School me on Kokes

[Rob]

I plan to learn the local Kokanee fishery here in North Idaho.  Seems like every other lake in the area has a healthy population of Kokes.

I have a couple downriggers and I have picked up some kokanee rods and reels so I should be good on that end.

I have spent the winter buying a selection of small dodgers and cowbell rigs in a variety of colors.  I also picked up some blade flashers (sling blades).

I was told to cure and scent shoepeg corn.  Anise and bloody tuna scents were recomended to me.

I feel weak on lures.  I have a small selection of trolling spoons, hoochie-like things and wedding ring style spinners

I hear trolling speeds between 0.9 and 1.5 are best.  Drop the downriggers to slightly above where I see fish and troll in slow s turns.  Best time is early AM and close to sunset as they are light sensitive.

So what am I missing?  What are your super producing lure/dodger setups?  What scents do you use?

[Oldguy]

I had good luck with small kokanee size flashter with a wedding ring behind it. Shoe peg on hook but I'll have to look to see what else used on hook. Never bothered with scents. Looks like you are off to a good start. Good luck.

Found it. Berkley Power Bait Gulp Maggots. (white)

[Rob]

Thanks!  I think I have a jar of those power maggots somewhere...

[Limhangerslayer]

If your running downriggers drop the ball below the fish and get a bunch of Caribbeaners and run a 18” bumped to a small downrigger clip.  6 oz weight off the Caribbeaner clip and clip on the line.  Your are free to drop and pick up at whatever level they are in quick.  If you get a bite it drops to the bottom and you put on another one.

[Oldguy]

One more thing. If you aren't getting strikes, try turning (S) . I think they follow and when you change direction they think it is trying to evade them. At least that is what the last kokanee said when I was taking him off the hook.

[Parasite]

ditch the cowbells. you'll probably lose more fish on those.

[3nails]

 Save yourself a ton of time and watch Tyler Hicks videos on Youtube. Spilt Milt Productions. Quite possibly the best kokanee fisherman in the country.

[Skillet]

One more thing. If you aren't getting strikes, try turning (S) . I think they follow and when you change direction they think it is trying to evade them. At least that is what the last kokanee said when I was taking him off the hook.

Old troller trick.  It's more about alternatively speeding up and slowing down your gear in the water, which gives it different action.   If you're turning to starboard, the starboard gear slows and the port gear speeds up.  Pay attention to which side gets hit in a turn. If inside gets hit, they want to see a slower presentation. If the outside, faster. Adjust accordingly,  you will catch more fish.

[Skillet]

Save yourself a ton of time and watch Tyler Hicks videos on Youtube. Spilt Milt Productions. Quite possibly the best kokanee fisherman in the country.

He's good, but until I see him jigging for them at night I'll refrain from including him in the top tier of koke producers.

[Ghost Hunter]

Have a boat project going right now I hope to use for kokanee when finished.

[baldopepper]

Biggest problem for me is finding the fish. By that I mean they seem to travel in schools and it can be tough findind and staying over them as they move.  When I get over the schools they seem to hit pretty readily most decent ups, but can spend a lot time fishing dead water.  I've kinda learned to move around with lines ready to go down until I actually see fish on the screen. Couple hundred yards can make a big difference.  Usually fishing pretty shallow so not hard to set up once you find em  I've watched some of the guides cruising along then suddenly whip their boat around with lines going down as they troll back thru the fish they've just spotted

Msn


 

[Rob]

If your running downriggers drop the ball below the fish and get a bunch of Caribbeaners and run a 18” bumped to a small downrigger clip.  6 oz weight off the Caribbeaner clip and clip on the line.  Your are free to drop and pick up at whatever level they are in quick.  If you get a bite it drops to the bottom and you put on another one.

That is an interesting idea...

[Rob]

Yep - S turns are in my bag of tricks for sure.

I have only fished for Kokes one time and they were pretty thick around 90 feet in the deepest part of the lake.  I only had a few spoons with me as I was really targeting Bass (who were not cooperating).  So my buddy and I did some jigging and picked up a couple.  Now I want to do it right.  We were fishing middle of the day - probably 90 degrees out so not really the best time to target them as I understand it.

Since they are plankton eaters, someone told me I should target the downwind mouths of bays as the wind pushes the plankton in there.  Made sense to me.  But fish are like Elk I guess.  The Elk can be found where the Elk are...

The cowbell rigs I picked up are tiny.  Blades about the size of a mepps spinner.  I tend to agree though - I think a dodger/flasher will be a better choice.  The cowbells will come out if nothing else is working.

Anybody try the Macks Lure Flash Lite Trolling flashers?
https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/macks-lure-flash-lite-troll-2-blade

I like that they kinda collapse when reeling them in - feels like one would be less likely to lose fish or detect a bite.

When do people start fishing for Kokanee?  May/June?

[Rob]

Have a boat project going right now I hope to use for kokanee when finished.

I still owe you for the help during Spring Bear a few years back.  We should meet up and try a couple lakes sometime - We are only a couple hours apart from your Summer place (which I am still very jealous of!)

[Rob]

Does anyone add a flasher to their downrigger ball?

Something like a Big Al's Flasher?
https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/big-als-fish-flash