i know i am not popeye but can shed a little light here. i use reels that can hold about 300yds of 20Lb test like a Daiwa sg47lca or okuma magda 30 or 45 size. those big boy salmon will take 300yards easy, no joke. i have been spooled numerous times with smaller reels and 200 yds of 20 and the fish were in the 20-25lb size not even the 30+ pound fish that are beasts. rods are medium action 8-9 foot downrigger rods. some go as light as 12lb. test but those teeth are sharp and i have been cut off many times with light leaders.
Adrien nailed it. I have been spooled so many times up there I can not count. I use deptmaster gold reels now, DT45s, with 8'6" med. rods. These reels have 450 yards of 20lb. My other reel has 600 yards of 17 lb, that reel I use for spoons, the other 2 for flashers/dodgers/meat/flys.
I got one in April of 85 on a 6" med action spinning reel with 6lb test. It weighed 22lbs, got us to the knot 6 different times.
Any of you bootcamps who have never been, but are drewling, follow the leader next August. Plenty of rooms, space, and fish & fun!!!! It will get Mr. Johnson standing tall!!!!
