Step 1. Start with a 2 foot length of 20 pound butt section attached to your flyline.

Step 2. Double Nail Knot down to a 3 foot section of 15 pound ( this is the line you want your indicator on)

Step 3: Attach a barrell swivel.

Step 4: Attach 12 pound mono (Maxima ultra green) or 10 pound floro ( Maxima Florocarbon) for 3 feet to the end of your barrell swivel.

Step 5: Tie on your first fly (for me it is usually an egg pattern)

Step 6: From the eye of the first fly, tie on another 3 foot of 8 pound maxima (or 10 floro) to your next fly (nymph or small streamer)

Step 7: Put your weight at the barrel swivel (only enough to get you to tickle the bottom not rattle).

There you have it! A quick and easy set up that will have you ready to go to fish the Pere Marquette River for both steelhead and salmon.

Depending on the situation and what you are comfortable with- you could go with either a conventional single handed rod, or a two handed rod- I will go over my recommendation for both.

For a single handed rod, I fish a Sage VT2 8196-4. It is a 9′ 6″ 8 weight. The extra 6″ you get over a 9′ rod really helps clients with roll casting. For my line choice, depending on the situation, I like to over line the rod (sometimes up to two line weights). Remember, you need to be able to turn over big indicator rigs and streamers.

For my reel, I go with a Ross Evolution 3.5. They withstand the wear and tear I put on reels year after year and work flawlessly years after the purchase.

For a two-handed set up, I like the Sage Z-Axis 8129-4. It is a 12′ 9″ 8 weight. Match that with a Rio Skagit 550 grain line and you are set. For my reel, I match it up with a Ross Momentum 6 (or a CLA 7)- each will work fine and both are excellent reels.

Again, having the right setup will ensure that you can actually use the set up you paid for. If you have any questions about your setup, if it will work, or what you need to change on it, feel free to give me a call, I would be happy to make sure you are set up correctly to fish the Pere Marquette River.

Better yet, call Jon at FlyMasters in Indianapolis. He owns the shop, knows what you need and will take good care of you. Here’s his number 317-570-9811.

Tell him Jed sent you.