Trolling with a fly rod

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Rrogers

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Joined
Dec 25, 2012
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38
Location
North Idaho
Anyone ever try a fly rod setup in front of a downrigger. I'm thinking about trying this out being up here in Idaho koks are small 12" is a norm in size. I have a 7' #3 fly rod and reel that I wrapped with 200' of braid 30lb and 200yards of 8 lb mono. Should only need to go down 10 to 20 feet deep. Would love to find a setup that make if feel like I've got a fish on the Lighter the better. I wont be using any flashers or dodgers just a hoochie rig or maybe a wedding ring. So What do you all think thums up or down worst that could happen is I brake a fly rod.
 
A good friend uses a fly rod for kokanee all the time but not with a downrigger. He uses a single action click drag fly reel and has three spools with one color of lead core on one, two on the next and three on the last. Obviously for relatively shallow fish but a lot of the year they are .
He glued velcro strips on the gunwale of his aluminum boat and lays the rod parallel to the boats axis and the water's surface so it points out the back. The back velcro is wrapped around the line pressing the line into the grip and preventing the lure's resistance from taking line. There is another strip in front to keep the rod aligned. The rod overhangs the back of the boat about 4' and since the line droops down at a pretty good angle it gives the rod the flex it needs to make the small dodger work and for him to see if he has any small hitchhikers on his line. When a fish hits the lure it will pull line off the reel and his click drag draws his attention. Very effective and a lot of fun when a larger fish makes his reel scream.
He's also taken fly rod blanks and made them with casting rod guides and reel seats that are also fun for kokanee.
 
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I recieved a 7 weight fly rod as Christmas gift from a friend he made it himself he put a open face reel seat on it I can actually say it is my favorite rod for KOKANEE I've landed Landlocked Salmon up to 10 pounds with it. And I can't count the number Of Kokanee I'm thinking of having Wraptor Rods do another in a custom rod for me in another 7 weight maybe a little shorter 10 ft is a little big for a boat 7 1'2/ to 8 ft would be better
 
I have made three downrigger rods using fly rod blanks and they work great. I would recommend using a five weight as my buddy broke one of my rods(a four weight) when he "high sticked" the rod while trying to release it from the downrigger release. Once you get the rod free from the release, there is no better rod blank out there for catching kokes. All of my rods are built in a spiral wrap design for level wind reels, but I have seen some people use their fly reel with mono line. Most downrigger rods have fiberglass in them to make them more durable but that is at the expense of weight and sensitivity.
 
mrmike said:
I'm thinking of having Wraptor Rods do another in a custom rod for me in another 7 weight maybe a little shorter 10 ft is a little big for a boat 7 1'2/ to 8 ft would be better
Click to expand...
mrmike, If you like the action of the flyrod blank, but a little shorter, I would give the Batson IP840 or SP840 popping rod blank a look. They are seven foot and rated for 4 to 6 lb. line. They have been great for kokes up to 20 inches or go with their IP/SP841's or 842's if you want it for Landlocked salmon. The 840's are similar to my 5 wt. blanks mentioned above only six inches shorter and a little stiffer butt section. Great action and sensitive enough to feel every headshake, without the wet noodle feel of the heavier fiberglass/graphite downrigger blanks that are out there.2cents
 
You will love it. The only way to go in my opinion. My kids and guests all fish that way on my boat and won't go back......it's the best. Just remember to let go of the handle! Have fun .....
K
 
Thanks all tried it the other day and I think I'm hooked now. Was going to buy another kok rod and reel but I think my fly rod just found a new place on the boatthumbsupthumbsupthumbsup
 
Kelson what weight rod do you use my 3# might be a little lite but are koks where I fish are small only 9 to10 inch do you think I will be fine if I'm just pulling a wedding ring with no dodger or should I move to a #5 and pull some hardware. Just don't want to loose the light feel of the fight
 
We've landed Flaming Gorge Kokes on a #3 but the blank bends all the way to your hands. It's little scary for large fish. If the size of the fish you catch are 16" or less, you can stay with a #3. You should be able to pull up to a 5" sling blade dodger with a #3.
 
Rrogers, You are going down the same path I was on three years ago. I love catching kokes on the lightest setups possible. Two of the four koke rods I use are fly rods (one 4wt. and one 5 wt.) I don't notice a big difference in the fight, except the bend in the 5wt. stops about a foot above the grip. The Kokes we are catching on my home waters are usually between 12 to 18 inches depending on the time of year, so my gear may be a little bigger than what you would use. The reason I said I would go with the 5 wt. is not because of the fish, but because of the inexperienced fisherman you may have on the boat who grabs the rod out of the downrigger and breaks it trying to release the line. If you are fishing without the downrigger, then by all means stick with the three weight. Another option would be to get a Chamberlian release that allows you to set the tension real light coming from the lure so that your smaller kokes will trip the line for you.
 
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I don't want to sound like a dummy but what do they mean by weight 4 weight 5 weight 6 weight is that the line tensel strenth the rod will handle /I sure like this 7 weight I have I don't think I would want to go any lighter
 
Fly rods and fly lines are designed to match up with each other. The smaller the number, the lighter the rod and line. It doesn't have anything to do with strength of line really. So, a #4 rod get matched up with #4 line. For fly guys, the tippet is what has a pound test rating.
 
The number for fly rods is for the fly line's weight that balances and loads the rod with 30' of line out past the tip and has a weight in grains for each number. Here's the official chart:

http://www.murraysflyshop.com/articles/Articleflylineweight.html

It's an average if you will because you can cast a fly line that is heavier and lighter than what's listed. But it's for fly casting purposes and doesn't really apply to using a fly rod for trolling other than the lower the number the lighter the rod.
Don't get an overly long blank or rod or you'll have a struggle getting the fish close enough to net. Beyond that a #5 weight rod will land any kokanee that swims while a lighter rod would make the smaller fish in a lot of their range way more fun. If you're going to do it just get one rod and try it. Decide after you use it if you want to go heavier or lighter with the next one or all the rest.
 
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The rod I use is a #3 Martin with matching fly reel it's 7' long. I have a Scotty fly rod holder mounted close to the downrigger. It works out well. I will try to get pics of the set up if I could ever get them to load.
and thanks for the reply Sawtooth and I understand what you are saying about inexperience fisherman jerking the rods out of the release. But all the inexperience fisherman that get on my boat are only aloud to use the scubby-do rod intell they can tye a snell or an egg loop knotlaugh hyst
 
Rrogers,
I think I will buy one of those Scooby Doo rods for my 50 year old friend who "high sticked" and broke my 4 wt.101duh101 Unfortunately he already knows how to tie an egg loop knot.laugh hyst
 
Sawtooth,
I will make sure that when I take my dad out fishing he's 70 years old I will leave the fly rods at home and only bring out the med to heavy weight ugly sticks 101idea101
 

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