Detecting Kokanee bites on downriggers

[95powersmoker]

Hi guys,

I've been out multiple times last spring/early summer and am looking forward to another season of Kokanee fishing. I have definitely gotten hooked on these little buggers. I still haven't caught one though. My girlfriend (first mate) has caught a couple. I just steer the boat. I would like to get your guys tips on detecting the bite. It seems as though these fish can't break the line loose from the downrigger releases and the motion of the boat rocking and waves makes it hard for me to see the rods showing a bite. If you guys have any advice, I'd appreciate it.

[dscubame]

Super soft mouths.  Super super light bite.  I started slaying them when I put my spinning reel on my fly rod, found the thermocline, flashed my glow hook and focused intently for the slightest movement on the end of my fly rod.  I outfitted a buddy the same way and he still had one heck of a time noticing the bite.  Man I chuckle when I look back at his frustration as I limit.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Try trolling with leaded line...

[dscubame]

I always thought most people trolling them are using the wedding ring.  Thought anyhow...

[sled]

I am getting into it this year.  Look on you tube.  Lots of info there.  Search lake Stevens Kokanee fishing.

[WSU]

Hi guys,

I've been out multiple times last spring/early summer and am looking forward to another season of Kokanee fishing. I have definitely gotten hooked on these little buggers. I still haven't caught one though. My girlfriend (first mate) has caught a couple. I just steer the boat. I would like to get your guys tips on detecting the bite. It seems as though these fish can't break the line loose from the downrigger releases and the motion of the boat rocking and waves makes it hard for me to see the rods showing a bite. If you guys have any advice, I'd appreciate it.

Pm me your phone number and I will help big time.

[95powersmoker]

We've been using lamiglas glass downrigger rods. They are very sensitive rods but it's still tough for me to detect. ive been looking at different releases which have adjustable tension on the hook side of the release.

Wsu, sending pm now.

[h20hunter]

Even with trout sized releases and very small rigger balls it's tough. I'm leaving the riggers at home next time out.

[hollymaster]

I always thought most people trolling them are using the wedding ring.  Thought anyhow...

I've had the best luck with mini squid in pink variations and a sling blade dodger.

[dscubame]

I always thought most people trolling them are using the wedding ring.  Thought anyhow...

I've had the best luck with mini squid in pink variations and a sling blade dodger.

Good deal.  Do you find the thermocline?  Curious if that is a common part of the formula for success.  It was imperative on the lake I would frequent.

[Fishnclifff]

I run 4oz cannonball on a slider. to a lake troll, large blade setup, 12-18" leader with mini squid with a wedding ring blade in front--double hooks.
On the front hook I use a cured salad shrimp, on the back hook a pink maggot  or corn.

Put 422 fish in the boat last year.

Same setup for Riffe lake for silvers.

[high country]

look at the chamberlain release. I use snubbers and a slingblade with a short 12" leader to a pink hoochie and corn works well. for detecting the bite, our fish go 16-24" so its pretty obvious when you get one on, but the chamberlain can be set to release uber light.

[sled]

Even with trout sized releases and very small rigger balls it's tough. I'm leaving the riggers at home next time out.

. What kind of poles do you use?

[high country]

small poles and a chamberlain and you can't miss.

[95powersmoker]

look at the chamberlain release. I use snubbers and a slingblade with a short 12" leader to a pink hoochie and corn works well. for detecting the bite, our fish go 16-24" so its pretty obvious when you get one on, but the chamberlain can be set to release uber light.

That's the one I've been looking at. Are they worth the $20 per release?

[95powersmoker]

Also, does anybody use snubbers when fishing with downriggers and how do you rig them?

[fish vacuum]

Try trolling with leaded line...

This.

[high country]

The chamberlain is worth it IF you never go in the salt. I've heard that they can corrode if not rinsed.

I've run snubbers between the flasher and the lure. I can't say it improved anything with light poles but is less likely to blow out the mouth with stiffer ones.

[Alchase]

Another tip to go with snubbers, replace all the hooks on your lures with Gamakatsu hooks. Your catch rate will go up dramatically.

Many use downriggers with good luck for Kokes.

I do not use downriggers, I use a light action pole with sensitive tip,
6 lb HighVis line to a 1 oz banana sinker, blade string (change type depending on conditions), snubber, Double Whammy with two Gamakatsu hooks (or weeding ring, spoon, pink squid all with Gamakatsu hooks) for bait I put two Pink Berkley Gulp alive maggots on the top hook and two Kernals of white shoepeg corn on the bottom or trail hook.
No other color of power bait maggots works, and have not had good luck with corn that was not white shoepeg corn.

PS: you will notice most stores run out of Pink Berkley Gulp alive Maggots quickly. They will tell you it does not make a difference, do not believe them, go to Amazon and by in bulk, LOL

We usually wait until we have 10-15 lbs of Kokenee to smoke then do a batch. Divide it up into 1 lb bags of smoked meat only, freeze the rest. We always have a bag of smoked Kokanee in the refrigerator.

In the off season I buy tons of Double Whammys and Wedding Rings, then change out the hooks, make up a bunch with variying blade size and color, and add snap swivels.
Snap swivels for each tie point, sinker, snubber, blade string, and lures makes swap out a flash.
I use pieces of round 1 ft pipe insulation to hold my lure rigs.
Similar to the Lindy Rigs 
http://www.amazon.com/Lindy-AC110-X-Treme-Rigger/dp/B00144CXFQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1452710835&sr=8-2&keywords=foam+fishing+leader+holder

butI can make 8 for a dollar of pipe insulation.

[Alchase]

I should mention where I fish for kokes you rarely have to go deeper then 25 feet so not using a downrigger is an option.

[high country]

I used to use the pipe insulation, once you try the snelled rig holders.....you wonder how you ever live without it.

[Ridgeratt]

Instead of pipe insulation I use the pool noodles you get from the dollar store. Over 6 foot of leader wrap. It comes in colors to also make it easy to grab different leader test by sight.

I fish down riggers, leaded line and mono with a jet diver and they all work.

[Alchase]

I have a bunch of Lindy rig holders as well, and I have used a noodle or two, LOL
They all work. It is so much easier to swap lures, blade size, or color ect... When all you have to do is un-clip the swivel and clip a new one.

[high country]

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Cabelas-Fisherman-Series-Spinner-Snell-Holder-with-Plano-Utility-Box/739192.uts?productVariantId=1269829&srccode=cii_17588969&cpncode=39-134998087-2&WT.tsrc=CSE&WT.mc_id=GoogleProductAds&WT.z_mc_id1=10055553&rid=20

[Griiz]

Hi guys,

I've been out multiple times last spring/early summer and am looking forward to another season of Kokanee fishing. I have definitely gotten hooked on these little buggers. I still haven't caught one though. My girlfriend (first mate) has caught a couple. I just steer the boat. I would like to get your guys tips on detecting the bite. It seems as though these fish can't break the line loose from the downrigger releases and the motion of the boat rocking and waves makes it hard for me to see the rods showing a bite. If you guys have any advice, I'd appreciate it.

Run a 4 to 5 foot line from your line clip to your cable. It allows you to see little shakers when salmon fishing also. I just break the line loose by realing pole tip into water and pulling up with fishing pole pointed at eownrigger ball = you don't break your pole.

[jasnt]

Tagging

[95powersmoker]

Hi guys,

I've been out multiple times last spring/early summer and am looking forward to another season of Kokanee fishing. I have definitely gotten hooked on these little buggers. I still haven't caught one though. My girlfriend (first mate) has caught a couple. I just steer the boat. I would like to get your guys tips on detecting the bite. It seems as though these fish can't break the line loose from the downrigger releases and the motion of the boat rocking and waves makes it hard for me to see the rods showing a bite. If you guys have any advice, I'd appreciate it.

Run a 4 to 5 foot line from your line clip to your cable. It allows you to see little shakers when salmon fishing also. I just break the line loose by realing pole tip into water and pulling up with fishing pole pointed at eownrigger ball = you don't break your pole.

Are you saying to make the release longer? I think they are like 30" or something like that.

[high country]

How big are your kokes? The ones I catch are 16-22" so there isn't much question as to when they hit. I run rubber bands with light rods when fishing for dink on riggers. The action in the band helps a,bunch and it's easy to break.

[MtnMuley]

I run light koke rods and use 4lb test. I pin the line at the tip of the clip and have never had an issue noticing bites on koke from 10" to 20+". No snubbers or rubber here, as the 4lb line provides ample stretch.  Not a lot of violent water where I fish though.

[WSU]

His fish are probably a lot smaller. Our west side lakes often have much smaller fish

[Griiz]

Hi guys,

I've been out multiple times last spring/early summer and am looking forward to another season of Kokanee fishing. I have definitely gotten hooked on these little buggers. I still haven't caught one though. My girlfriend (first mate) has caught a couple. I just steer the boat. I would like to get your guys tips on detecting the bite. It seems as though these fish can't break the line loose from the downrigger releases and the motion of the boat rocking and waves makes it hard for me to see the rods showing a bite. If you guys have any advice, I'd appreciate it.

Run a 4 to 5 foot line from your line clip to your cable. It allows you to see little shakers when salmon fishing also. I just break the line loose by realing pole tip into water and pulling up with fishing pole pointed at eownrigger ball = you don't break your pole.

Are you saying to make the release longer? I think they are like 30" or something like that.

Yes, cut the line off and tie your own from the release clip to the clamp that goes on the wire.

[Bill W]

Run a 4 to 5 foot line from your line clip to your cable. It allows you to see little shakers when salmon fishing also. I just break the line loose by realing pole tip into water and pulling up with fishing pole pointed at eownrigger ball = you don't break your pole.

This and a kokanee rod (aka a flyrod or ultralight spinning rod).   I use one I bought at Outdoor Emporium and have a casting reel on it.   That one was not a spinning rod style.  I also had a rod built on a 5 wt 9' fly rod blank and it shows everything.

[95powersmoker]

Last season I fished only on Lake Stevens, however I have a couple weekends planned down at Merwin this year and hopefully make a trip or two to Chelan. The fish we have caught so far have been 10-12" or so. We are using 7' Lamiglas Glass downrigger rods. They are pretty lightweight and I can load them up pretty good on the releases. I just have a hard time seeing the bite without the fish popping the line out of the release and the boat rocking which gives the rod a slight bumping action. We have 8lb test on our rods and use a flasher and about 14" of leader to our rigs. After talking with WSU, we seem to be doing mostly the right things. I just need to get it tuned in. I do appreciate all the suggestions you guys have to offer. Keep em coming if you would.

[Alchase]

One other tip, Kokes tend to school up by size. If you are catching a lot of smaller fish changing up your depth or speed can bring you into were the bigger fish are sometimes.

[h20hunter]

Here is a little clip from taking my boy and his buddy Andrew out for their first koke trip. They drove the boat all over...had a blast, and landed a few.

[95powersmoker]

Nice video h2ohunter.

Another question, how many of you guys are running braided downrigger line?