Choosing the right salmon trolling rod can be a bit of a mystery for new and experienced fishermen alike. There are so many option, lengths and action types. Worse still many buying guides online are not geared to the style of salmon fishing that has developed over generations here on Vancouver Island. Nowhere else do they use the same style rods and reels or fish the way we do. We troll our deep cold waters with our own unique type of gear. We use what was once commonly called a mooching rod, on our Scotty downriggers. These are most often 10' 6" medium heavy, action slow action type rods. The terms trolling rod, downrigger rod or mooching rod all refer to the same type of rod, and can be used interchangeably. Here are some of the top choices currently available for salmon fishermen looking for a new rod.
R3EF 10'6" Downrigger Rod
The R3EF (pronounced reef) are great entry level salmon trolling rods. Made by Salty Outdoors based in Victoria, they bring a good level of quality for a reasonable price. Available in 10'6", and 9' they combine a nice action with a solid backbone making for a classic salmon trolling rod feel. They don't have options in rod actions, but instead just produce the most popular medium heavy style action. This takes the guesswork out of choosing the right rod. If you are a new fisherman and just want a rod that works you should check out a reef.
Shimano Compre BC 10'6" Mooching Rod
The Compre is the successor to the popular Clarus trolling rod. This is a true 'sportsman' rod. It has a very light feeling action that is best for fishermen that enjoy playing their fish on light gear. However, with Shimano quality going into the build, it is capable of landing large Chinook. But it is not the right rod for fishermen that just want to horse the fish into the net. It is intended for fishermen that are out for the love of the sport. That being said, it is an ideal rod for Coho or Pinks where a heavier action would overwhelm the fish. So if you wish to target our abundant Coho, the Compre in medium heavy is the ideal rod to land them with. The medium light Compre would be a blast to play Coho on, but is best for experienced fishermen only. And hooking into a large Chinook might be more of a fight than many fishermen are ready for.
Okuma SXT 10'6" Canadian Mooching Rod
The Okuma SXT is a higher end rod with a mid level price. Okuma is still less well known for their salmon rods than their jigging gear. But the SXT brings a lot to the table with some of the features of top tier rods, like its Alps reel seat and carbon fiber back grip. It has a very nice action available in medium or medium heavy. With a classic mooching rod feel — that is, a sensitive tip paired with a strong backbone — the SXT is a solid choice for fishermen wanting to step up into the higher level gear that is now available.
Shimano Technium 10'6" B Mooching Rod
The Shimano Technium is the tried and true trolling rod for Vancouver Island fishermen. It has been the most popular rod with fishing guides and recreational fishermen alike. Its reputation for durability combined with a lovely sensitive action has made it a favorite for years. Unfortunately, Shimano updated it a few years ago and took away the spiral wrap that gave it its durability. Luckily, they realized this error and brought it back with the same features that fishermen love. If anything, the new Technium is even better — its improved action was retained along with the reintroduction of the spiral wrap. So if you need an excellent rod with extreme durability, look no further than the Technium. After all, the hundreds of professional salmon guides who use it — and run it hard — can't all be wrong.
Westcoast Fishing Tackle SWS Fury Tyee
Westcoast Fishing Tackle is a new company whose gear is taking the fishing world by storm. Their flashers and lures are in high demand, and their rods are the most innovative we have seen in some time. The Fury in particular has some top-of-the-line features, like their metal reel seats with triple locking nuts and the nice padded rod sock it ships with. As with all their rods, their unique construction materials make for a shockingly thin yet powerful rod.
The only downside we are having with this rod is keeping it in stock. This is a rod to grab whenever it is available, not one to wait for it to go on sale. It should be noted that this thin design means this is not the rod for someone who likes to smack their rods on the railing, or sword fight with them. But if you are looking for an excellent quality rod to take on the largest of salmon, then try the Fury — if you can find one for sale, that is!
