We furnish all the trolling gear, including lures and flies. But you are welcome to bring your favorites along. If you want a salt water king on a fly rod you must bring your own rod and reel.

Fly rods must be heavy, I use a 9 1/2 foot 10 weight rod for kings and silvers. You could use something a little heavier for the kings and a little lighter for the silvers, but I think a stiff rod is better. You could catch a 35-40 pound king on an 8 weight rod but it is ultra light and takes lots of time and finesse.

Although we furnish spinning gear for the late summer silvers we suggest you bring some of your own lures. Mepps spinners size 4 or 5 in orange, pink, chartreuse or combinations of these colors work well. A 'pixie' spoon by Blue Fox with orange, pink or green inserts is a favorite also. The 7/8 oz size is best for long casts. Don't hesitate to call if you have further questions or want more details. Tight lines!

Salmon are not leader shy but their tough mouth and sharp gill plates reek havoc on leaders. I like to tie my own tapered leaders with Mason hard monofilament leader material. I start with 35# and taper it down to 15# in about five or six feet. The tip is approximately 2 feet long and is replaced as it wears out. Sometimes the leader is under 3 feet and still catches fish. You can use almost any commercially packaged tippet material in approximately the same strength and cut it down as it wears out. Silver leaders can be lighter, down to 6 # test.

There are lots of good king salmon fly patterns. Here are just a few of my favorites: A Clouser minnow or deceiver tied in green with a #1 or 1/0 hook; leeches tied in black or other colors with a #2 hook (articulated leech is great); egg sucking leeches with pink or orange egg; polar shrimp; large egg cluster patterns in pink and/or orange; and I have a few special flies I like to share also. Flies should be tied with lead eyes or wrapped with lead for weight. A few may be tied lighter for slower shallow water that you fish with sink tip lines. Late summer silver salmon like the same flies so if you are scheduled in August or September these fly guidelines are good for you too.

Steve