Landlocked Atlantic Salmon gear

Quick setup

Rod	Reel	Line
For deep trolling, an 8.5 to 10.5 foot medium to medium-heavy downrigger rod. Near-surface fish in spring and fall are taken on casting and fly gear.	Level-wind or baitcasting reel for trolling.	15 lb mono for downrigger trolling. Lead core line is another way to get deep.

Rod, reel and line

Rod: For deep trolling, an 8.5 to 10.5 foot medium to medium-heavy downrigger rod. Near-surface fish in spring and fall are taken on casting and fly gear.
Reel: Level-wind or baitcasting reel for trolling.
Line: 15 lb mono for downrigger trolling. Lead core line is another way to get deep.

Baits

smelt, live or dead, where legal

Lures

smelt-imitating streamer flies
smelt-like spoons and plugs
copper, gold or silver trolling lures
soft-plastic jerkbaits in current

Rigs

Troll streamers or smelt-like lures near the surface and close to shore in spring and fall.
In summer, troll metallic lures deep with lead core or a downrigger.

Tips

Landlocked salmon like water below 65°F. Ice fishing with smelt or jigs can be productive.
Fly fishing: Fly casting is the preferred river method: dries, nymphs and streamers.

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