School me on Kokes

[Machias]

I have been told Lake Pend Oreille has some decent sized Kokanee.

Just pay attention to the weather on that lake, it is no joke when the wind picks up from the SW.

[Rob]

Understood! 

[hookr88]

One of the guys at Howard’s  Tackle out of Caldwell turned me onto his shoe peg corn recipe. It’s Wizard Kokanee Killer Korn Kure and Pro Cure Predator Oil. I then use Spilt Milt’s recommendation of topping that off with water soluble Pro Cure Anise or Bloody Tuna for quick scent disbursement. I bottle it in one months worth of bait and freeze it. I thaw it use it and throw away after 30 days. Keep it fresh. My catch rates have increased dramatically since using this formula.

[Rob]

I have 3 cans of corn ready for curing and scenting!

Can't wait to get out. 

Just did some maintenance on my trolling motor, ordered some long line spreaders and FishEng lure boards.  Plan to tie up some leaders with better hooks over the next few weeks and get the boat de-winterized soon. 

Hoping to hit the water in mid-April to start exploring.

Been watching a few Tyler Hicks videos every night too. 

[Alchase]

I have 3 cans of corn ready for curing and scenting!

Can't wait to get out. 

Just did some maintenance on my trolling motor, ordered some long line spreaders and FishEng lure boards.  Plan to tie up some leaders with better hooks over the next few weeks and get the boat de-winterized soon. 

Hoping to hit the water in mid-April to start exploring.

Been watching a few Tyler Hicks videos every night too. 

Getting rid of the meh hooks that come with most lures is one of the most productive ways to improve catching Kokanee.
The Red Kamakatsu hooks are fantastic and extremely sharp. On a double hook rig, keep your eye on the other hook when removing a fish. I hooked into the biggest Kokanee I have ever caught 22" on a Double Whammy with Gamakatsu reds on it. The fish was hooked on the lower hook, but at 22" it was big enough make it difficult to unhook holding the pole in the other hand. The fish gave a big wiggle, and the top Gamakatsu slid right through the top of my Thumbnail and on through my thumb like it was butter. Now I could not put the fish down, or reach my knife. 
My son was 4 at the time, was starring at my thumb with this hook all the was through it and his face turned white. I calmly asked him if he could grab the pliers and cut the line for me, which he did, without puking! I then took the pliers and cut the barb off, and pulled the hook back out. He says, "that was pretty cool Dad, but I almost hurled"! 

There are hundreds of Kokanee Lures out there. Alot of them work perfectly fine. Of course everyone has their go to rig they swear by. If it is shiny and pink it will probably catch Kokanee, LOL

[Rob]

yikes!  sounds like a character building experience!

In watching the Spilt Milt videos, he did some interesting hook experiments.  He rigged one rod with the Red Gamakatsu Ocotopus hooks, and the other with the Red Gamakatsu drop shot/split shot hooks.  All other tackle was the same.

He landed 7 fish that morning. He lost probably 6 on the octopus hooks (over 50%) and only one on the split/drop shot hooks.  He split/Drop accounted for most of his take for the day.

He attributed the difference between the hooks to the wire gauge being thinner and therefore penetrating better on the split/drop hooks.

These were his top five hooks:
#5 Eagle Claw Lazer Sharp Octopus https://amzn.to/2YC2Bpw
#4 Maruto Sickle Hooks https://bit.ly/3easpyS
#3 Owner Mosquito Hooks https://amzn.to/2NCaZPC
#2 Gamakatsu Finesse Wide Gaphttps://amzn.to/3g6oYJG
#1 Gamakatsu Split Shot/Drop Shot https://amzn.to/3g5NpH3


Here is the video - it was quite interesting.

[hookr88]

  Yea, I did something similar Sockeye fishing on Baker Lake with a U20 flatfish and double treble hooks. I was was removing the hooks from a sockeye when my other rod went off. I instinctively reached for the rod and sunk a hook past the barb into each thumb. It was more painful and more difficult than any chinese finger trap I've ever used. I was on my own until my buddy landed the fish. I hope never again.