How to max out your fancy red kokanee rod

[JeepNut]

We went up to the Gorge Monday and Tuesday for a quick trip. I haven't paid for a Wyoming mussel stamp so we stayed on the Utah side. We caught most of our kokanee and trout limits Monday afternoon jigging buzz bombs and trolling the standard stuff. Later in the afternoon in Sheep Creek area my son wanted to try for some macks so he put a silver rapala behind the koke flasher thinking he might entice some pups. We saw some fish down in 80 feet of water so he let it down and a fish took it right away. It turned out he caught one that really put the bend on our fancy red koke rod. I was hoping it wasn't going to break. Once he got it up we could see why there was such a bend, a 36 inch 16 pound mack had swallowed the rapala. Once we got it in the boat we realized we couldn't release it as the rapala cut up the gills and it bled all over the bottom of my boat. It had nothing in it so it was extra hungry. The pups didn't seem to want to bite no matter what we tried and the wind finally drove us off the lake but we had a great time.
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[RILEYFISH]

Congrats to you on a nice fish. If the rod you were using is the Jared Johnson lamiglas Kokanee special, these rods are sweet. I know many fisherman and fisher women who have landed many large trout of different species in the teens and low 20s regularly.

These rods, along with a quality reel with a quality drag, will handle some pretty nice fish.

Yes, there are many folks that have had some issues with these rods. However I've seen many who put these rods through the ringer and they have done great.

Again, congrats on a nice fish and tight lines.
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