What Rods Are We Using For Koknee?

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RIVERHAWK said:
Does anyone have any idea where the Lamiglas jj rods are still available?
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Fisherman's Friend in Lodi had some and I bought two. I'm not impressed with these two JJ Lamiglas Kokanee rods. Sure they look neat but they are very poorly built.
The rod buts were crooked as heck and seating material was showing. Whoever put them together should be fired. Maybe they ran out of the right rod butts?
Both rods had a slight bend on the tip sections and a few of the guides were bent. I know the rods are fairly inexpensive but jeesh.

If I would have seen them in person I wouldn't have bought these two rods. I would have looked them over to find two good ones but I ordered them sight unseen.
I have used Lamiglas Rods for years and I've never seen such poor quality on any rod they've ever built.


They should be dissapointed. What happened to their QC? The good thing is they fish well and load up nicely in the downriggers.

I have a couple Daiwa Spinmatic's that cost 1/2 as much that are much better built and they work really well. They're a great rod for the price. I'll be picking up a couple more soon.
 
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dbcfr,

Pardner, I have used 'em all over the years from a Grizzly blank #4 fly-rod blank that I tyed up in the 60's to a Lamiglass "Summer Run" 8'6" (Light X86LC). I have a Shimano/Calcutta 50 on it w/6# PowerPro. I downrigg w/this setup and it has provided me alot of enjoyment akin to mooching salmon off of similiar gear w/a direct drive reel.

I too have looked at and rejected Lamiglass's Koke rods. I have not seen the JJ's and I'm sure Excaliber knows his/her rods. But I am a Lamiglass/Sage rod devotee. OK, I like St. Croix and Berkeley too! I guess what I am saying is that to fish Kokes, ya need a 7'6" - 8' 6" fast action light weight rod that simply suits your taste. Go that way and add guides (more guides = more stiffness) just seems to mean to me to add length. It's really a matter of preference on what provides you the enjoyment of catching these great fiesty fish. Those spiral rods just fascinate me and maybe I can get out with one of you Kokonuts that have one to try one?

Just remember, different rods for different folks. As long as your having fun it's all good!

Mossback tooexcited
 
Well I have just wrapped up 4 Seeker CSP702 spiral wrap with 10 guides each. I will be giving them a try and see if I like them a I have also wrapped up 4 Calstar BT130 7' they seem to be a better blank. has anyone tried Calstar rods?... the action on them is great for downrigger fishing Koknee and the blank has some good back bone for playing with the mac's also....Just may be the new hot ticket for a killer Koknee rod I will let you know once I test them...Oh did I mention I was a rod builder with 35+ years of experience with ocean rods and fly rods now I am on to playing with Koknee and doing quite well
Mini Report of the last 2 weeks movie89586 thumbsup
Shaver = 35 1 at 20" by the 8 year old , 15 small rainbows
McClure =12 Koknee,7 Kings, 3 rainbow, 1 lake 26" , 1 Brook 19"
Don Padro =7 Koknee , 4 nice Kings ,1 24" rainbow , 4 sun burns , 1 bee sting (me) on the way home

at McClure we were looking for the Brown and the Cutthrout but no luck that seemed like a grand slam to me as I am not sure if the other 2 are in that lake
not too bad for one old man and 3 kids
now we are off to Flamin Gorge to work on the Koknee and Lakers for a week
 
You guys all have me buffaloed with all this brand talk about rods. I really only have experience with the Lamiglas Team Kokanee "Red" rod. It surprised me last week by landing a 20-lb. German Brown. I would have bet that it would break landing that fish. Story on another post

http://www.kokaneefishingforum.com/fishing-forums/showthread.php?t=2163

This experience gave me a lot of confidence in that rod.
 
I took a look at the Lamiglas kokanee rod at Anglers Den in Roy, UT. Very nice rod. Then I saw the price - $90. Ouch. So I asked if there were any other similar rods in the store for less money. The answer was yes.

I bought two. They are Ugly Stick Ultra-lites. Seven footers with a FAST action and rated for 2-6 or 8 lb test line. I used them today at Strawberry Reservoir looking for kokanee. They are very limber and showed the least little hook-up on the downriggers. The bad news is that ALL the hook-ups were on rainbows and cutthroats - no kokanees. They were very nice handling the 9 trout we caught and we never lost a single fish. I think I'm really going to like these two rods.

Oh, and the price was $40 apiece. Thats less money for 2 rods than one Lamiglas.
 
kokanee rods

in the 6 years that I hav ben fishing kokanee,I have tried just about every kokanee rod maid. my favorites ar (1-7'6" st.croix ) ( 2-7'6" jj-lamiglass ) ( 3 -7' shimano talora) I like the 12 eyes on the jj rods, if they wher one piece rods,they would be my # 1 rods. if your out ther jj,talk to me ,I want one of thos red rods maid especialy for me in one piec OK. Gabe
 
3 Wt...

I had a friend build me a 3 WT Fly rod blank in to a level wind rod with 13 guides, I put a line counter reel on it, with a Sling blade followed by a Crippler or a ring - oh what a joy. Eight pound main line to 6 pound fluorocarbon to the first swivel and chain. The only back bone is the long cork handle and reel seat.
Today while trolling for Land Locked Chinook in my favorite lake I tagged a very healthy 19" rainbow on a ring and garden hackle, absolutely buried two thirds of my rod in the lake...what a treat, that thing made that little reel scream and the rod at one time looked like a question mark - hummm great name for the rod...I know this is a Koke Forum didn't mean to regress but man that was a slammer fish.

Chuck
 
Well I picked up a Lamiglas CG70DR and a Lamiglas CGR762L Team Kokanee.

I have not had a chance to use them very much, so I don't have much to say yet. We will see.
 
Who makes the lightest action ultralight Kokanee Rod?
My Lamiglas JJ rods are too much rod for the smaller Kokes here. They need Gorge sized fish IMHO.
How do the other Lamiglas rods compare to the Red Rods?

We have two of the Daiwa Spinmatics and they are awesome rods. I can't believe how nice they are for under $30.00. I'll be picking up a couple more soon.
 
I'm fishing on a budget. I have two Shakespere Agility rods, that I just bought from a fellow fisherman. Prior to this purchase, I had an Okuma Kokanee pro, and a 8 ftZander rod from Cabela's. I really liked that 8 footer, but it was just too long to use in my small boat, with my short frame. At 5-8, its just a bot too long. 7 footers are just right.
 
Just picked up a Lamiglas 7'9" GC792 UL Tournament Kokanee. Coupled with my Shimano Calcutta 50B.........should be fun!
 
anybody tried the diawa heartland koke rods? I like the heartland series in other rods and the price looks good at around $40?? also the okuma at $35 looks interesting.
 
Clearly there isn't one rod that works for all. For smaller (early season) kokes I perfer a 7'9" 3 weight fly rod made into a casting rod or something that's very limber. I've broken too many rods so I typically use two piece rods.

Later in the season when the fish get up to 19" and bigger or when fishing Flaming Gorge then a stiffer rod is definately needed. The Lamiglass JJ rod is perfect for this. Obviously a shorter rod will work better in a smaller boat. On wide beam boats a longer rod helps keep the fish/line out of the other downriggers, kicker etc.

Another time a stiffer rod is a plus is when jigging. I've tried using my typical kokanee rod and setting the hook is difficult when the rod is too limber.
 
I bought a couple of those heartland dwnrgr kok rods a month or so ago. Great rod for the price, light action you can really load em up on the downrigger.
 
Fallriverguy said:
Daiwa Spinmatic SMC 702ULFB
Lamiglas Rock Creek Series AC73UL
Shakespear Catera SP6070
Lamiglas FC 76 UL
Berkley Tactix TXS661MLF (for jigging)
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How do you like your Lamiglas FC76UL? I was playing with one in the store the other day. Wow, that thing seems really limber. How is it with a fish on??
 
CRW I have 4 of the Lamiglas fc702ul and they where great on the Kokes at the Gorge. I like the why they DON'T snap up when the fish pulls the line out of the releases. It seems to help keep the hook from being ripped from the mouth of the smaller fish meaning more fish to the boat. I highly recommend them for kokes on the downriggers.
 
oneeye said:
I bought a couple of those heartland dwnrgr kok rods a month or so ago. Great rod for the price, light action you can really load em up on the downrigger.
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thanks , the price is right and I really like my other heartland rod.
 
Jim, haven't experienced the hooks ripping out since I've been using the heartland kok rods. I'd say we're close to ninety percent on hook ups and fish in the boat using the double hook set up.
 
Anyone using BATSON BLANKS ?

worthy12 I built two rods on BATSON RDR blanks and we love them. Last year I went cheaper and built a koke rod on A Batson 7' fiber glass blank ,this rod caught the NC State record koke. All three rods have held up well over two years of heavy use. If you build or know a builder these are reasonably priced sticks.
 
I am a big fan of Batson. My favorite steelhead drift rods are Rainshadow XST's. After Christmas I will be building a couple of kokanee rods spiral wrapped with mini guides on RDR76L blanks.
 

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