Tips n' Tricks

Casting Tips

By Sport Fishing Institute of BC

When casting for salmon, your key consideration is whether it has enough line capacity to handle a running Chinook or Coho. It doesn't matter whether you prefer an open-faced spinning or level-wind casting reel, you need the right amount of line. With bait or lures, you may choose anything from ultralight spinning outfits to heavyweight surf-casting tackle. Just match your equipment to the size of the fish.

Saltwater fly fishing is BC's fastest-growing kind of saltwater sport fishing, as anglers look for new challenges. To fish in deeper water for salmon and bottom fish, you'll need salmon-weight rods and reels. You'll also need your fly line plus at least 200 metres of backing, but it's worth it. In serious angling circles, landing a trophy-sized salmon or bottom fish on a cast fly is considered one of the ultimate fishing thrills.

Inshore species like sea-run cutthroat trout, pink salmon and Coho can be fished for with trout weight tackle. Tackle suited for steelhead or Atlantic Salmon is best used when fishing for Chinook and Coho father offshore.