman]

iagree I usually use a 7 pound leader and it works great for cutts and the occasional salmon
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tight lines:beer2: