if you live on the coast i would recommend contacting your local fly shop to see if they have and CERTIFIED spey instructors for private instruction. could be a whole lot clearer figuring out the basics. as for rods teh loop mutli would be agreat choice and stongly recommended but teh echo series of spey's and teh tfo are also great rods for there price. you wond need a super pricey stick too start. specially if you are on te coast fishing i would more recommend a better reel. as for lines and weights its hard too say but something in th 12' 6" - 14' range 8/9 would probably be best for most salmon. if you live in calgary i have a few rods you can swing around if you want too meet up some time. jsut drop me a pm! could show you a few things aswell no problem!