I've only ever used my glass rods for small/medium streams and fish but I'm looking to get into some of the salmon coming up out of Lake Ontario. Would a 7wt glass rod be enough to handle these fish, or should I be looking for a 8 or 9wt rod?

When I was young and lived in Washington, 7wt was the standard salmon/steelhead rod, though some certainly used other things. Lamiglas, Fenwick, Shakespeare, Heddon etc.
Not sure how big your inland salmon are, but the deciding factor for handling a big fish is tippet strength.

Not sure what you are throwing for flies, 8 or 9wt will certainly make it easier to throw big stuff, but I can't imagine you are throwing big flies.

A 7wt is probably fine for Coho but you'll be under gunned with big Kings. If you're in big water, not as much of a problem with a smaller rod, but in the river, you'd be better be able to hold your ground. A 9wt or 10wt can be useful there. On the other hand... Last Fall, I took this 30 pound Crystal River King in from Lake Michigan (more of Queen, she was full of eggs) with my Steffen 8'3" 7wt 3pc...




Geez, I sure need to lose some weight! 30 pounders don't look so big next to me any more...

King is a nickname for Chinook. I don’t know how big they can get in Lake Ontario but they can get big and powerful and do whatever they want for a while. I was a fishing a pod of Coho (also known as Silvers) in the river when the above fish took my fly. All I saw were Coho’s. No need to mention I was surprised. I fought her for quite a while and didn’t think I was going to land her until she was up on shore. I would expect to land a fish like that in a small river about 1 out of 25 times or more with a 7wt. I knew what obstacles to keep her away from but I was still lucky. You don’t need a 9 or 10wt for the size of the flies, you need it to turn the fish around when they get that big.

Sorry ‘bout that, I thought I had included that in my profile. I grew up on the south side of Lake Ontario but currently live on the north side, over the border. I’m in Ontario, about an hour northeast of Toronto. Will get on the profile update.

I’m starting to think an 8 or 9 weight might be the way to go. The waters where the salmon run aren’t wide where I fish, which had me thinking a 7wt would do the job. But being able to keep them from getting fouled up in fallen debris might take a bit more muscle.

Ha! One of each sounds just about right!

Does anyone have experience with an 8wt Fenglass? I've read that the 7wt Fenglass throws more like an 8. I'm wondering is the 8 throws like a 9?

I think PNW salt-run kings are going to be a bit beefier than Great-Lakes-run - they had so much more rich food available.

I would listen to novisor12

My SA System 7 and Echo Glass Spey 7129 work well for steelies, but I think you’d want to size up for salmon.

The GL Kings can have their way with you too. The bigger ones fresh from the big lake have eaten me and my 9 wt alive several times. One in particular is still in my minds eye as he bended me and took out nearly all the backing before breaking off. He didn't jump but just bulled away throwing a wake like a torpedo. I had zero success at turning, much less stopping, him.

Go heavier.

Here is a glass 9wt and I've handled a slightly smaller fish and landed it on a glass 7wt, but had a black drum break a leader on the next cast. A few weeks ago I caught a 4lb largemouth bass on a 3wt but I had a 10lb flourocarbon tippet. I think you just need to look at your setup when targeting fish.
https://youtu.be/vXK6AEO5lrw