Northwest Fishing Reports

Have seen so many from 39.99 combo's up to several hundreds. I am just starting for this type of lake fishing and want to have a good time with the kids and wife. What do you use? Where did you purchase them? What Type, size, reel type? Sorry for being so Noob but really lost here.

I have a few used but work great rod's that are custom made. The other two are Lamiglas one 802 white and a Lamiglas red both kokanee rods. You can find them on Ebay just look or local shops have them for under 100 bucks. You can look on Amazon at the Tica then have a few color versions and at a good price around 45 shipped to your door. Reels are what you like and what fits you but level wind open face, I use the Abu Garcia 6600 STX and love it. Start out with cheap and try things out, you can use a trout rod but will need a snubber in line. I used my trout rod for months till I found some on CL cheap. Keep looking daily and when they come up buy them they go fast. Good luck.

I use the lama glass red, the bi-mart booth at Redmond Oregon sportsman show had them on sale for $59.00 super good buy, for the reel I use Abu Garcia 5500 very good reel..........very good rod and reel

Ok, I've mentioned these before, have a look at the Eagle Claw Featherlight rods. The spinning rods in the 7.5' and 9' are both excellent kokanee rods, quite durable and inexpensive (about $25). The rods are made from fiberglass flyrod blanks and can take the abuse of downrigger service without a problem. Team it up with a moderately priced spinning reel spooled with 8 - 10lb Maxima Ultragreen, and you can be fishing at under $75 per setup. For kids, I'd go with a the 7.5' rod, the 9' may be a little difficult for them to handle.

The only trick to using spinning reels with downriggers, is flipping off the anti-reverse switch on the reel and feathering the spool with your pinkie finger as it rotates and lets line out. Once your depth is set, flip the anti-reverse switch back on and snug up the line. Do it a few time and it will become second nature.

If you want to go with a levelwind setup, look at the Ugly Stik CA1170-2UL. This rod is extremely durable, has the backbone to handle larger fish if need be and can be found for less than $40 at the online stores. For inexpensive levelwind reels that you'll just troll with, hit up ebay for used reels like the Shimano Bantam 100 or the Bantam Black Magnum. They don't have line counters or bait clickers, but the drags are fantastic and I've been finding them at under $20, in great working condition.

Whatever you chose, fiberglass works really well for kokanee. You want a rod that is like a noodle and then you can eliminate using snubbers.
Match the reel with the rod. You don't need a reel much bigger than a 100 series for spool capacity.

Great Advice. I got the Eagle Claws as recommended. I used that brand as a kid. Made me feel good about buying them for my Grand Kids to use too.

G-Man wrote:Ok, I've mentioned these before, have a look at the Eagle Claw Featherlight rods. The spinning rods in the 7.5' and 9' are both excellent kokanee rods, quite durable and inexpensive (about $25). The rods are made from fiberglass flyrod blanks and can take the abuse of downrigger service without a problem. Team it up with a moderately priced spinning reel spooled with 8 - 10lb Maxima Ultragreen, and you can be fishing at under $75 per setup. For kids, I'd go with a the 7.5' rod, the 9' may be a little difficult for them to handle.
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We also use these for Kokanee. Very good rods. We own 2 of the longer rods and 1 short rod. Also good for panfish.

Can you buy the eagle claw rods locally (Seattle area). I have looked everywhere and can't find them.

Not that I know of, Cabelas in Lacey may have them. I know Outdoor Emporium, Sportco and Bass Pro Shop does not have them in their stores. I ordered mine off of Ebay, I know Cabelas has them online as well.

Check out salmonbarry's post in classifieds. Great deal on great rod/reel combo