Reels and rods are part of fishing 101, but with the constant upgrades in technology and build quality it’s important to keep an eye out for the latest gear. Here are our current picks for fishing reels and rods for Alaska.
| Santiam Fishing Rods 8’6”, 4-piece Travel Rod santiamfishingproducts.com Santiam offers a wide range of travel rods well suited for anglers heading to Alaska to fish for salmon, bottomfish, and virtually any freshwater species. One of their most popular models is the SFC-864H which we successfully tested on king salmon on the Togiak River last July. This four-piece casting rod is 8’6″ inches long, and is rated for 15- to 30-pound-test line. Their 8’6”, 4-piece rods come in three different line classes in both casting and spinning models. It fits easily into the overhead bin of commercial airlines, eliminating the need to check rods as baggage. Rods are built on graphite blanks with graphite blank-through reel seats, and guides outfitted with ceramic inserts. |
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| Eagle Claw 4 Piece 6’6” Trailmaster Spinning Combo eagleclaw.com Trailmaster is the perfect companion for adventurous anglers. A standout in the Trailmaster series, the 4-piece, 6’6” Trailmaster combo is a combination of performance and convenience. Built to be easily packable, this lightweight combo also comes with its own durable carrying case. A fixture of the Eagle Claw product line since the 1960s, Trailmaster is backed with a lifetime warranty. It’s a heritage item and a symbol of Eagle Claw’s commitment to perseverance, grit and of the wild, untamed places that anglers often seek. |
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| Santiam Fishing Rods santiamfishingproducts.com Santiam Fishing Rods specializes in making a wide range of travel rods, with a focus on designing and building rods well suited for fishing in Alaska. We have personally tested two of their halibut rods, a baitcasting rod for kings and a spinning rod for Coho, have caught many fish with them and are impressed. The rods are well built, offer a nice fit and finish, and most importantly, break down into a travel case that fits in the overhead bin on airplanes. It is a big advantage to not have to check rods as a piece of luggage and risk losing them, having them broken, or having to pay for the baggage. |
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| Eagle Claw Sawatch Fly Combos eagleclaw.com Eagle Claw has developed the new Sawatch Fly Combos, which combine classic design with modern performance. The combos offer anglers of all skill levels a versatile flyfishing setup at an affordable price. Consisting of a medium-fast graphite rod for smooth casting and a lightweight, machine-cut aluminum, mid-arbor reel with fluid disk drag, the Sawatch Combos are tailored for use in a wide range of conditions. Available in feature sets that enable small river and stream fishing for trout to targeting predator fish in larger bodies of water. Three combos are available, which include an 8’6” 4-weight, a 9’ 5-weight and a 9’ 8-weight. |
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Want more? Check out our yearly Editors’ Choice Awards for the best fishing gear