Long Time Strawberry Anglers: Taildancer and Way Better Half
Howdy, we were there about the same time frame, out from the marina and mostly mid channel of the lake (between Visitor Center and the N. Narrows)
All in all was a good day for THIS season on the 'Berry. 12 fish (two male Kokes in full spawn regalia). They were a surprise to us late in the morning! Since we had no kokes on before that 15-30 minute window. One of the Cutts was just huge, only 1/3 of him would go in the rubber net. All the fish were released as gently as they were ready to go spawn.
All I can do is estimate him at 28" and probably 7+pounds! On lead core line, 7 colors on koke gear. We tip our hooks with one gulp maggot usually pink; don't think it matters too much about color for them. This was our first year to work home treated shoe peg corn into the mix as well..
Those two kokes were the first we have encountered on our lines in mid August. We usually stop trolling for Kokes, and switch over to casting or drifting a white tube jig tipped w/night crawler.
We had a good time at the 'Berry this season, but nowhere near the numbers of Kokanee we usually see at the end of our lines. In our 12 days on the water there '22 , we had only 12 kokes to show for it... and about 90 Cutthroats (most in the upper slot). Great fun though, and more than enough to get these 76 years oldtimers back at the 'Berry next season!! See you'all there!! Tight lines and the drag set Just Right...Taildancer