What Size Reel for Salmon Fishing? A Guide to Choosing the Right Gear

Salmon fishing is a popular angling pursuit across many parts of North America. These large, powerful fish put up a tremendous fight and require robust fishing gear to land them. Choosing the right reel is critical for success. The reel handles the strain of fighting a salmon, as well as storing the necessary amount of line. This article provides a complete guide to selecting the ideal reel size for salmon fishing.

Key Factors in Choosing a Salmon Reel

Several key factors determine what size reel you need for salmon:

• Fish Size – Chinook and coho salmon range from 8-30+ pounds on average, You need a reel with enough line capacity and drag power to battle fish of this size,

• Current Strength – Salmon runs often occur in rivers with strong currents The reel must have the capacity and strength to hold up

• Line Type – Thicker lines like braided lines require more space on the reel spool than monofilament

• Fishing Method – Trolling requires more line than casting. Float fishing needs a smooth drag.

• Reel Type – Spincast, spinning, and baitcast reels vary in design and capacity.

Considering these variables will help narrow down the best salmon reel size.

Reel Sizes for Salmon

For salmon, reels in the mid-large size range are best. Here are some typical sizes by reel type:

• Spincast Reels – Size 30-40

• Spinning Reels – Size 3000-5000

• Baitcast Reels – Size 50-100

These sizes give you the line capacity, gear ratio, and drag strength needed to handle salmon. Match the reel to a medium-heavy salmon rod from 8-10 feet.

Within those size ranges, some specific reel models ideal for salmon include:

• Penn Battle II – Sizes 5000 or 6000

• Shimano Stradic FK – Sizes 4000 or 5000

• Okuma Cold Water Line Counter – Sizes 30 or 40

• Abu Garcia Ambassadeur – Sizes 6500 or 7000

Go with the larger size if targeting particularly big salmon like Chinook or fishing in heavy current.

Line Capacity Guidelines

Line capacity is one of the most important reel specifications for salmon fishing. You need ample line to make long casts, set the hook properly, and sustain long battling runs by big fish:

• Monofilament – Minimum 180 yards of 14-20 lb test

• Braided Line – Minimum 150 yards of 30-50 lb test

• Wire Line – 50-100 yards for trolling

Match the line type and pound test to the size salmon and fishing method. Braided and wire lines have less stretch and are more abrasion resistant, while mono is more forgiving.

Drag System

Salmon generate blistering runs once hooked, requiring a sturdy drag system on the reel. Key factors for drag include:

• Max Drag – 15-25+ lbs is ideal

• Smoothness – Important for playing fish once hooked

• Sealed Design – Prevents grit, sand, etc. from harming the drag

Look for sealed, carbon fiber or hybrid drags that provide consistent pressure without jerkiness. This allows you to tire out salmon while preventing break-offs.

Gear Ratio

Reel gear ratio affects how much line is retrieved per handle turn. While not as critical as drag or capacity, it’s still helpful to match the ratio to your fishing:

• Casting – Moderate to high ratios like 6.2:1 allow quicker line pickups

• Trolling – Lower ratios around 4.6:1 provide more cranking power

• Current Fishing – Higher ratios help regain line fast against the current

The ideal ratio depends on your fishing situation. Having a versatile middle-ground ratio around 5.6:1 is a good overall choice for salmon.

Added Features

Some other helpful features that play a role in salmon reels include:

• Anti-Reverse – Prevents backward reel handle spin during runs

• Line Counters – Display amount of line released, helpful for trolling at precise depths

• Extended Handles – Added leverage for fighting strong fish

• Sealed Bearings – Protects internal components from grit, sand, etc.

Prioritizing these attributes will help you select a salmon-specific reel that’s built to last season after season.

Examples of Ideal Salmon Setups

To summarize, here are two common salmon fishing setups with properly matched rods and reel sizes:

• Casting for River Salmon

  • 8-9 foot medium-heavy casting rod

  • Baitcast reel in size 50-80 (Abu Garcia Revo Toro)

  • 25 lb braided line with a 12 lb fluorocarbon leader

• Trolling for Ocean Kings

  • 8-10 foot heavy trolling rod

  • Line counter reel in size 30-50 (Okuma Magda Pro)

  • 20 lb monofilament main line

  • 50 lb braided backing line

Take into account the environment and techniques you’ll be using, and choose a balanced setup in this manner.

Final Tips on Selecting a Salmon Reel

• Consult local tackle shops on the best reels for your specific fishery

• Buy from quality tackle brands like Shimano, Abu Garcia, Penn

• Think long-term. A pricier reel will outlast cheaper models

• Make sure the reel foot matches your rod’s reel seat

• Maintain the reel and keep it clean after each use

Investing in a robust, well-designed reel matched to your target salmon species will pay dividends for many seasons to come. Follow these guidelines, and you’ll have no trouble landing some of the hardest fighting fish around.

A 3000 size fishing reel is well-suited for a variety of applications, including bass fishing, trout fishing, and general inshore saltwater fishing.