The Amundson Wind Warrior performance on the saltwater beaches continues just as good on the rivers of British Columbia, Vancouver Island rivers. When casting to these little powerhouses, it’s amazing how their strength is increased by using the river flow against you. Often, they are hanging just off the river’s edge. I often see anglers casting out to the mid-flow when they are missing Pink salmon right at their feet.

One day, I approached the river, where anglers were already covering it. I tried to greet them, but they looked at me as if I were trespassing. I picked a spot below them, but started my casting fifteen feet away from the river’s shoreline. As my line landed within ten feet of the shallows, I held the wind warrior rod high so the line would drift freely down and instantly hook into a pink. Now, just because you hooked them near shore, it’s not going to be easy, as they instantly head out to the main flow, and you are into a battle with these little salmon. Pound for pound, they are powerful, especially on light tackle.

This is when the fly reel needs a disc brake to handle the short power runs. The Amundson Trend-X3 disc break is very easy to adjust during the fight, putting just the right amount of pressure to slow the Pink salmon down. The Wind Warrior 8wt gives enough power to enjoy the fight while safely bringing them shortening the battle for a catch-and-release.