The Best Rod for Kokanee Jigging?

JD, can you please tell me what’s the best rod for light jigging — like for kokanee?

Thanks, George

Hey George,

While there are a zillion good sticks out there designed specifically for kokanee trolling, nobody makes a dedicated jigging rod for landlocked sockeye.

And such a beast is a bit of a designer’s nightmare because a koke rod needs to be light enough to give the fish a sporting chance, while also being fast enough to handle jigs up to an ounce or more in deep water.

At this point, your best bet is to go with a 6- to 7-foot light-duty bass rig like Shimano’s Clarus CSC60MLA or GLoomis’ CR722C. That is until some enterprising rod company comes up with a koke jigger…