Educate me about fishing

[762Armo]

I haven't fished in a long time. (I was a kid when I fished last)
I'd like to learn more about fishing Salmon.
Don't have any equipment, and would like to buy something used and cheap off craigslist or here. But like I said I don't know what I need.
How big of a pole, what kind of a reel, what strengh of fishing line do I need, what kind of bates are there...
If you guys know of any good info to read please pass it on.

Thanks,

[Button Nubbs]

Wow, loaded question. If I had to choose one set-up it would be a 10' 8-17lb rod with a good quality casting reel. Since were talking purely salmon fishing floats and eggs are hard to beat, along with spinners. Each of these techniques can be used with this set-up. Anything under 10' is hard to float fish with. The longer the rod the easier to mend your line.(Think flyfishing) as for line I prefer braid for most of my fishing except spinners and drift fishing. For salmon, I use no less than 12lb leader all the way up to 30lb depending on how I'm fishing. I recommend you start with float fishing as its simple, float goes down its either a fish or your fishing too deep. The more you get into it the more rods you will need. I have one set-up dedicated to each type of fishing I do, but I have accumulated a lot of stuff over the past 15 or so years.

[Antlershed]

Whar type of salmon fishing do you want to do? Bank fishing rivers (which ones), fishing the sound, etc?

[762Armo]

Wow, loaded question. If I had to choose one set-up it would be a 10' 8-17lb rod with a good quality casting reel. Since were talking purely salmon fishing floats and eggs are hard to beat, along with spinners. Each of these techniques can be used with this set-up. Anything under 10' is hard to float fish with. The longer the rod the easier to mend your line.(Think flyfishing) as for line I prefer braid for most of my fishing except spinners and drift fishing. For salmon, I use no less than 12lb leader all the way up to 30lb depending on how I'm fishing. I recommend you start with float fishing as its simple, float goes down its either a fish or your fishing too deep. The more you get into it the more rods you will need. I have one set-up dedicated to each type of fishing I do, but I have accumulated a lot of stuff over the past 15 or so years.

Thanks 

Whar type of salmon fishing do you want to do? Bank fishing rivers (which ones), fishing the sound, etc?

No preference on the type of salmon. I'll mostly just be fishing the rivers that are close to me around puget sound, and everyonce in a while hitting up columbia river.

[Thefisherman83]

I agree with most of what button nubbs said, but float fishing with a baitcast can be a challenge if you are not used to a casting rig.  You might want to start with a 9'6"-10ft spinning set up.  Keep a close eye on CL, lots of good deals to be had there.

[WSU]

I agree with most of what button nubbs said, but float fishing with a baitcast can be a challenge if you are not used to a casting rig.  You might want to start with a 9'6"-10ft spinning set up.  Keep a close eye on CL, lots of good deals to be had there.

I agree with this info.  A spinning setup is probably better for someone who is learning.  Also, decent spinning reels are a lot cheaper than decent baitcasters.

[Button Nubbs]

Typically I would agree with you guys as I use a spinning set-up a lot for steelhead.
 Not always but a lot of times salmon will like types of water not very conductive to lighter floats like dinks. I like to use the beaumac floats in 3/4 or 1 oz. With a heavy float like that even the greenest of newbies could cast, and do it effectively. Salmon are strong and spinning gear aint gonna cut it when that king heads for the *censored* after putting the hooks in him. Jmho.

[BIGINNER]

here your fishing education....  beer, pole, boat.   in that order   

[Boss .300 winmag]

here your fishing education....  beer, pole, boat.   in that order   

high mtn lake ,stream, river,reservoir. in that order   

[WSU]

Typically I would agree with you guys as I use a spinning set-up a lot for steelhead.
 Not always but a lot of times salmon will like types of water not very conductive to lighter floats like dinks. I like to use the beaumac floats in 3/4 or 1 oz. With a heavy float like that even the greenest of newbies could cast, and do it effectively. Salmon are strong and spinning gear aint gonna cut it when that king heads for the *censored* after putting the hooks in him. Jmho.

Agreed, but 95% of the time it will get you by.

[Thefisherman83]

Typically I would agree with you guys as I use a spinning set-up a lot for steelhead.
 Not always but a lot of times salmon will like types of water not very conductive to lighter floats like dinks. I like to use the beaumac floats in 3/4 or 1 oz. With a heavy float like that even the greenest of newbies could cast, and do it effectively. Salmon are strong and spinning gear aint gonna cut it when that king heads for the *censored* after putting the hooks in him. Jmho.

Very true, but like WSU said thats a very small percentage of the time to deal with the headach, plus it makes for a better story than table fare when those big kings tear you apart. 

[Button Nubbs]

Were just gonna have to agree to disagree. work is slow so I'm gonna argue with you guys :p

Casting reels are very easy to be able to use proficiently with a little practice. They are easier to freespool with which is a big part of float fishing. They will quickly become more of a dream than a nightmare.

A situation I have seen multiple times before played its self out again last tuesday. We were fishing a hole for kings with floats and eggs. Everyone was using the beaumac style heavy floats except for one guy that was using a dink. Everyone in the hole hooked multiple fish except for that one guy who was fishing the same depth, good bait, and the same water. No need for a spinning rod with a heavy float like that. 

Its hard to find a good heavy spinning rod that casts well imo. I'd rather put the wood to a fish on a casting rod than play them to exhaustion with a spinning rod. They will still tear you up with a casting setup! (No offense fisherman83)

90% of the kings I have hooked this year have been in the *censored* and they know where every piece of wood in the river is.

[WSU]

I've seen where you fish!  There is no place there that isn't in the *censored*.

[Button Nubbs]

[RadSav]

If you are looking to educate yourself on fishing books just don't cut it.  So much is about feel, reading water and knowing "when to" and "when not to".  I haven't found a book that can fully capture and express those actions.  I have nothing against books.  I have a lot of them - too many actually.  But I'd take a day on the water with a good reputable guide (with LOTS of references) any day, good fishing or not, over a book.  If river fishing is your thing I highly recommend booking a boat all to yourself and guide.  Be sure to tell him ahead of time your main goal is to learn how to fish salmon more than just catch fish.  Some guides don't like that so best to be up front and honest with them.  Then spend the whole day on the water asking questions and learning how to get it done.  Learning doesn't have to be a boring college course.  It can be fun too!