Everything you need to chase Salmon, Rockfish and Lingcod off the Oregon Coast
The summer dory season in Pacific City is here and I thought it would be good to cover the gear I like on the boat to target coho salmon, rockfish and lingcod. I’ll cover the gear weights and styles I prefer along with the brands I currently have on the boat. This is meant to be a guide and outline what I have found effective but by no means is exclusive to what could be used. Rods, reels and lines outside the range I have listed will work, this is just what I’ve found works best day in and day out.
Rods
Let’s start off with the rods I like. For the Rockfish and Salmon I like 7 and 8 wt rods in the 8-9’ range. For the Lingcod an good 8-9 wt rod works great. Fishing off the dory doesn’t require long casts into heavy winds so I like rods with a lot of sensitivity that can stand up to the rigors we throw at them on a daily basis. For this reason one of my go to rods on the boat is the Echo Bad Ass Glass. The rods are just a lot of fun to fish off the dory and can handle everything we throw at them. The old school feel of the glass provides great sensitivity and more than enough power to bring the fish to the boat.
| Species | Rod Specs | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rockfish | 6-8 weight, medium-fast action | Rod that has plenty of power with good sensitivity and is able to withstand heavy saltwater use. |
| Lingcod | 8-9 weight, medium-fast action | |
| Salmon | 7-8 weight, medium-fast action |
Reels
Next up! Let’s take a look at the winches in the equation. It can’t be overstated how important it is to have a high quality reel in the quiver. The reel must be able to hold a good size line with ample backing, have strong reliable and smooth drags with a large arbor design so line pickup is quick and the drag/internal components must be saltwater sealed or it won’t matter how smooth and strong that drag started out as the chances are it won’t make it through the day without issues. Fortunately for us there are many great saltwater reels out there that will check all the boxes. Excellent reels from Abel, Hatch, Nautilus, Sage and Shilton will all treat you right. The primary reel I have on the boat are the Nautilus CCF-X2 in the 8/10. These reels stand up to years of saltwater use with nothing more than a quick rinse at the end of each day. The drags are some of the best around and the size allows for quick line pick-up.
| Species | Reel Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rockfish | 8-10 weight | Prevents corrosion in saltwater.Drag handles strong runs from large fish and protects the leader during fights. |
| Lingcod | 9-11 weight | |
| Salmon | 8-10 weight |
Fly Lines
While not the most glamorous topic, an effective fly line is paramount. In Pacific City, we employ a diverse range of lines, from full-floating lines for coho salmon and surface-feeding rockfish to heavy full-sink lines for lingcod. I prefer lines specifically designed for saltwater use. My current top choice is the Airflo RIDGE 2.0 DEPTHFINDER BIG GAME, which I appreciate for its low stretch, fast-sinking head, and ease of management. The high-contrast head and body colors also aid in line positioning. Other excellent options are available from Rio and SA.
| Species | Line Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rockfish | Floating, Intermediate or full sink head of 30’ | Allows for different depths. |
| Lingcod | Fast sinking full or 30’ head | Quickly gets flies to the bottom. |
| Salmon | Floating, Intermediate, or 30’ sinking head | Depends on fishing technique and water conditions. |
As I’m sure you noticed by now the one thing missing from this piece is fly selection. I have a post from a few years ago that covers many of the flies used that you can view here.
Ultimately, having the right gear is crucial for a successful and enjoyable dory saltwater fly fishing experience off the coast of Pacific City. By selecting appropriate rods, reels, and lines tailored to rockfish, lingcod, and salmon, you’ll be well-equipped to handle the challenges and excitement of offshore fly fishing. While the recommendations provided are based on proven effectiveness, remember that personal preference and continuous experimentation are key to refining your own ideal setup. Happy fishing!