Trolling for Salmon

[Solid]

Hi everyone,

I have a 6wt rod/reel that I purchased this year. My boss and good friend like to hit Winni right when the ice is out for Salmon. I would like to go out there with them and use my fly rod. It is a 6wt rod/reel with floating line, will it work? Is there anything special that I have to do to use that setup with floating line? I also have a 8/9wt rod/reel that I am planning on using for Saltwater fishing that I have not purchased line for yet. I am still wondering if I should get a sink tip or intermediate line for that. Would that be better? I really have no clue what I am doing when it comes to that style of fishing, they usually use trolling rods with lead core. I have read a little and if I understand things you don't need lead core when the water is still cold. Anyway, I can get the flies at my local place, just want to know if I can even use that gear for trolling. Thanks. :D

[fessiewig]

Hi Solid,

Your 6wt rod w/floating line will be just fine for "ice out" fishing. The Salmon and Rainbows are up on top then. Get yourself some streamers and you'll be all set. You and your friends will want to fish Alton Bay from Sandy point in.

Good luck.

[Solid]

Ok, that's great news! So, part II of the question, I have a Maxim 9ft. 3x tapered leader, is that long enough? strong enough? Geez, I don't like being out of loop, I try to read up on all this but there is soo much information out there it gets very confusing. For example, this leader that I bought had no loop on the end to attach to my fly line, so I tied one in it. was that the right thing to do? The thick end of the leader was not that easy to work with, when I bought it, I assumed it would have the loop already tied into it. I guess that what they ment by "KNOTLESS". Well I really feel bad asking so many questions, so just try to bear with me for a while. :roll:

[sbeausol]

you can actually use straight mono if you want since you won't be casting. That way you can make it as long as you want....

[Tom Jutras]

I agree straight mono is fine. I like to fish my trolling streamers with a 12 ft section of mono. The first few weeks the fish are right on top but, if you are fishing 2 rods or you are with a friend you should try to fish a little below the surface and see what is working. I have fished a fast sinking line and trolled at a faster speed and that has produced fish. I guess the main thing to remember is CHANGE. If your not catching fish change your depth, or your speed. If you have faith in the fly you are using stick with it for a while but, if that doesn't produce go to another pattern. If you have drizzle and a little wind that chops the water a bit, call in sick and get on the water as fast as you can.

May you be into the backing soon, Tom

[fessiewig]

All of this is great advice, however, for the sake of your having a good time without worrying about all the possible options, get yourself some tippet material in 3X, a couple of Greyghost streamers and go have fun. All the rest of the stuff will come over the years. You don't have to know everything the day you go! And remember, Landlocked Salmon are strange fish. People who have been fishing for them for years and know all the tricks will have days when nothing happens, and folks like you who are just getting started will go out and knock them dead. It's all about having fun and enjoying the experience. Catching fish is just part of it to my way of thinking. To this day I can remember the first spring fishing trip I went on where it was fly fishing. I didn't catch a thing and had a wonderful time.

[MJ]

Solid, I loved your questions re: trolling setup; the answers you got will help me too. I'd like to comment on something however (not that I know much to be giving any advice.) You spoke about your 9ft 3x tapered leader that did not have a loop on the butt end, you mentioned that you thought that was why it was called a 'knotless' leader. I hope I will be corrected if I am mistaken, but I believe your leader is designated knotless because it is constructed from one continuous tapered piece of mono. From what I have been reading, some folk make their own leaders by tying together progressively thinner lengths of mono to produce, in effect, a tapered leader. Thusly, one then has a 'Knotted' leader. I understand there are, like with most things, advantages and disadvantages to knotted leaders...apart for the shear pleasure of just making one's own gear. Again, only from what I have read (sadly, my experience, if placed beside a size 22 Prince Nymph, would be very, very hard to see), the purpose of the tapered leader is to provide a more "delicate" presentation of the fly, a less disturbing presentation, while also providing greater control of the leader during the cast. So, it would appear that if one is trolling a line, then a tapered leader is not required since the presentation is not one that is trying to mimic an insect alighting on the water's surface. Anywayyyyyyyyyyy...that's my take on it. Again, I do hope I will be corrected if I am off base.

[Solid]

Totally understand what you mean, thanks for clearing that up. You know, now that I think of it, someone told me about the way it helps to turn over a fly. All in all, I did seem very difficult to tie a loop knot in the thick end of that line. The only reason I did that was because there is a loop installed on the end of my fly line, so I figured I have to attach my leader that way? Other option would be to cut off the loop on my fly line and try to tie a nail knot...and I don't think that I will do that :D I plan on making my own straight mono leader for trolling, maybe use some floro...thanks again.

[sbeausol]

stick with the loop to loop connection between your fly line and leader -- the loop I use is the perfection loop. It is pretty easy to tie

[HarryM]

Solid,

If I were you, I'd leave the 6wt at home and take the 8wt set up for trolling in the first few weeks afer ice out when the salmon are on top. On your reel put a very fast sinking line (I use Cortland 333 L-8-S which is a type VI sink rate). The 8wt line will sink better than any 6wt line will. You can use a leader made of regular monofiliment line about 15-20 feet long, and troll streamer flies like Ghosts, Barnes Specials, 9-3's, and Joe's Smelts to name a few. You will catch fish. Have fun.