Lami Koke Rods for Baker Lake Socks?

[gfakkema]

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[rcthepirate]

I have hooked one sockeye on the white rod, and it felt slightly underpowered but manageable. I definitely liked it better than fighting them with my heavy glass composite rods that I use for chinook and coho. I also used the white rod for humpies out in the bay last year and it performed just fine.

[Steelheadin360]

I have used my Red and white Lami rods for Sockeye, Pinks, and Silvers. Sockeye are a blast to fight on light gear, but they will be a little underpowered. Sockeye have soft mouths just like there Kokanee cousins and I have found a lighter rod greatly increases your hook to land ratio, plus its just down right fun! I don't even bring my heavy rods to baker, just my Lami Koke rods. The only word of advice is to use the smaller "Kokanee sized" downrigger clips and just bury them. Those rods don't have enough backbone to release from a big clip. and keep you main line light (I use 10 pound) and keep those leaders heavy!

[Mike Carey]

I caught three sockeye and one king on Cle Elum last year aND felt the white rods were too limber. The bigger fish total load the rod meaning I lost control (and feel) of the fish. I go a bit heavier on the rods imo.

[gfakkema]

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[salmonbarry]

Hey Gregg, I use the Tica kokanee 7'6" and it has just enough backbone to control the fish but gives you a great fight and limber enough tip to play them. I use that one on Lake WA when dragging a 2 1/2 oz weight long lining as it has the backbone to handle the drag of the weight and gear as well as a big fish once it's on!

[G-Man]

One other thing to keep in mind is if you are fishing in traffic. Light tackle may be fun, but in traffic it can cause all kinds of havoc. If the number of anglers around you is sparse, bust out the lightweight gear. If not, I'd go with a rod that has a little more backbone, a properly buried 2/0 hook isn't going to tear out of an adult sockeye's mouth if you horse it a bit.

[jd39]

What would you all recommend if you think the lami kokanee rods are too light for this fishery?

Good thread gfakkema!

[G-Man]

I'm partial to the Uglystik BWD110190 for sockeye and silvers. At 9' long it loads up nicely, has some backbone to control a fish near the boat and it can take the abuse of just about anything. I know plenty of folks who use their steelhead rigs for sockeye and they have no problems. Just go easy on those graphite rods. Don't load them up so much on the downrigger and I would suggest not yammin' on them to release the line from the clip, I've seen them snap on more than one occasion.

[sickbayer]

I wouldnt use one of the koke rods for sockeye and off topic but anyonne know of the expected return of socks to baker lake this year?

[bassplayer17]

I wouldnt use one of the koke rods for sockeye and off topic but anyonne know of the expected return of socks to baker lake this year?

Preseason forecast is 35000

[natetreat]

Last year and the year before I used my steelhead rods. My Loomis STR1082, my Okuma SST side drifters and celilos and my TFO 4-8. They were just about perfect, a little long, but I wouldn't think that using a koke rod would make the fight much more fun because you're using the same amount of drag you would on a koke, which means they pull the same. Just go easy on the rods on the downriggers, I didn't have any problems. A steady pull to pop the clip, not a yank and you'll be fine.

[jd39]

Thanks, will give that try, good luck this season!