Detecting Kokanee bites on downriggers

[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