Lake Merwin Kokanee

[Hoytstaffshooter83]

We have some lights out Kokanee fishing down here in SW Wa. My friend and I headed up to Merwin to try our luck. Sadly I have not done this fishery in many years and after yesterday on the water and the dinner table I remember just how great these fish are!!  This is still early in the season and the fish are super soft mouthed.. more so then normal! and the water is at 52 degrees.. We used 1 0z at 18- 25 pulls with a slow speed, these fish are right on top!  We ended up getting our limit of 10  and for the day went a sad   10-36!! we lost 26 kokes! some bruisers as well!! I was not using trialers on my wedding rings and I think that cost uf the majority of those 26!!!!!  but that many hook ups and a limit is always a fun day!!

[lostcat]

How many garbage fish did you guys catch before you took your limit? i know years back we used to catch 5 crap pikeminnows to every 1 Kok.

[Huntbear]

I have always loved fishing Merwin.  even the pikeminnows did not bother me, at least there was action.  I know that there are some monster Kokes in that lake.  Great eating..

Now I am just flat jealous!!!   

Good lookin fish.

[Alchase]

Hoyt, I change out all the hooks that come with wedding rings or double whammy's with red Gamagatsu hooks. This really makes a world of difference in the amount of Kokes I bring to the boat. Another trick I learned is when a Koke starts spinning, slacken your line by dropping your rod tip a bit, they will not get the leverage to pull the hook out of their mouth.

[jackelope]

the problem with the pikeminnows is they will eat all the koke smolts.

nuisance fish.

[Huntbear]

the problem with the pikeminnows is they will eat all the koke smolts.

nuisance fish.

they sure are, we use to stick em in the gills and throw them back, the birds love em....  had a hawk swoop down and grab one about 10 ft. off the back of the boat one time.  Very cool

[bucklucky]

I didnt know what a pike minnow was, aka squaw fish 

[Hoytstaffshooter83]

we didnt have any pikeminows, every hit was a koke, and we did lose quite a few when the got to the top and spun, my buddy had never fished for them before, after I told him to keep the rod down and keep them under the surface we did not lose as mnay, but im going to tie some trailers with red hooks and give that a go

[jackelope]

I didnt know what a pike minnow was, aka squaw fish 

aka piece of crap fish that eats lots of salmon, trout and steelhead smolts. huntbear has the right method of handling them down.
there's a bounty for them on the big C...at least there used to be.
they are a native fish though...
 

[Alchase]

Jackelope, they are native to the Columbia/Snake system, But I thought they were introduced to lakes by bass fisherman using live minnow bait? 
Not sure if that is accurate though.

[jackelope]

i don't know either. i catch them on the yak, i know that, and i don't like them. i know that too.

[Jason]

looks like you guys had fun, I need get up there soon to catch some kookanee, they are great smoked, makes my mouth water just thinking about it .

[Hoytstaffshooter83]

They were damn good on the grill last night.

[TeacherMan]

One ounce of lead, and a wedding ring? No dodger or pop gear, simple set up. Looks fun...

[shoot-em-dead]

Man I miss fishing Merwin. Things like that make me wish I never moved away. I used to be out on that lake at least twice a week. We had a lot of great times out there and still do when I can make it. We always baked the kokes and my wife would make homemade rolls and chesey potatoes. YUM.