I am looking for any suggestion on a good blank for fishing lake onterio trips (oak orchard and salmon river) for salmon and lake run browns. I was recently up there and was using my PA steelhead rod a 10"6" noodle rod blank fitted with fly components, but think it was too light for tossing the weight that was needed in NY and too week for landing salmon. Any suggestions would be appriciated. thanks.

I've been using a Sage RPL 890 for the past ten years or so on the Salmon River. It has battled plenty of big salmon, as well as winter steelies. The same model is available now in the VPS line. Light weight, strong, and durable.

In fact, just recently it helped me land this beauty:

[www.globalflyfisher.com]

(forgive the strap in the pic - wouldn't it figure)

Bob

Eric,
For fly fishing big browns and king salmon on the Lake Michigan tribs I used a 3 pc., St. Croix Legend in an 8 weight. an 8 wt. lets me get the big flies to them and provides me with enough backbone for putting some pressure on the fish (see fish fighting article in latest RM mag. issue). The 3 pc is nice because though I am in driving distance of Lake Michigan I can pack it for trips to warmer climates for fly fishing the salt.

I strongly suggest single foot Fuji SIC guides with titanium frames.
Good luck and have fun with the build.

Cans down, fish on,

Buzz Butters

I like the 10' Dan Craft FT rods. I would use an 8 or possibly even a 9 wt since you are also after kings. The Sage RPL+ 896 is also a great rod for the Ontario tribs.
Buzz's advice on fish fighting is dead on. That was an excellent piece by Tom, and we owe it to the fish (browns and steelies) to release them alive. I have found that both blanks above really allow me to put the stick to them. I landed four steelies yesterday with the FT 10' for 8 and my Lamson Velocity 3.5 reel, and I was in total control of the fish and not the other way around.
The ability to land fish quickly is especially important on some of the smaller Ontario stretches where anglers downstream refuse to clear their lines when a fish runs. Furthermore, I have had it happen to me several times when I have chased fish and came back to find my prime spot in the pool taken by an interloper. Can you tell that gets me fired up!

Good luck, Bob Maulucci