Coho Salmon gear

Quick setup

Rod	Reel	Line	Leader
Same trolling rods as Chinook, 8.5 to 10.5 feet. For rivers and piers, drift rods rated 15 to 30 lb.	Level-wind or baitcasting reel for trolling; baitcasting or spinning for drifting.	15 lb mono for trolling. Drift setups use lighter line than for Chinook.	12 to 48 inch drift leader to a single hook.

Rod, reel and line

Rod: Same trolling rods as Chinook, 8.5 to 10.5 feet. For rivers and piers, drift rods rated 15 to 30 lb.
Reel: Level-wind or baitcasting reel for trolling; baitcasting or spinning for drifting.
Line: 15 lb mono for trolling. Drift setups use lighter line than for Chinook.
Leader: 12 to 48 inch drift leader to a single hook.

Baits

spawn bags
salmon roe

Lures

bright red or orange spoons
crankbaits and floating-diving minnow plugs
spinners

Rigs

Troll bright lures high in the water column, often close to the downrigger weight.
Cast spoons or fish spawn bags from piers and river mouths as fish stage to run.

Tips

Coho ride higher in the water than Chinook and are less shy of boats. In big lakes they bite near shore in early spring and gather off river mouths from late summer into fall.

Starter setup

A 5.5 to 7 foot light to medium-light spinning or spincast rod and matching reel, spooled with 6 lb monofilament. Spincast is easiest for beginners, and a 4 to 5 foot rod suits small kids. Carry size 6 to 10 hooks, a few split shot (pinched on 4 to 8 inches above the hook), small bobbers, a couple of small spinners and jigs, and worms. Learn the improved clinch knot and the palomar knot.

Light line casts farther and draws more strikes. Heavier line and stiffer rods are for bigger fish, heavy cover or sharp teeth, not for everyday fishing.

When to size up

Fish	Gear
Walleye, bass, saugeye, hybrid striped bass	medium rod, 8 to 12 lb line, 6 to 7.5 feet
Channel catfish	medium-heavy rod, 10 to 20 lb line
Northern pike	medium-heavy rod, 15 lb or heavier braid, steel or heavy fluorocarbon (40 lb+) leader
Muskellunge	heavy 7 to 9 foot rod, 50 to 80 lb braid, heavy leader
Trolling for lake trout and salmon	8.5 to 10.5 foot trolling rods, 15 lb mono or 30 lb braid, level-wind reels
Steelhead	8 to 10 foot or longer rods, 6 to 10 lb line
Lake sturgeon	heavy rod, 50 to 100 lb braid