Recommended Gear
Every product here is something I've used or personally vetted. No sponsored picks — just what works on the water after 15 years of kokanee fishing.
Nets & Accessories
Beckman Net
Classic aluminum frame net. Solid build, great for bigger fish.
BUBBA Li-Ion Cordless Electric Fillet Knife
Cordless electric fillet knife with 4 blades. Makes cleaning fish a breeze.
EGO Replacement Clear Rubber Mesh Bag
Clear rubber replacement mesh bag for EGO nets. Easy swap when yours wears out.
Hemostat Forceps Set (7" Straight + Curved)
Straight + curved locking hemostats. Essential for hook removal — I always have a pair.
Joy Ultra Dishwashing Liquid, Lemon Scent
The secret weapon. A drop of Joy on your dodger eliminates line twist.
Plano Bait Stowaway
Clear jar-style bait container. Perfect for fire corn and gulp maggots.
Plano Waterproof 3700
Waterproof tackle tray. Keeps your terminal tackle dry and organized.
UV Flashlight Black Light
Charges UV/glow lures. Quick flash before you drop your line — it works.
Batteries & Power
LiFePO4 changed the game — half the weight, last all day, 10+ year lifespan.
My Pick
AOLITHIUM 12V 100Ah Deep Cycle LiFePO4 Lithium Battery
12V 100Ah LiFePO4 with Bluetooth monitoring. Solid build, great value. Use code Kokanee to save.
Ampere Time 12V 100Ah LiFePO4 Battery
12V 100Ah LiFePO4 at a great price point. Solid reviews and performance.
Battle Born 12V 100Ah LiFePO4 Deep Cycle Battery
100Ah LiFePO4, made in USA. Premium price but bulletproof reliability.
CHINS LiFePO4 Battery 12V 100AH Lithium Battery - Built-in 100A BMS
Basic 12V 100Ah LiFePO4. The budget pick — gets the job done.
CHINS 12V 100Ah LiFePO4 Battery (Bluetooth, Low-Temp Charging)
Budget LiFePO4 with Bluetooth and low-temp charging. Lots of features for the price.
Dakota Lithium 12V 100Ah LiFePO4 11 Year USA Warranty
Premium LiFePO4 with 11-year warranty. The gold standard in lithium batteries.
Dual Pro 15 Amp/Bank Professional Series 3 Bank Charger
Professional 3-bank charger at 15A per bank. The charger serious anglers use.
Duracell AGM Deep Cycle Marine and RV Battery - Group Size 31
Group 31 AGM marine battery. Step up from standard lead-acid — maintenance free.
Duracell Marine Deep Cycle Battery – Group size 31
Group 31 deep cycle marine battery. Affordable lead-acid option.
Ironwood Pacific EasyTroller Trolling Plate (50-300 HP)
Trolling plate that slows your boat down without burning extra fuel.
MinnKota MK 210D On-Board Battery Charger
Compact 2-bank 5A charger. Good for smaller setups or overnight charging.
Minn Kota Terrova 80lb Bow-Mount Trolling Motor (24V, i-Pilot Link)
80lb thrust bow mount with i-Pilot Link and MEGA Down. Premium trolling motor.
Minn Kota Ulterra 112lb Bow-Mount Trolling Motor (36V, i-Pilot Link)
112lb thrust with auto-stow and i-Pilot Link. The ultimate trolling motor.
NOCO GENPRO10X3 3-Bank 30A Smart Marine Charger
3-bank 30A smart charger. Charges all your batteries at once — set it and forget it.
NOCO GCP1 Waterproof Electrical Outlet Receptacle
Weatherproof outlet for charging on the boat. Wire it into your trailer plug.
Wattcycle 12V 100Ah Dual Purpose LiFePO4 Marine Battery
Dual-purpose cranking + deep cycle LiFePO4. Start your motor and run electronics off one battery.
Camera Gear
Capture your trips on video. Everything I use for my YouTube channel.
Canon EOS M50 Mark II (Black) + EF-M 15-45mm & EF-M 55-200mm is STM Bundle
Mirrorless camera with dual lens kit. What I use for all my YouTube content.
Deity V-Mic D4 Duo Microphone 2 Channels for recording front and back
Dual-channel shotgun mic. Records front and rear — great for vlog-style content.
GoFish Cam
Underwater camera that attaches to your line. See what's happening down there. Use code kokaneeaddictfishing.
Jaws Flex Clamp Mount Gooseneck Mount for GoPro
Flexible gooseneck clamp for mounting a GoPro anywhere on your boat.
GoPro Hero7 Black
Solid action cam with great stabilization. Good budget option for on-water footage.
GoPro HERO9 Black
5K video, front screen, 20MP. The current sweet spot for action cameras.
GoPro MAX — 360 Camera
360-degree camera. Captures everything — great for immersive boat footage.
GoPro Max Battery Cover
Replacement battery cover with USB-C charging port for GoPro Max.
Extendable Aluminum Selfie Stick/Monopod Compatible for GoPro
Extendable monopod for GoPro. Lightweight aluminum, works great on the boat.
Double Suction Cup Mount for GoPro
Double suction cup mount. Sticks solid to your boat hull or windshield.
K&F Concept 49mm Variable ND Filter (ND2-ND400)
Variable ND filter for your camera lens. Essential for bright, on-water shooting.
2-Pack Dual USB Portable Charger, Fast Charging Power Bank
10,000mAh dual USB power banks. Cheap, reliable — I keep two on the boat.
SanDisk 128GB Ultra microSDXC
128GB microSD card. Good size for GoPro or camera backup storage.
SanDisk 256GB Ultra microSDXC
256GB microSD. If you shoot a lot of 4K/5K video, get the bigger card.
ULANZI VL49 RGB Video Lights, LED Camera Light
Compact RGB LED light. Magnetic mount, rechargeable — handy for boat filming.
USB C Cable to USB A - Charging Cable 6 FT
6ft USB-C charging cable. Keep your GoPro and devices charged on the water.
Nylon Braided USB 2.0 Extension cable Extender Cord 6 FT
6ft USB extension cable. Handy for connecting cameras on the boat.
Dodgers & Lures
The business end of your setup. Dodger + hoochie/squid is the classic kokanee combo.
My Pick
Macks Double D Dodger
Versatile dodger that works in any color. My most-used dodger, period.
Hot Spot Apex Kokanee Special
Trolling spoon in kokanee-specific colors. Fishes great behind a dodger or alone.
Macks Wedding Ring
Classic spinner/worm rig. Proven kokanee catcher for decades.
Nebo Cyclops Blade Dodger
Unique blade-style dodger with serious flash. Use code addicts10 for 10% off.
Nebo Fishing Micro Hoochie
Micro-sized hoochie. Deadly on finicky kokanee. Use code addicts10 for 10% off.
Rocky Mountain Tackle Bill Fish Squid
Smaller squid with built-in flasher. Good for pressured fish.
Rocky Mountain Tackle Signature Dodger
Hand-painted premium dodger. Beautiful finishes that flat-out catch fish.
Rocky Mountain Tackle Signature Squid
Quality squid hoochie in tons of color combos. My go-to trailing lure.
Rocky Mountain Tackle UV Dodger
UV finish that glows underwater. Killer in deeper or stained water.
Downriggers
Read the guide ›The single best investment for kokanee fishing. Electric saves your arms; manual saves your wallet.
My Pick
Scotty #1116 Propack Depthpower Electric Downrigger (36″-60″)
Electric, 36"-60" boom. My go-to — I've run two for 6 seasons! In my buddies boat! 2026
Premium
Scotty #371 Downrigger Weight Snubber with Trolling Snap, Blue
great
Cannon Magnum 10 STX Electric Downrigger
Mid-range electric with backlit keypad. Popular choice for serious trollers.
Cannon 1902335 Optimum Electric Downrigger
Premium electric downrigger with auto-stop and short-stop. Cannon's best.
Cannon Terminator Kit
Heavy-duty snap weight and terminator bead combo. Must-have if you have steel downrigger cables to make emergency repairs on the water.
Cannon Uni-Troll Manual Downrigger, 10 STX
Compact manual downrigger. Good option if you're on a budget or tight on space.
Cannon Retro-Ease Weight Retreiver
Saves your downrigger weight if your cable snaps. Cheap insurance — get one.
Kokanee Addict Special - Cannonball Weight Starter Pack
Starter pack with 1, 1.5, 2, 3, and 4oz cannonball weights.
Extreme Braid 100% Pe Braided Fishing Line
Affordable braided line for downrigger cable. 150lb test is what you want.
Downrigger Line Release
Standard Off Shore release clip. I go through a lot of these — they work great.
Extreme Max Downrigger Weight - 6 lbs.
6lb coated cannonball with fin. The fin helps reduce blowback at speed.
KUFA Kokanee Flasher Organizer
Keeps your dodgers and flashers organized and tangle-free. Must-have storage.
Off Shore OR12L Left Side Planer with Flag, Yellow , 9-1/2"
Left-side planer board. Get a pair — one for each side of the boat.
Off Shore OR12R Right Side Planer with Flag, Yellow , 9-1/2"
Right-side planer board. Essential for covering more water when trolling.
Better
Scotty 1026 Swivel Pedestal Mount for All Downrigger Models
Easy, effective way to mount your downrigger system. Gives full 360 Degree rotation with 16 locking positions. Quick fastening stainless steel mounting knobs offer easy set-up and removal. Fits all Scotty downriggers. Mount Dimensions: 5 1/2” x 5 1/2” x 4”; Bolting Dimensions: 4 1/2” x 3 1/2”
Scotty #1050 Depthmaster Manual Downrigger
Manual downrigger, great entry point. Solid build quality for the price.
Scotty Downrigger Stack Clip
Power Grip Plus release with 48" leader. Perfect for stacking multiple lines.
Scotty #3025 Downrigger Weight Retriever
Same concept as the Cannon version. Attaches to your downrigger cable.
Mack's Lure 40901 Shuttle Hawk
Sends your line out to the side without a planer board. Clever little device.
Heavy Tension Snap Release Clip with Rings - 10 Pack
Heavy tension snap clips for planer boards and downrigger stacking. 10-pack.
Electronics
Fish finder guide ›You need to see the thermocline. That's where the kokanee are. Everything else is a bonus.
Best Value
Humminbird HELIX 7 CHIRP MEGA DI GPS G3N
7" screen with MEGA Down Imaging only (no side). Saves a few hundred bucks.
Humminbird HELIX 10 CHIRP MEGA SI+ GPS G4N
Top-tier fishfinder with MEGA SI+. The full package if budget allows.
Hummingbird HELIX 7 CHIRP 2D, Down Imaging & MSI (MEGA Side Imaging)
7" screen with MEGA Side Imaging. Best bang-for-buck fishfinder out there.
Humminbird HELIX 9 CHIRP MEGA SI+ GPS G4N
Same MEGA SI+ as the 10 in a slightly smaller screen. Great all-around unit.
Humminbird Lakemaster Western MSD
Western US lake maps on SD card. Detailed contours for every lake I fish.
SanDisk 64GB Ultra microSDXC
Reliable microSD for your fishfinder. 64GB is plenty for Lakemaster maps.
Rods & Reels
Kokanee have soft mouths, so you want a light, flexible rod and a reel with smooth drag and a line counter.
My Pick
Daiwa LEXA LC100H Line Counter Baitcasting Reel
Line-counter baitcasting reel. Accurate counter, smooth drag — my top reel pick.
My Pick
EGO S2 Slider Fishing Net
Telescoping handle, rubber mesh. Best net I've used — the slider handle is genius.
My Pick
MamaHog Kokanee / Trout
Purpose-built kokanee trolling rod. Light action, perfect sensitivity for kokes. My #1 pick.
Abu Garcia Black Max Low Profile
Budget-friendly casting reel. Good starter option if you're just getting into trolling.
MamaHog Big Bore Medium Heavy
Medium-heavy for lake trout with big blades and wire line. A beast.
MamaHog Jigging Hog-Laker Jigging Rod
Jigging rod built for lakers. Sensitive tip with backbone for deep jigging.
MamaHog Swine Smacker Medium
Medium-heavy for trolling salmon and lake trout. Handles big fish well.
10Pcs Rod Sock Fishing Rod Sleeve Rod Cover Braided Mesh Rod Protector
Braided mesh rod covers. Keeps guides from tangling during transport. 10-pack.
Velocity Fishing International Ninja Kokanee Trolling Rod - 7ft 6in
7'6" kokanee trolling rod. Good mid-range option with solid action.
Scent & Bait
Kokanee are scent-driven. The right attractant can make or break your day.
Must-Have
Pautzke Fire Corn
Scented corn that kokanee crush. Tip your hooks with this — you'll thank me later.
Northwest Bait & Scent Graybill's Guide Formula
Pro guide scent formula. The shrimp/anise blend is absolutely deadly.
Berkley Gulp Maggot
Soft plastic maggot tipped on hooks. Adds scent and a natural profile.
Pro Cure Super Gel
Anise or shrimp gel scent. Squeeze it on your lure for extra attraction.
Terminal Tackle
The little stuff that makes your setup work. Cheap but essential.
Ball Bearing Swivels Connector
Reduce line twist behind your dodger. Quality swivels make a real difference.
Berkley Trilene Big Game, Green, 8 Pound Test-1700 Yard
Classic mono line. Affordable and dependable — hard to beat for the price.
Brad's Killer Fishing Gear Duo Lock Snaps (Nickel, Size 2)
Quick-change snaps for lure swapping. Size 2 is perfect for kokanee setups.
Lindy Rigger Kit
Snap-on depth marker for your line. Tells you exactly how deep your bait is running.
P-Line CXX-Xtra Strong 1/4 Size Spool (600-Yard, 10-Pound, Moss Green)
Same great line in 10lb. I use this when targeting bigger kokes or trout.
P-Line CXX-Xtra Strong 1/4 Size Spool (600-Yard, 8-Pound, Moss Green)
Reliable mainline mono. 8lb is my go-to for kokanee trolling.
Seaguar Red Label 100% Fluorocarbon 200 Yard Fishing Line (15-Pound)
Near-invisible leader material. 15lb for the main leader — my go-to fluorocarbon.
Seaguar Red Label Fluorocarbon 1000-Yards Fishing Line (8-Pounds)
8lb fluoro on a 1000yd spool. Use this for trailing lure line behind the dodger.
Not sure where to start?
The Kokanee 101 guide walks you through exactly what gear you need and why — before you spend a dollar.
Start the Kokanee 101 Course →