Best Salmon Fishing Rods for the 2023 Season

The 2023 salmon fishing season is fastly approaching and fishing enthusiasts are on the lookout for the best salmon fishing rod to make the catch. But hold up, before you wade on in, take a moment to read our guide and ensure you are all equipped with the best gear. At Rod and Tackle, we know that having the right salmon rod is essential for a successful fishing trip, that is why we have taken a lot of time and care to test out the top-performing salmon rods available today.

Whether you are new to fly fishing, or looking to upgrade your gear, we have put together the very best list of salmon fishing rods from the latest in cutting-edge technology to tried and tested classics, to ensure your fishing game is taken to the next level. Let’s jump right in.

The best entry-level salmon rod

Kicking off our list is the best entry-level salmon rod money can buy, the Shakespeare Oracle 2 Scandi. This salmon fly fishing rod is not new, but it’s still one of the best.

The double-handed rod is very versatile, designed to handle a range of line weights and casting styles, making it fantastic for new salmon anglers or those that wish to switch up their casting technique. The Oracle 2 Scandi is ideal for an underhand style of casting when using shorter shooting heads.

Here at Rod and Tackle we often recommend this rod to beginners. Its forgiving nature allows for new salmon anglers to get to grips with their casting style effortlessly. It’s also one of the most affordable options and is well-suited as many people’s first salmon fishing rod.

Discover the newest innovation in salmon fly fishing

The fly fishing community has a lot to be excited about in 2023 with the addition of some of the best salmon rods to have ever been designed. Greys, well known for creating high-end affordable fishing gear, impressed anglers with the introduction of the all-new Wing Travel Salmon Rod and Kite Fly Rod. Whilst Guideline, striving ahead with sustainable high-performance gear, ensures they are not left behind with the addition of their impressive NT11 double-handed rod. As a result, there are many exciting options for salmon anglers.

Grey introduces the Kite Fly Rod for ‘23

Let’s start by taking a closer look at the Greys Kite Fly Rod, one of the most interesting new additions to the 2023 lineup.

The Kite Double-Handed rod offers many of the performance benefits anglers have come to expect from Greys, including a refined two-part handle designed for reliable spey casting.

Rod and Tackle recommend the new Kite fly rod to anyone looking for a quality, high-performance, mid-priced rod suitable for the beginner through to the experienced salmon angler. It will work well with shooting head, skagit and spey lines.

Discover the best salmon rod for the traveling angler

Similarly, the Travel Rod by Greys is taking the industry by storm. We’re big fans of the 6 piece as it delivers high performance and excellent value. New for the 2023 Salmon season, these super light travel rods ensure you have the full convenience of taking your rod inside your backpack and getting off-the-beaten-track for a unique fishing experience.

Rod and Tackle recommend the new Travel rod for a great all-rounder salmon fishing rod. Perfect for medium to large rivers both home and abroad, there is no better fly rod for the travelling Salmon angler.

Award-winning Salmon Fishing Rod

The NT11 double-handed rod by Guideline has also released a brand new state-of-the-art fishing rod for the new season ensuring salmon anglers are well and truly spoilt for choice. The lightweight NT11 offers the lowest blank weight, the weight of the rod without any additional components attached, yet the highest break stain, the amount of force that the rod can withstand before breaking, of any other rod in Guidelines lineup, and according to the manufacturer, probably also the entire fly rod market! This allows the NT11 to be very easy to handle allowing you to cast for longer without fatigue.

Here at Rod and Tackle we recommend the NT11 to salmon anglers to anyone who is searching for a strong lightweight rod without sacrificing on performance or reliability.

Best fishing rod for Salmon

For the absolute best rod for Salmon fishing, look no further than the NAM Ren. The Ren combines a high level of precision with extreme sensitivity providing you continuous control whilst casting. NAM claims that the Ren is one of the lightest double-handed rods on the market, making it super practical on your fishing trip.

There’s no doubt we are huge fans of NAM here at Rod and Tackle as we are very proud to be the exclusive UK stockist of all NAM products. It is important for UK anglers to have access to the high-performance salmon rods that this brand provides. We truly believe that NAM is producing some of the top-performing fishing gear available and the quality of their rods is impeccable.

If you want something extra special, that unique salmon rod that delivers in every way possible, then the REN by NAM is the fly rod for you.

Comparing all the best Salmon rods

Grant Ottignon-Harris

grant@rodandtackle.com

Grant Ottignon-Harris is one of the most respected names in the fishing industry, with two decades of experience including as a Managing Director EMEA at Pure Fishing and Group Managing Director at Farlows.
As the founder of Rod and Tackle, Grant brings his extensive expertise and guidance to anglers across the UK, both in-store and through the online shop. His mission is to provide the very best in fishing tackle, alongside unrivalled advice and support.