Best Kokanee Downrigger Rods
This article looks at the best rods for targeting kokanee while fishing with a downrigger. There are a number of different variables to consider, such as if you’re fishing from a big boat or a kayak, length, durability, cost, and just downright effectiveness. This guide should help you determine what to look for, along with some of our all time favorite rods we’ve tested so you can find the best kokanee downrigger rod for you.
Best Material for Downrigger Rods
Fishing rods can be made from a variety of materials, from graphite and carbon fiber to bamboo or aluminum. In order for kokanee rods to have a good bend, rod makers tend to turn to fiberglass. Fiberglass has a lot of flex to it and tends to be fairly durable. All but one of these on this list are made from fiberglass. There is one metal option on this list, but its the budget option on this list. Fiberglass definitely has the advantage if you’ve got the money for it.
Length for Kokanee Rods
Kokanee fishing rods tend to be in the 7 to 9 feet in length. The idea with this is to have it long enough and flexible enough to be loaded in the downrigger to set the hook, but light enough to not tear through the soft jaw of the kokanee when pulling it off the hook. Any shorter than this, and you tend to have either to much spring or tension when you load the rod in your downrigger.
If you’re using a downrigger on a kayak or other smaller boat, you’ll want to be on the shorter end so that you’re able to work on your rod a little easier. That’s our preference anyways.
Lamiglas Tournament Team Kokanee
This rod was made by kokanee fishermen, for kokanee fishermen. It was probably the first next-gen fishing rod for kokanee on the market. The Lamiglas has stood the test of time, and is a rod that has spent more time on downriggers targeting kokanee than probably any other rod on this list.
- The Lamiglas Tournament Team Kokanee is an ultralight rod, rated for line that is 4-10 lb test. The rod has a moderate action and is made from trolling and for use with a downrigger.
- The rod is a two piece rod, so its nice for storage and travel. It connects nicely, and sits well in a downrigger rod holder.
- The Team Kokanee Rods come with a 1 year warranty.
- While there are other brands, Lamiglas is kind of the first NICE kokanee rod, and their product is still an industry leader today.
Lamiglass Tournament Team Kokanee
Montana Tackle Light Action Kokanee Salmon Downrigger Rod: “PRO KOKANEE” (7’ 6”)
These guys claim to have also made the Lamiglas rod originally and that this is the new and improved version. That said, it’s not the same company. The closest thing I found to confirming was that they are making them at the same factory. These rods are newer on the market, and they’ve been well received and have had pretty great reviews.
At 7′ 6″, this rod is a great length for targeting kokanee with a downrigger on a kayak or other small boat.
Montana Tackle Kokanee Downrigger Fishing Rod
Tica’s Kokanee Rods
The Tica kokanee rod is one that does compete with the Lamiglas, and they cost less than the Lamiglass as well. Tika’s are built well, and work really nicely. They’re usually in most serious kokanee fishermen’s top 3.
- Tica Kokanee Rods are also made from fiberglass
- They are sensitive without sacrificing durability
- Titanium oxide rings for strength, durability, and avoiding corrosion.
- Cork handle built for comfort and durability, with that classic fishing pole look. It sits nicely in the hand, and in your downrigger rod holder.
Tica Kokanee Rod
More Rods
If you’re looking for more options, we have a few more rods, including our budget options, check out our bigger list of our all around favorite kokanee rods. Okuma makes some good rods, as does Eagle Claw. Not all of that list are downrigger specific, but there are a lot of great options for rods that will and have caught a lot of kokanee.
Frequently Asked Questions About Our Kokanee Downrigger Rods
For kokanee fishing, you want a flexible rod. In terms of action, that tends to translate into an ultralight, featherlight, or light action rod.
In a kokanee rod, you want to stay away from the fast action rods. The soft jaw on a kokanee means you don’t want a fast action. You want it to have that slower and more forgiving flex. We recommend a moderate action rod.
The action of a fishing rod refers to the flexibility or bending curve of the rod when pressure is applied to the tip. The power of a fishing rod, also known as its “backbone” or “strength,” indicates the amount of force required to bend the rod.
Power is usually classified on a scale from ultra-light to ultra-heavy, with variations like light, medium-light, medium, medium-heavy, and heavy falling in between.
In summary, the action determines where the rod bends, while the power indicates the rod’s overall strength.
We’re the experimenting type of fishermen. There isn’t just one rod that we grab every time like a guide or even most fishermen would. While we’re not currently sponsored by any rod supplier or brand, if we had to pick one, I’d say we tend to grab the Lamiglas Team Kokanee rods more than any other when going out to target kokanee.
About Kokanee Salmon
Kokanee salmon are landlocked sockeye salmon, which means they don’t return to the ocean. They live their entire lives in lakes or reservoirs before spawning in rivers, streams, or gravel close to lakeshores. These salmon are delicious, and really strong fighters, making them a prime target for anglers.
Kokanee are a schooling fish that feed on zooplankton in the water. Kokanee fishing gear doesn’t imitate a kokanee’s food source, but rather it acts as the food source’s competition to get the attention of a kokanee, and provoke an aggressive strike, either by seeming like competition for the food source, or by simply annoying the kokanee. Because kokanee feed on these microorganisms, their jaw and mouth aren’t as robust as a bass or a trout. That’s why its important to run an ultralight rod.
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Best Kokanee Downrigger Rods
This article looks at the best rods for targeting kokanee while fishing with a downrigger. There are a number of different variables to consider, such as if you’re fishing from a big boat or a kayak, length, durability, cost, and just downright effectiveness. This guide should help you determine what to look for, along with…
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About the Author
I’ve been chasing kokanee across the United States for years. I grew up fishing in the mountains of Utah, primarily targeting trout. During my time in the boy scouts, we went on a trip to a fish trap at Strawberry Reservoir. There were these red fish in the trap they were harvesting eggs from that I hadn’t seen before. Kokanee salmon have been haunting my dreams ever since. They’re the tastiest fresh water fish I’ve caught in my home state of Utah.
I started this website to help me catalogue what I was learning about kokanee fishing, and to help others on the journey to put more kokanee in the boat. Hopefully this article helps you in setting up the rods for your downrigger. Tight lines.
