rod weights for pinks

ok, how low can you go for rod weights for pinks?      i've seen as low as 5-6 wt, others say no lower than 8.  would like your opinions

ok, how low can you go for rod weights for pinks?      i've seen as low as 5-6 wt, others say no lower than 8.  would like your opinions

8 is overkill.  5 is good.

-Allen

ok, how low can you go for rod weights for pinks?      i've seen as low as 5-6 wt, others say no lower than 8.  would like your opinions

8 is overkill.  5 is good.

-Allen

I agree with Allen as 5 being the lowest. A 6 would be a lot of fun though.

My rods are 4 wt, 6 wt and 8 wt. I like my 6 wt when I'm fishing Pinks or even Searun Cutts on Olympic Peninsula rivers where I might hook up with a larger fish. Ya never know when a rogue Coho might be in the mix.
The 6 wt casts better and farther in the wind than my 4 wts do.
I don't have a 5 wt rod, but if I had to choose between a 5wt and an 8 wt for Pinks, I agree with Allen. Go with the 5 wt.

I flyfish in southeastern AK for two weeks each year in August. "Jammer" has joined me there for a week in each of the last two summers (that guy can really catch fish). For most of that time I prefer 8 weights  (the best salmon travel rod for my money is Cabela's 6 piece 9 ft 8 wt. "Stowaway" and I also love using my Sage 7ft 11 in  4 piece "Largemouth Bass outfit"  8 wt. Since I'm mostly fishing catch-and-release for all the first week through Tuesday of the 2nd (when I start fishing for home), I want that 8 wt extra power to bring in the fish quickly, without wearing them out before the release. We mostly catch a zillion pinks, lots of silvers (if it's a good year) and a bunch of gnarly Chum(my 15 year old grandson's favorite fighters). Since I also love to fish for trout,  I bring a 6 wt 9 ft Echo 2-tip rod. I prefer the extra power especially if its windy, and it still has the muscle to handle a large silver, which took my sunken Elk Hair caddis a couple of summer ago. That's my $0.02

I only have one fly rod, an 8 wt. Mainly bought it for stripers in CA but turns out it's good for fishing the sound. It's really good at casting in the wind that usually kicks up out there. It let's you fish all day as opposed to just a few hours in the morning/evening. If you'll be fishing the sound I can recommend it.

WR..... .you really think your going to be home long enough to fish for pinks let alone any fish. .. heheheheh


SG

guess we'll see....

again, thanks for the help guys. going to try and put those flies Rudy sent me 2 years ago to good use in what little time i may have there. had thought of using the 8wt, but will drag out the 2pc 6wt and blood knot up some leaders.  as i recall, 2 years ago, the group that met in Mukilteo limited out fairly quickly using the bug wands while the conventional gear slingers took somewhat longer.

I, Ravdakot, Em57b, and another gentleman that names has slipped my memory was out at browns point when all the fly rods cought pinks and me casting a spinning rod cought nothing.. so ...


I dont remember any fly rods out at mukilteo..


SG

ok, browns point, then.

I use 6 wt, my pal Joel who is a real avid FF, uses 7 wt.  He nailed a limit in short order one time, using an ugly purple fly while  I used the standard pink Buzz Bomb, hooked 14 and landed 3 on my little trout spinning rod.  If pinks grew to 25#, you'd never get them in the boat, they are lb-for-lb the strongest salmon, in my opinion. Real beasts!  I heard they are already thick at Seiku.