Everybody wants to know what rod to get, but few actually get good recommendations.
These five rods are really great and will help you on your way to get those delicious fish.
1. Tica KLEA/KLEB/KLEC/KLED Kokanee Glass Fishing Rod Series
This is a quality rod in more ways than one. The “TICA” Rod boasts a fantastic price. While it is on the lower end up poles, coming in from $45 – $75, this is definitely a cheaper rod, but you have fairly decent tradeoffs.
With some people claiming that this rod is better than rods over $100, this is a fantastic, successful rod for small to midsize fish.
There are many rods out there and this one stands out as just really solid. It is a great reliable rod that will do its job and not feel cheap. You will not regret buying this rod.
2. Okuma Celilo Kokanee Pro Trolling Rod
Okuma Pro Trolling Rod Carrying a 2 to 8 lb test range, this rod is absolutely perfect for our soft mouthed salmon. Coming in at $40, this will be one of the more affordable Kokanee rods that you find, and comes highly recommended by it’s users.
With a gentle, light action, this rod will be able to stand the thrashings of the Kokanee, while giving enough to make sure that the hook doesn’t tear through its jaw.
Recommended for use with a downrigger, this is the ideal rod for when you don’t know what to expect. Coming in two pieces, storage couldn’t be easier. This rod can be used from the downriggers in larger boats, but have also been used in smaller aluminum boats with high rates of success.
Perhaps the biggest perk of this rod though is its price. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned vet, having an expensive pole break on you is one of the worst things possible. Not only does the pole break, but the fish who did it generally gets away. In this case though, if your pole did break(which doesn’t seem to be a problem according to reviews), you’d only be losing out on $40.
$40 is a very small risk, and considering having this awesome rod is the reward, there is no reason to wait on buying this one.
3. G.Loomis E6X Kokanee Trolling Casting Rod
Boasting an official description that claims to land you more fish than other rods, this rod also boasts a price tag that makes you hope you land more fish than you have with previous rods.
Coming in at a hot $180, this rod does have the reviews to back it up. With a fantastic balance and a great feeling in your hand, you are definitely getting what you pay for when you purchase this rod.
While not many people seem to be talking about this G. Loomis, the reviews I can find are raving, and nobody seems to have any regrets when it comes to their purchase.
Featuring reduced line friction that helps eliminate line twist, a rubber and cork handle, and extra sensitivity, this rod works perfectly in your hand and in the downrigger.
Being able to see and feel every hit you get on this pole will enable you to react more quickly, perhaps making the difference between landing and losing your catch.
Whether you’re trolling or jigging, this rod has the strength and the flexibility to handle whatever the fish throw at it.
This rod is a bit of a fringe rod, meaning it has a small amount of people that actually own it, but every single one of them swears by it and will probably never buy another brand again.
4. CG 80 GH | 8′ Kokanee Trolling Rod w/ Graphite Handle
CG Trolling Rod Using 6 pound to 10-pound line, this is another rod that was absolutely made for the soft mouth of the Kokanee salmon. With an action that’s meant to keep the fish on after it bites, and a perfectly balanced spine to make sure the fish gets in the net, this isn’t a rod that will do you wrong.
Kokanee are a really hard fish to get right, and many fisherman never see their catch because of the aforementioned soft mouth of the salmon. These fish don’t hold up well to a stiff rod making this rod perfect for them.
Whether this is “the rod you’ve always had”, or you’re trying something new, few rods will feel as familiar as this one does when you try it out for the first time.
The CG 80 also has a reputation for being a fantastic rod to have if you’re using more than one a a time. Keeping a great spread, this rod won’t bend back with the current and make you worry about tangled line. That being said, the tip isn’t stiff, so you aren’t sacrificing quality for peace of mind.
Perks of this soft tip? You won’t have to wonder if your gear is getting hits, you’ll be able to see them. Extremely sensitive and showing you every hit, big or small, you’ll know when to start paying extra close attention to your rod.
5. Eagle Claw Featherlight Kokanee Trolling Rod
Finally, the last one, we have our Eagle Claw Featherlight Kokanee trolling rod. While the internet seems to agree that it isn’t the most sensitive rod available in the realm of Kokanee fishing, the internet also agrees that you could do a lot worse.
Featuring a 4 pound to 8-pound weight, a cork handle, and a spine that several reviewers claim can bend right in half, this 30 dollar rod is a fantastic purchase for a beginner, or if you just don’t know which rod to choose. Being way on the cheaper end of the spectrum for Kokanee trolling rods, you’re not going to be out as much if something goes wrong, or if you decide this isn’t the rod for you.
That being said, the internet doesn’t seem to have much to say in the way of negativity when it comes to this rod. If you’re concerned about asthetic, this bright yellow rod might not be your cup of tea, and like I mentioned before, it isn’t as sensitive as some of it’s brothers.
But what this rod lacks in sensitivity, it more than makes up for in durability. Eagle Claw has been around for a while, and this rod will be too.
Whatever rod you choose, just know that a good fisherman will catch fish regardless of what rod he uses. Good Luck.