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Author Topic: School me on Kokes  (Read 20066 times)

Offline Alchase

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Re: School me on Kokes
« Reply #15 on: March 05, 2025, 07:12:16 AM »
I troll for Kokes from 0.5 - 1 mph, the slower the better. I have never used a down rigger others can tell you more about them.
I use 1 oz banana sinkers, Kokopros Kokanee Flasher, Snubber, 36" leader with swivels on both ends for quick change, to Double Whammy with double red Gamakatsu hooks. Top hook gets White Shoe-peg corn. Trail hook get "red" Power Bait Maggots. I tried white maggots, but the red maggots out fished the white by alot, but that could be local to the West side. Also use wedding rings but change the hooks to a double Gamakatsu hook setup.
I use to record what I was using, conditions, and fish count, etc... and the trail hook caught the fast majority of the fish.
If you are not getting bites, as mentioned earlier, a "S" pattern or figure "8" can entice a bite.  You can also shift into neutral momentarily. This lets your rig slow and sink a bit, then shift back into forward will speed it back up. 
I always keep one rod rigged with a short Willow blade flasher string instead of the Kokanee Flashers. But the Kokannee Flasher setup, is my go to.
I also keep a bunch of leaders pre-setup with varying colors wrapped around a 6" foam pipe wrap (Pool Noodles are the same thing but much cheaper) for a quick change. Sometimes a color change can make the difference in a bite.
Kokanee have extremely soft mouths. A Snubber will improve your catch rate significantly. Also when reeling in, Kokanee tend to spin when the get to the surface. This can pull the hook out if not careful. Putting your pole tip in the water a few inches can keep them from surface spinning until you can get them in the net.

Good luck, and welcome to the addiction, Kokanee fishing is the crack of fishing!
 :hello:

Only 2 defining forces sacrificed themselves for you:
The American Soldier and Jesus Christ. One died for your freedom, the other for your soul.

My rock,
He trains my hands for war and my fingers for battle.
Psalm 144.1

Offline Bullkllr

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Re: School me on Kokes
« Reply #16 on: March 05, 2025, 08:01:02 AM »

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.

I've had good success with those for rainbows. Usually with a worm or worm/spinner. They do reduce the drag quite a bit compared to many attractors. Never really tried them for kokes though.
A Man's Gotta Eat

Offline baldopepper

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Re: School me on Kokes
« Reply #17 on: March 05, 2025, 08:16:12 AM »

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.

I've had good success with those for rainbows. Usually with a worm or worm/spinner. They do reduce the drag quite a bit compared to many attractors. Never really tried them for kokes though.
Also good success with them on rainbows but not so much on Kokes.  Some success with the two blades but not the four blades. Really like em both for trout, baited wedding ring about 3' behind is a killer for us on Lake Roosevelt.

Offline Mtnwalker

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Re: School me on Kokes
« Reply #18 on: March 05, 2025, 08:29:11 AM »
Surprised nobody has mentioned the Brads kokanee cut plugs. One of our better big fish producers, though we don't seem to get the numbers of smaller fish on em but I'm fine with that.

Offline Rob

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Re: School me on Kokes
« Reply #19 on: March 05, 2025, 08:47:27 AM »
I troll for Kokes from 0.5 - 1 mph, the slower the better. I have never used a down rigger others can tell you more about them.
I use 1 oz banana sinkers, Kokopros Kokanee Flasher, Snubber, 36" leader with swivels on both ends for quick change, to Double Whammy with double red Gamakatsu hooks. Top hook gets White Shoe-peg corn. Trail hook get "red" Power Bait Maggots. I tried white maggots, but the red maggots out fished the white by alot, but that could be local to the West side. Also use wedding rings but change the hooks to a double Gamakatsu hook setup.
I use to record what I was using, conditions, and fish count, etc... and the trail hook caught the fast majority of the fish.
If you are not getting bites, as mentioned earlier, a "S" pattern or figure "8" can entice a bite.  You can also shift into neutral momentarily. This lets your rig slow and sink a bit, then shift back into forward will speed it back up. 
I always keep one rod rigged with a short Willow blade flasher string instead of the Kokanee Flashers. But the Kokannee Flasher setup, is my go to.
I also keep a bunch of leaders pre-setup with varying colors wrapped around a 6" foam pipe wrap (Pool Noodles are the same thing but much cheaper) for a quick change. Sometimes a color change can make the difference in a bite.
Kokanee have extremely soft mouths. A Snubber will improve your catch rate significantly. Also when reeling in, Kokanee tend to spin when the get to the surface. This can pull the hook out if not careful. Putting your pole tip in the water a few inches can keep them from surface spinning until you can get them in the net.

Good luck, and welcome to the addiction, Kokanee fishing is the crack of fishing!
 :hello:

Great info - I have logged this in my notes!
_______________________________________
Sit tall in the saddle, hold you head up high.
Keep your eyes fixed on where the trail meets the sky.
Live like you ain’t afraid to die.
Just sit back and enjoy your ride
  - Chris Ledoux

Offline Rob

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Re: School me on Kokes
« Reply #20 on: March 05, 2025, 08:49:15 AM »
Thanks for the info on the Macks Lure Flash Lite Trolling flashers.  I have enough Rainbows in my local lake (Cocolalla) and I will definitely give them a go.  I have drown more than one Rainbow on the big cowbells.
_______________________________________
Sit tall in the saddle, hold you head up high.
Keep your eyes fixed on where the trail meets the sky.
Live like you ain’t afraid to die.
Just sit back and enjoy your ride
  - Chris Ledoux

Offline Rob

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Re: School me on Kokes
« Reply #21 on: March 05, 2025, 08:50:47 AM »
Surprised nobody has mentioned the Brads kokanee cut plugs. One of our better big fish producers, though we don't seem to get the numbers of smaller fish on em but I'm fine with that.

I will keep an eye open.  Any colors you gravitate towards?
_______________________________________
Sit tall in the saddle, hold you head up high.
Keep your eyes fixed on where the trail meets the sky.
Live like you ain’t afraid to die.
Just sit back and enjoy your ride
  - Chris Ledoux

Offline Rob

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Re: School me on Kokes
« Reply #22 on: March 05, 2025, 08:53:10 AM »
Looking thru my tackle, I actually have one of those Brads cut plugs that I picked up over the winter.  Hot Red with gold flakes.
_______________________________________
Sit tall in the saddle, hold you head up high.
Keep your eyes fixed on where the trail meets the sky.
Live like you ain’t afraid to die.
Just sit back and enjoy your ride
  - Chris Ledoux

Offline Mtnwalker

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Re: School me on Kokes
« Reply #23 on: March 05, 2025, 09:00:51 AM »
Surprised nobody has mentioned the Brads kokanee cut plugs. One of our better big fish producers, though we don't seem to get the numbers of smaller fish on em but I'm fine with that.

I will keep an eye open.  Any colors you gravitate towards?

We always did well on pink in the morning and purple as the sun got brighter overhead

Offline nwwanderer

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Re: School me on Kokes
« Reply #24 on: March 05, 2025, 09:28:07 AM »
Ask Skillet for more tips

Offline Caseyd

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Re: School me on Kokes
« Reply #25 on: March 05, 2025, 11:04:08 AM »
Pro troll Kokanee killer

Offline Machias

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Re: School me on Kokes
« Reply #26 on: March 05, 2025, 11:54:49 AM »
Youtube there is a guy, "Walking on Water" videos.  He does a lot of Kokanee fishing videos in North Idaho.
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Offline Rob

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Re: School me on Kokes
« Reply #27 on: March 05, 2025, 12:26:30 PM »
Pro troll Kokanee killer

I like the look of those!
_______________________________________
Sit tall in the saddle, hold you head up high.
Keep your eyes fixed on where the trail meets the sky.
Live like you ain’t afraid to die.
Just sit back and enjoy your ride
  - Chris Ledoux

Offline Rob

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Re: School me on Kokes
« Reply #28 on: March 05, 2025, 12:26:56 PM »
Youtube there is a guy, "Walking on Water" videos.  He does a lot of Kokanee fishing videos in North Idaho.

Will do
_______________________________________
Sit tall in the saddle, hold you head up high.
Keep your eyes fixed on where the trail meets the sky.
Live like you ain’t afraid to die.
Just sit back and enjoy your ride
  - Chris Ledoux

Offline Rob

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Re: School me on Kokes
« Reply #29 on: March 05, 2025, 12:27:19 PM »
What time of year do folks start fishing for them?
_______________________________________
Sit tall in the saddle, hold you head up high.
Keep your eyes fixed on where the trail meets the sky.
Live like you ain’t afraid to die.
Just sit back and enjoy your ride
  - Chris Ledoux

 


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