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Best Salmon Trolling Rod: Reviews Downrigger, Steelhead Options

Trolling rods differ in their form and materials, depending primarily on how they are used. A deep-trolling rod designed for big salmon and trout in the Baltic Sea has few similarities to a trolling rod for the yellowfin tuna of Hawaii.

The main characteristics of a trolling rod are its length, action, power curve, and the structure and size of its handle, reel seat, and rod rings or rollers. The rod’s action shows how it is designed where the blank flexes and whether it has fast action, medium action, or slow action.

If you have been fishing for years, you can easily say that Downrigging rods are different from any other fishing rods. For salmon fishing with trolling, the best salmon trolling rod will have the right power and resilience for tolerating all the pulls of both downriggers and superior salmon fishes.

Components to Look for Choosing the Right Salmon Trolling Rod

A trolling rod consists of the blank, a reel seat, handle and foregrip, ferrules, and guides. The developments in the material are very fast, with graphite and mixed materials gaining ground almost everywhere.

Built Material

The blanks for most contemporary trolling rods are made of composite materials such as graphite and fiberglass or solely of graphite or tubular fiberglass. In general, graphite rods are more sought-after in the light classes, especially among freshwater fishers.

Carbon fiber feels stiffer than fiberglass rods without loading but tends to be much more sensitive. A good compromise has been found in the composite rod, which combines fiberglass durability with the low weight and sensitivity of carbon fiber.

The Handle

Conventional big-game rods are usually detachable at the reel seat, whose main job is to hold the reel steady in an unstable environment. Big-game rods typically have two locking rings that fasten the reel. Reel seats are made of graphite, aluminum, chromed brass, or stainless steel. In a classic glass or graphite rod, this is common.

The handle may consist of metal, wood, fiberglass, graphite, or PVC. A wooden handle can be beautiful, but it requires a lot more maintenance than metal and space-age materials do. Exclusive rods tend to use aluminum, which is lightest but still solid and durable.

Some items in the heavier classes have a curved handle, making it easier to fight from a chair. The rod can be angled more horizontally with better lever action.

Gimbal Nock

To a growing extent, there is a gimbal nock in the rod’s end, even if it is a light one. But you should check that its slot is deep enough, not just decorative. The slot has to make the rod stand more steadily in a holder on the railing and keep it from turning around during the fight when it is placed in a rod belt or a gimbal cup on a fighting chair.

The butt should also be made of extra-durable material – metal or graphite – since it is constantly subjected to wear and impact. When a pole is used without a rod belt, the butt should be covered with a rubber cap to protect your clothes and your body.

Rod guides

For many sport fishermen, the guides are a rod’s hallmark of nobility. It is good advice, then, not to compromise when choosing them.

The task of the rod guides is to hold the line away from the blank and distribute the pressure over the whole tackle without putting wear on the line. The friction between the line and a guide generates heat, so it is best for big-game fishing to use rollers that rotate as the line runs over them.

This, of course, requires them to be kept free from salt deposits and other obstacles so that they spin nicely. On most trolling rods, a tip guide with a roller is a definite advantage.

Reviews of the Best Salmon Trolling Rod

We have already talked about trolling motors that are going to be the bests for salmons and downrigging. Here we will be looking at some of the best trolling rods that can match the trolling reels we mentioned there.

You have to keep in mind that not all expensive products are going to be the best reels. You can still get an outstanding performance out of inexpensive and budget trolling rods.

OKUMA GSC-C-1062XH-CG

OKUMA GSC-C is considered here first because of having the flexibility that not every rod can have. The primary material on the building is carbon fiber. We all know that carbon fiber will give you the best rods for trolling with much flexibility.

As the primary material is carbon fiber, this tackle can handle extreme flex. If you have a lead ball setup with up to 3lbs of weight, this rod can handle the flex very easily. You can find touches of carbon fiber on every part of this rod.

The handle is wrapped with carbon fiber which is excellent if you are mounting this on your boat. Though this will not be great for hilding on your hand, you can still get an excellent performance by holding the trigger and pulling the whole thing out of the water very quickly.

The overall weight is super light, and this is going to be an excellent fishing rod for the best portability. The long 10’6″ is around the perfect width for fishing salmons and downrigging.

Pros

• Super lightweight construction consisting of carbon fiber materials
• It has excellent grips because of the trigger on the handle
• Great for long bends and high-pressure pulls

Cons

• The handle is not super comfortable to hold on hand

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KastKing Krome Salmon/Steelhead Fishing Rods

Kastking Krome Salmon fishing rod is designed and constructed with the best blanks available in the market. The company has used IM8 carbon blank to reinforce this rod, which is not standard rods in this price range. This will be super flexible, and in the performance range, this will outperform most of the rods in this segment.

Another good part of this fishing rod is the line guides. They have used high-quality line guides with a hipper design. Because of the line guide design, you can call these the best items of all. Every line guide on this has a Spigot Ferrule design which is excellent for durability and strength. This is one of the versatile poles out there.

The soft tip is going to help you both casting and rigging with your downrigger setup. While you are traveling with the whole setup, you can safely hold the hook on the Saf-T Hook Keeper, a trademark of this company.

The handle has been made of smooth carbon fiber. You can attach this to any rod holder, and the carbon fiber will never be damaged that easily.

Pros

• High quality and nicely designed line guides for a smooth experience
• Perfect for salmon trolling
• A versatile rod for different fishing techniques
• Comes in different rod action and rod weight for versatile anglers

Cons

• This rod is going to be expensive

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EatMyTackle All Roller Guide Boat Rod

If you want to go super complex and challenging, the EatMyTackle roller guide is the best salmon trolling rod you can find in the market. The best part of this fishing rod is the line guides.

The line guides are not traditional style. The line guides here are made of metal, and there are rollers on the line guides. Lines roll off through these rollers. You can not only use braided lines with this, and you can use metal lines with this as well. The handle is super convenient and great for fighting monstrous fishes. To hold this on your rod holder, this has carbon fiber on the bottom of the handle, and the upper has an EVA grip which is great for holding. The rod height ranges up to 5’6″, which is excellent for casting too short distances and releasing long lines.

The capacity of this fishing rod is beyond what you can imagine. There is no fish that you can not catch with this one. This can pull out fishes that are more than a hundred lbs.

Pros

• The capacity of this rod is phenomenal, which is incredibly high
• A great all-rounder fishing rod for deep casting and big fishes
• Can cope with different rod holder
• The rollers in this reel are designed to hold incredibly durable fishing lines

Cons

• This rod is heavy and not great for lightweight traveling

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Okuma Classic Pro GLT & Rods

Okuma Classic Pro GLT is the best salmon steelhead spinning rods in a very affordable price range. The overall built quality is super-premium, and you can trust the stability and the flexibility.

Though this is made for casting further, you can still use this on downrigging. You can pull out fishes that are around 20 lbs. The excellent and even action is excellent for downrigging.

You should get this and pair this up with an inexpensive trolling reel, and you have a dual setup which is great as a second trolling rod and reel setup. You can even remove the rod holder from the central rod, which is perfect for holding and mounting on the pole holder of your fishing boat.

These line guides are made of stainless steel, which will serve you for a very long time. Because of having the double foot guides, you will be getting a stable performance from this rod. Though this comes in a very inexpensive price range, you are still getting a lifetime warranty on this rod.

Pros

• The butt detaches from the main rod, which is convenient for versatile fishing
• It comes at a very inexpensive price range which is great for beginners
• Perfect kind of rod for salmon fishermen
• Works great with different line weight
• Even action spreads all over the rod for improved casting

Cons

• This rod does not have a great capacity which can be a turnoff for big hunters

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Lamiglas Classic Glass

Lamiglas has its in-house carbon fiber manufacturing and design that gives it a more versatile vibe to the anglers. This is a multipurpose rod that you can use both on casting or downrigging. This makes the best salmon rod setup that you can take anywhere you want to take.

You can pair this up with the best trolling reel, and you have got the best salmon trolling rod.

Those handles are super fun and suitable for handheld fishing. It is made of traditional cork that is super lightweight and does this, and it becomes easy to swivel the rod at any angle, and fighting bigger fishes becomes a lot easier.

If you are going super official, you can use this for rigging and go under 50 feet without any worries of breaking or damaging your rod in the long term. It has been recommended that you can use any kind of fishing line with this, and this pole will hold up very well.

This is true that you can use braided lines, and the overall construction is going to hold up pretty well.

This fishing rod comes with a one-year warranty as well to cover you up on breakage and damages.

Pros

• A great lightweight tackle for handheld usages
• Super strong and nicely designed line guides for a better fishing experience
• It comes with a one year warranty
• This kind of pole comes with different comfort options

Cons

• Using this with a downrigging setup might hamper the longevity of the rod

What to Look for in the Salmon Trolling Rods

Salmon trolling rod for a downrigger setup is not that tough to choose from a bunch. You can easily choose the roughest and the toughest one, which will be the best downrigger rod for salmon. But many things matter for versatile fishing.

You will not only use a fishing rod for downrigging. You can also use a trolling rod and reel setup for different fishing techniques.

We have an information list that will help you choose the right reel for downrigging salmon and steelheads.

Robust carbon fiber handle

The handle is the only part of your fishing rod that matters the most when using the rod for a downrigger setup. While you send your downrigger weight deep underwater, you have to make sure that your rod is on a strong rod holder. In this case, a carbon fiber handle will not be damaged very easily.

A downrigger weight can go up to 5 to 10 lbs. Because of this incredible pull, a cork or an EVA grip handle can be damaged. After your deployment, when you get a fish on your line, you have to take the rod in your hand, and then you have to make sure that you are still able to use the carbon fiber handle to pull the line.

While you are searching for the best rod for salmon fishing, you can still get a hybrid handle with carbon fiber on the bottom part and an EVA grip on the top part of the handle.

High capacity rod is a must

It is recommended that you get a high-capacity rod if you are using a downrigger setup. Generally, a downrigger can go below a hundred feet. In addition to the weight of the fish, you have to pull the line and snap it out of the clip.

The capacity of the rod will not matter much if you are not on a downrigger setup. If you are casting and casually finding salmons, you should still get the best fly rod for steelhead with a good capacity of around 20 lbs.

Roller Guides

Roller guides are not preferable, though, when the temperature falls below freezing since they get plugged up with ice and become more troublesome than helpful. Knots can also jam a roller. So always check that sizeable knots, such as a Bimini twist, can pass through the rod’s roller and ring guides.

Other high-quality guides to choose among are made of silicon carbide, hardly, and aluminum oxide. Stainless steel guides are still standard on some saltwater rods. As for chromed guides, a line will eventually eat into them because of the salt on them.

Tungsten carbide guides, commonly called “Carboloy” guides, answer those who use a wireline. These guides, however, can damage ordinary lines, so a wireline rod should be used with discretion. As a wireline is not elastic, the rod should be of the slow-action type.

Occasions arise when the trolling fisherman wants to have a rod of 10-15 feet (3-4.5 m) in the boat, for example, when fishing with very light lines. A so-called “noodle rod” with rotatable guides will dampen and compensate for the line’s thickness, as well as the fish’s leaps and rushes.

Similarly, when harling is done from a small boat in a river, it may be desirable to reach out far with the gear – although not, in this case, with highly light lines or light rods.

Different Types of Line Guides

If you have gone through or recommend the best fishing pole for salmon, you can be assured that the line guide will differ from model to model, and all the models are there to serve their purposes.

If you are going to use a metal fishing line, you should probably choose the EatMyTackle rod with a roller-style line guide. These are made for extreme situations. This was not going to decay that quickly, and the rod can still pull out extreme fishes line 50 lbs.

If you want to go moderate, you should also look for line guides made and secured with stainless steel. Stainless steel will not decay off that easily and still give you a smooth glide.

Rod Flexes and Resistance

In the last case, the rod flexes throughout its range and dampens the fish’s movements evenly, whereas tip action means that the rod’s upper third is a limb and flexes quickly.

The power curve indicates the rod’s resistance to deflection, Here the usual division is between light, medium and heavy with a heavy rod; it is relatively hard to tell how much pressure you are putting on the fish. This factor is most important when you fight fish with soft mouths.

Compatibility with Downrigger Setup

It is only a checkpoint for the people who already own a downrigger system installed on their system. Not all the salmon trolling rods are able to perform great with a downrigger. The rod handle has to be super tough. The bend and flex on the rod have to be smooth and even.

How long the rod is?

The length of the rod really depends on how the rod’s action and flexibility are. The general rule of a fishing rod is that the rod should be at least 8’6″. The length can go high up to 10 feet.

Types of Trolling Rod for Salmon Fishing

There are mainly two types:

• Downrigger rods
• Stand up rod

Downrigger Rods for Trolling

A downrigger rod’s construction makes it far superior to a conventional rod if it is used in combination with a downrigger. The deeper one fishes, the more obvious this becomes.

Built and Design

The chief characteristic of a downrigger rod is the J-shaped action curve, which the rod acquires if it stands up tensed in a rod-holder. The rod’s speedy tip action helps to hook the fish better while minimizing the line’s chance of slipping in the line release. Provided, of course, that the rod is long enough and the downrigger is suitably placed on board.

Length of Downrigger Rods

Downrigger rods come in height between 7 and 10 ft (2.13.0 m). Most are 8-9 ft (2.4-2.7) long and divided into two sections. There are models for both multiplier reels and spinning reels, best spincast saltwater reels and Poles can also have different power curves.

Guides for Downrigger Trolling

Another striking thing about downrigger poles is their many guides, generally from nine to twelve on an 8.5-ft (2.6-m) rod. The guides are closest together at the tip since they have to lead the line to not lie vibrating against the blank while fishing. This could rapidly ruin even the best bass line or salmon line, resulting in lost lures and fish.

Handles and Reel Seat

The handle should be so long that the rod stands steady in the holder, even on rough seas. A length of 12-14 inches (3035 cm) will keep the reel and its seat clear of the holder.

The foregrip should be at least 5 in (12 cm) long. Both cork and synthetic materials give a good grip, but cork wears down much faster in a rod holder.

The reel seat is another vulnerable part, so the reel seat and its locking ring should be of high quality and keep the reel firmly in place.

Material Quality

The boat’s speed, the resistance from the line release when the fish pulls outline, and the rod tip’s fast response – all these tend to hook the fish well from the start.

A sweeping upward movement when the rod is lifted out of the holder is usually all you need when fishing for salmon. Hard-jawed fish such as pike and walleye demand a stronger counterstrike to get the hook caught.

In recent years, specially designed rods have been introduced for fishing with diving planes. They usually are 9-11 ft (2.7-3.3 m) long and have a heavy action to be able to pull the plane through the water, 30-50 ft (10-15 m) from the kayak. On these rods, too, the guides sit densely to control the line

Standup Rods for Trolling

Conventional salmon trolling rods are generally around 7 ft (2.1 m) long, have 5-7 guides including the tip roller, are detachable at the handle, and come with a gimbal button at the end.

The power curve of a classic trolling rod is distributed somewhat similarly regardless of its class – light, medium or heavy. A weak rod gives sufficient resistance pressure because of its often evenly distributed action and fair distance.

Strength and Built Quality

In contrast to traditional trolling rods, a standup rod is primarily built for fighting the fish from a standing position; in European sea fishing, this is the most familiar fighting position on board.

With its action and short length, a standup rod is not as ideal for trolling in a rod holder as the traditional big-game rod, but it is definitely superior for duels along the railing.

Length of a Standup Rod

The usual length of a standup rod is 5-6 ft (1.5-1.8 m). It is not divisible, and the handle is often nearly as long as the blank. Its reel seat sits low, so the reel is easy to balance near your body.

Handles and Rod Belt

The handle’s long upper part also enables you to grip it near the center of balance when pulling against the fish. If you play the fish with short fist pumps, the rod’s construction displays all its advantages.

To get the most out of these, a fisherman typically uses a very low-hanging rod belt with a gimbal cup, which makes it possible to fight with the hips and legs and the arms. A kidney harness can supplement the equipment in the heavier line classes.

Line Classes for Trolling

Standup rods often range over several line classes. For instance, there are rods marked 6-10 kg (12-20 lbs), 15-37 kg (30-80 lbs) and 24-60 kg (50-130 lbs).

The short and frequently tapered blank may not inspire much confidence by comparison with traditional big-game fishing rods, but its appearance is deceptive. These poles have a spine that, if properly handled, can lift almost anything up to the surface.

The standup rod’s emergence has enabled contemporary sportsmen worldwide to catch much more fish with three-figure kilo weights from small trolling kayaks than was possible in the past.

What makes a good downrigger rod?

It would help if you had a trolling reel with good quality and a great feature because it has to stress and pressure. Some quality and feature checks make a downrigger rod the best.

High capacity

The capacity of a rod makes many differences. A downrigging reel can have a capacity that starts from 10 lbs, and that can go high up to 150 lbs. Pulling a significant 50 lbs of fish out of the ocean will need a lot of power and stability. The capacity comes in handy by providing the power you need.

Evenly spread rod action

Rod action actually characterizes the whole fishing rod. When you send your lure with the downrigger weight, it pulls your rod at its maximum strength. Here an evenly spread rod action will provide the flex to prevent breakage.

What is the best trolling speed for salmon?

The trolling speed changes the way the lure acts and moves under the deepwater. Generally you the lure speed can be around 1.5 to 3.5 mph.

This speed can be changed according to the setup you have. If you are using dodgers, the average speed should be below 2.5 mph. If the speed exceeds 2.5, the dodger will start spinning, and the motion of the lure will change.

If you are using flashers, you have to go a little bit faster. Unlike dodgers, these have a consistent swimming action that does not need to maintain speed while casting and boating around. You can ramp up the speed from 2 to 3.5 mph, and you are good to go.

Tips for Downrigging Fishing for Salmon

Downrigger fishermen are the masters of deep water, shallow water, and everything in between. Imagine what fishing in the Great Lakes and other large bodies of water would be like without downriggers. Now picture yourself fishing deep water species such as lake trout minus the depth control we take for granted when fishing downriggers.

Why Downrigger Fishing?

In many fishing situations and for many species, downriggers are the only logical solution to catching fish. Most often thought of as deepwater fishing tools, riggers are ideal for positioning lures close to the surface.

This is especially true when fishing the Great Lakes for early and late season steelhead, brown trout, and coho salmon or when working over large schools of stripers in southern impoundments. At certain times of the year, these species are often located within 30 feet of the surface, and downriggers are one of the most effective ways with the perfect striper combo or salmon conbo setup to catch them.

Downriggers are also capable of presenting a wide variety of lures with absolute accuracy. Precise lure placement is critical when fishing thermoclines or temperature breaks for summer salmon species or trout. These are also the ticket when necessary to skim lures along the bottom for lake trout or structure-loving walleye.

These are just a few species and angling situations downrigger fishermen commonly encounter, but the list doesn’t stop here. Northern pike, musky, and even bass are just as vulnerable to the style of depth control fishing only downriggers can provide.

What’s even better is that anyone can master the use of downriggers and expand their fishing horizons. Getting started requires a modest amount of equipment, a little know-how, and the willingness to put both to work catching fish.

Manual or Electronic?

Do I need expensive electric riggers? One of the most frequently asked questions among anglers shopping for downriggers, the answer may surprise you. When selecting downriggers, most anglers are best served with quality manual-operated units.

Manual Downrigger

A set of two manual downriggers is a great place to start the process of learning how to fish downriggers. Most of the time, downriggers are used to catch fish within 60 feet of the surface. Manual units such as Cannon 1901200 Mini-Troll Manual, Cannon 1901020, and Cannon Uni-Troll Manual Downriggers meet the needs of trollers after a wide variety of species.

Using a proper salmon rod and reel setup, these items can get the most out of your trolling motor, giving you an excellent fishing experience.

Manuals make the most sense on small boats or for fishermen who only expect to use downriggers occasionally. Dependable, functional, and affordable, an excellent manual downrigger should include a slip clutch design, digital counter, rod holder(s), swivel arm, mounting hardware, and approximately 200 feet of cable. Cannon brand manual riggers start at around $200.00 and range up to $450.00 each.

The oldest commercially built downriggers in America, the Cannon & Rivera brand has survived the test of time. A simple and sturdy design is what separates the Riviera from other brands. The large polycarbonate reel is the trademark of Riviera Downriggers. Each turn of the handle picks up two feet of cable, making the process of setting lines twice as fast as competitive models.

Riviera downriggers are also built to last for decades. Many of the riggers sold over 25 years ago are still in service. The Riviera plant in Port Austin can also upgrade older model downriggers with the new super tough polycarbonate reels and aluminum arms. You can even convert a manual unit into an electric one for a little more than the cost of the motor.

Electronic Downriggers

Electric downriggers enjoy a strong niche market. Any time fishing success depends on running the maximum number of lines, and electric riggers are the most efficient tool for the job.

Boats rigged for Great Lakes trolling are good examples of situations where electric riggers shine best. Great Lakes boats typically incorporate five electric downriggers to maximize lure coverage.

The trigger is positioned to fish off both the port and starboard sides, two riggers are mounted near the corners and are positioned to fish straight out the back, plus a fifth rigger gets mounted in the middle of the transom. With so many downriggers in service, electrics are the only logical choice.

How to Use Electronic Downriggers for Salmon?

A boat equipped with five electric downriggers can easily handle up to 10 different lines, plus another 10 sliders for a total of 20 lures in the water at once! This bread-and-butter angling strategy is one of the reasons downrigger fishing is so effective. What other fishing technique is capable of running so many lines and lures with absolutely precise depth placement?

Use it with the best accessories

Downriggers are only as effective as their weakest link. That’s why a quality downrigger deserves to be equipped with the best possible accessories. You need to use the best trolling rods and reels for a downrigger set up to have the best fishing performances.

Weight it right

Each rigger must be equipped with a downrigger weight for each rigger, plus at least one spare. A wide variety of shapes and size weights are available. A round ball with a small fin on the back is hard to beat for most sport fishing situations.

For salmon and deepwater trout fishing, a 10-pound ball is ideal for trolling speeds ranging from 2 – 8 MPH; Walleye fishermen who fish less than 50 or 60 feet below the surface can get by nicely with eight- or 10-pound balls.

There’s also a place for smaller four- or six-pound weights. Lighter weights are handy when slow trolling for early and late season walleye or when a school of young kings or pink salmon is located. The lighter weights make it easier to detect strikes from these smaller fish.

Use termination kit

Every boat should also carry a spare downrigger weight and cable termination kit. Sooner or later, the weight is going to get caught on the bottom and lost. If you keep a few simple tools, a spare termination kit, and an extra weight on board, getting back into the action only takes a few minutes.

Quality downrigger releases are another critical accessory. An area where sportsmen commonly try to cut corners and save a few bucks, using rubber bands or alligator clip style releases is one of the leading reasons fish are often hooked and lost with downriggers. Anyone who uses these poorly designed downrigger accessories is fooling themselves and losing fish needlessly.

Off Shore Trolling Tackles for Salmon

The fishing rod is the industry leader in pinch pad style downrigger releases. Each release o these tackle represents hundreds of hours of on-the-water testing and product development. Using the proper anchor lock trolling motors or other trolling motors, you will need a special design in your tackles.

Designed to hold the line firmly yet gently, when a fish strikes, the pinch pad design provides enough tension to ensure the fish is hooked solidly before releasing. It may sound obvious, but a line release must also be gentle on the fishing line. A lot of line releases out there can weaken the line seriously and lead to unnecessary break-offs

The trolling rod release has become the standard pinch pad style release among salmon, trout, and steelhead fishermen.

Downrigger Tackles for Salmon

There are two types of tackles,

Walleye, brown trout, and salmon anglers will find the tension release perfect for these sometimes small and often light hitting fish. The heavy tension release is designed to troll cowbells, dodgers, or powerful fish such as trophy salmon, musky, and saltwater species.

Line stackers are another invaluable accessory for downrigger fishing. Stackers allow two lines to be fished using a single downrigger. The second line is normally run five to 20 feet above the mainline to increase lure coverage.

Off Shore Tackle offers two stackers, including the light tension for walleye fishing and the OR-2 medium tension for salmon, trout, steelhead, and other larger species. When using these stackers, be sure to secure the short arm release to the downrigger cable and the long arm release to the fishing line.

A stacker stripper/weight retriever automatically clears stackers from the downrigger cable when the ball is raised. This product also makes it easier to reach downrigger weights when resetting lines. The Off Shore Tackle OR-6 stacker stripper will work on any brand downrigger.

Downrigger Fishing Tips for Salmon

Here are a few tips you can follow for better fishing experiences using the salmon rods with downriggers better.

V Rigging Pattern

When fishing with several downriggers, a “V” rigging pattern works well. Make the center downrigger the deepest line, riggers mounted at the corners of the boat a little shallower, and out-down riggers a little shallower yet. Rigging in this manner puts lines fishing close to the surface, a little to the side, and away from boat noise.

Short Trolling Leads

Also, make trolling leads short on the deepest lines and longer on lures running closer to the surface. When fishing light flutter spoons, it’s best to set the spoon 10-20 feet behind the cannonball. Keeping these baits tight to the downrigger weight increases the wobbling and flashing action.

Heavier Casting

Heavier casting style spoons can be run effectively on longer trolling leads. Crankbaits and spinners can also be set further back without disturbing lure action.

Walleye anglers often run crankbaits 50-100 feet behind the downrigger weight. Using these longer leads allows the bait to dive below the downrigger weight and undisturbed fish water.

Downrigger fishing is an excellent way to cover all water depths and target a wide variety of species—the focus switches from trolling in large open bodies of water to trolling in current. Few anglers have discovered how effective trolling in rivers can be. Bass, walleye, sauger, pike, and musky are all likely targets for the river troller.

Conclusion

The only way to find the best spy rod for steelhead or the best spinning rod is to make sure the compulsory features are available there or not. Good carbon fiber in the construction of the rod will be an advantage.

The handles have to be great for mounting and also using on hand. The bigger fishes you are targetting and the bigger lure you are deploying, the higher the rod capacity.

Take suggestions from your local anglers and know what they are using on catching salmons. Share your experiences with them. You are going to get good at catches easily.