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Thread: New to Kokanee Fishing

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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2020
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    5

    Default New to Kokanee Fishing

    Hello all,

    I grew up fishing in Northern Idaho, now I live near Tacoma in Washington state. I have recently began lake fishing with my Colorado pontoon boat and trolling motor. I have been targeting kokanee all summer with very little luck but I am determined. I generally prefer to fish closer to home than travel to some of the larger lakes in central WA. However, I may take a trip this summer for a week and try to get into some bigger fish. I don't use a downrigger, only a line counter, 3oz lead ball, dodger, and hootchie. Any advice you can give would be greatly appreciated. Tight lines!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Harrisville, Utah
    Posts
    2,709

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    bairfishin
    Its been one of those seasons catching kokes. One day fishing is doing great and then little to nothing for a few days. My suggestion is get downriggers as the silver bullets go down deeper as the summer progresses. If not try a Dypsy Diver, Pink Lady, or a Jet Diver, these will help achieve the depths. Will be looking fwd to you posting your adventures. We enjoy pics very much.
    2000 F250 7.3L Diesel
    2007 Columbia 2018 Fisherman XL Yamaha F150 Yamaha 9.9 kicker 4 Walker Electric Downriggers Raymarine Element HV 9 Uniden Solara VHF

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2020
    Posts
    5

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    Quote Originally Posted by Bduck View Post
    bairfishin
    Its been one of those seasons catching kokes. One day fishing is doing great and then little to nothing for a few days. My suggestion is get downriggers as the silver bullets go down deeper as the summer progresses. If not try a Dypsy Diver, Pink Lady, or a Jet Diver, these will help achieve the depths. Will be looking fwd to you posting your adventures. We enjoy pics very much.
    How do these divers work? Based on speed? Do you just let the amount of line out that you want to go down?

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Utah
    Posts
    3,859

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    If you are following the depth and set back tables you are just as good as those devices with your 3 oz. weight. But you will never be as accurate as a downrigger. You get the added element on being able to see your weight on the graph to verify your depth. As Bduck mentioned, it was kind of a Covid year for Kokanee fishing this year. I know we had to work a lot harder this year for fewer hook ups. Lakes can also be pretty specific some times so the guys/gals on the Washington forum will certainly be a big help if any of them fish the same lakes that you ae fishing. Can you give us an idea what you drag for tackle as a typical set up?
    2006 Dodge Ram 3500 Dually, 21' North River Seahawk

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Nov 2020
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    5

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    Quote Originally Posted by SuperD View Post
    If you are following the depth and set back tables you are just as good as those devices with your 3 oz. weight. But you will never be as accurate as a downrigger. You get the added element on being able to see your weight on the graph to verify your depth. As Bduck mentioned, it was kind of a Covid year for Kokanee fishing this year. I know we had to work a lot harder this year for fewer hook ups. Lakes can also be pretty specific some times so the guys/gals on the Washington forum will certainly be a big help if any of them fish the same lakes that you ae fishing. Can you give us an idea what you drag for tackle as a typical set up?
    Yes, I'm using Mack's sling blade, on a three foot leader behind the 3 or 4 ounce weight, pink hootchie 8 inches behind the dodger. Also have used a wiggle hootchie. Using my own scented corn (garlic+blood tuna, garlic+fire cure, and garlic+koke scent+salt cure). Using 12lb mono on a 9'6" rod. I don't have a line counter reel yet, using the snap on type counter by Berkley.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
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    Utah
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bduck View Post
    We enjoy pics very much.

    Too bad uploading pics here has become a total PITA.
    2006 Dodge Ram 3500 Dually, 21' North River Seahawk

  7. #7
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    Jan 2009
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    Utah
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    Add a few other dodger styles to your arsenal such as a sling blade type. Also, play with your leader lengths a bit, 8" - 12" on the regular and micro hootchies. For your wiggle hootchies and Apexes, think somewhere between 20" - 30" leaders.
    2006 Dodge Ram 3500 Dually, 21' North River Seahawk

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Nov 2020
    Posts
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    Quote Originally Posted by SuperD View Post
    Add a few other dodger styles to your arsenal such as a sling blade type. Also, play with your leader lengths a bit, 8" - 12" on the regular and micro hootchies. For your wiggle hootchies and Apexes, think somewhere between 20" - 30" leaders.
    I have three different colors of the sling blade. I have read that some people bend them slightly, haven't done that though. Good info on the wiggle hootchie leader length, I'll have to re-tie those.

  9. #9

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    Quote Originally Posted by SuperD View Post
    Too bad uploading pics here has become a total PITA.
    I just tested, and the upload works fine. Just click on the 'insert image' icon, select file from your computer and click upload. It doesn't work from the mobile though...

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Apr 2017
    Location
    SE Idaho
    Posts
    20

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    You might want to try a 1 or 2 oz weight with a 100’ set back, kokanee are more likely to hit what’s above them rather than what’s below.

  11. #11
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    Utah
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    Quote Originally Posted by Trident13 View Post
    You might want to try a 1 or 2 oz weight with a 100’ set back, kokanee are more likely to hit what’s above them rather than what’s below.
    That gets him down to about 25’, the window that they are around that depth can be pretty short.
    2006 Dodge Ram 3500 Dually, 21' North River Seahawk

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