You can use a halibut stick to catch them, you can use a little trout rod to catch them, but the question is, will you catch as many as those who use an appropriate rod to catch them?
Most likely not.
Pink salmon bite very lightly quite often. Back in 2003's pink salmon season, I started feeling tiny taps numerous times during a retrieve prior to a committed bite. I thought it was a new behaviour, but then I realized that I had in fact switched to a lighter rod for that season, which is more sensitive. That rod was a Fenwick HMX rated 4 to 10lb. I used that rod from 2003 to 2011. The only problem with that rod is the lack of a backbone.
You can see that rod in action at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8awcP8T3ZhUThis year I started using a Shimano Clarus CSS90ML2B, rated 6 to 10lb. The tip is very sensitive as expected, but coupling with a stiffer bottom section, this rod casts much nicer and I look forward to using it not just for pink salmon, but also for coho salmon in the Tidal Fraser this October.
Why a heavy rod is no good?
- Too heavy to cast.
- Too difficult to cast a small lure out far.
- Too thick to detect lighter bites.
- Too stiff to feel the fight of the fish.
Invest on rods that you can enjoy using.
And Dan, you missed Clarki's point.