2021 Dworshak Reservoir Kokanee Fishing Report

**sawtooth** · 01-01-2021, 09:39 PM

More fish, less Virus in 2021.

**Dorf** · 01-10-2021, 09:45 PM

I put my new to me boat in at Freeman Creek today just to see if it floats (it does). I also gave a half hearted attempt to catch fish for a couple hrs. I flatlined 70-120' out with arrows and pink hoochies. No bites or anything showing on the finder.

Has anyone fished Dworshak in the winter and had success? Any tips on where they might be this time of year?

**icelander** · 01-12-2021, 11:37 PM

Originally Posted by Dorf

I put my new to me boat in at Freeman Creek today just to see if it floats (it does). I also gave a half hearted attempt to catch fish for a couple hrs. I flatlined 70-120' out with arrows and pink hoochies. No bites or anything showing on the finder.

Has anyone fished Dworshak in the winter and had success? Any tips on where they might be this time of year?

Check out this post: https://www.kokaneefishingforum.com/...r-Time-Kokanee

My experience and understanding is the fish are down around the dam til dam discharge ramps up enough to cause current then many fish instinctively move upstream. The fish are said to be small this year so small lures, hooks and baits, and a bit slower troll. Water temps are colder than they prefer, so find the warmest which today looks to be 43.7 at 10-30'. Try closer to shore too. And please post back with how you do. Curious to know fish size this year. Thx!

**Dorf** · 01-20-2021, 12:27 AM

https://idfg.idaho.gov/press/reflect...ak-reservoir-0

**icelander** · 01-20-2021, 05:01 AM

Thx for the good and not so good news:) Do you think the fertilizing may help substantially with the size of the super abundant Kokanee this year! Any idea as to the length of the fry last summer? Thx again!

**Dorf** · 01-20-2021, 03:14 PM

https://idfg.idaho.gov/press/reflect...upper-potlatch

Key statements from the article:

"They’ll be bigger than they would have been if we didn’t add nutrients."

"it’s important to remember that their growth, and ultimately size, depends a lot on how many are out there."

"What we found was, on average, kokanee were about an inch longer and two ounces heavier in years when we added nutrients. This isn’t much if you’re thinking in terms of a single fish, but it can add up. For example, for a limit of (25) averaged sized kokanee, that will amount to an extra two pounds of fillets."

"...as this nutrient restoration project has continued, the abundance of kokanee has increased. As the number of fish has gone up, the size has come back down. With the addition of nutrients, the reservoir can support many more kokanee of a given size than before."

**Dorf** · 01-20-2021, 03:15 PM

Thanks for the winter fishing advice btw. I'll have to hit up the dam once my outboard parts come in the mail.

**crazcougg** · 02-03-2021, 03:27 PM

Originally Posted by Dorf

I put my new to me boat in at Freeman Creek today just to see if it floats (it does). I also gave a half hearted attempt to catch fish for a couple hrs. I flatlined 70-120' out with arrows and pink hoochies. No bites or anything showing on the finder.

Has anyone fished Dworshak in the winter and had success? Any tips on where they might be this time of year?

Every year this time of year I see them jumping all over the place in the backs of a lot of the bays. I believe the food source heads to the surface for a little warmer water when the sun is out. Might be a side planer or long line surface affair to catch them. I’d expect the size to be very disappointing, 8” probably being typical.

**Dorf** · 02-15-2021, 10:58 PM

I ended up trying it out on 2/5. It was a nice day; sweatshirt weather. Caught 8 in 3 hours out of Canyon Crk. I lost probably another 8. The kid was doing most of the reeling. All 8-9 inches and skinny. They were jumping quite a bit, so I fished the surface. Surface temp was 42-43. I did see them at 40-50 ft at the entrance to Canyon Crk near the cliffy area, but i didn't bother fishing deep.

**icelander** · 02-20-2021, 11:18 AM

Originally Posted by Dorf

I ended up trying it out on 2/5. It was a nice day; sweatshirt weather. Caught 8 in 3 hours out of Canyon Crk. I lost probably another 8. The kid was doing most of the reeling. All 8-9 inches and skinny. They were jumping quite a bit, so I fished the surface. Surface temp was 42-43. I did see them at 40-50 ft at the entrance to Canyon Crk near the cliffy area, but i didn't bother fishing deep.

Thanks for the report Dorf, and glad you and the kid got some to the boat!

**Fog** · 03-01-2021, 01:58 PM

Looks like they are releasing 15,000 cfs right now, through the powerhouse and spillway. How is this likely to affect the kokanee?

**amxerhull** · 03-06-2021, 10:23 AM

Past discussions tend to concur that increased flow through the dam tends to kill the bite. Our experience agrees with this theory.

**Dorf** · 03-06-2021, 12:55 PM

I caught 25 yesterday in canyon crk.

**icelander** · 03-06-2021, 03:58 PM

Nice! Using a carpenters tape (as opposed to a fishermen tape) how long are they? Any pics?

**Dorf** · 03-06-2021, 05:13 PM

I didn't measure any this time, but they haven't grown since when I did measure a few in Feb. At that time, they ranged from 8" to 9". They're skinny, as expected.

It was colder and cloudier than forecasted. Surface temp was 42. Probably 50-55 air temp. Slowing my troll down to 1.0 mph seemed to increase the bite. I used brad's gold dodgers and pink paulina micro hoochies on 15" leaders all day.

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**amxerhull** · 03-06-2021, 06:57 PM

You just destroyed a perfectly good theory. Good job!

**Dorf** · 03-06-2021, 07:23 PM

Haha. There's probably something to the flow killing the bite. At least on average. I noticed it last year. That was in April though. I do know that I regret not getting out there when it's a nice day, regardless of the fishing success I expect to have.

**Captainvette** · 03-24-2021, 01:21 AM

Caught 12 today from 1130am - 330pm between Big Eddy and Canyon Creek. Had 4 rods going with wedding rings and dodgers double stacking on 2 downriggers. Marked a ton of schools between 25’ and 45’

But they were small.... probably the smallest Koke I’ve ever caught.

We felt like we should have limited out with all the schools we went through but just 12

**Big Mack** · 03-25-2021, 05:28 PM

Got this in my email today from Reel Time Fishing:

Kokanee fishing has been picking up over the last couple weeks. Toby caught 30 Kokanee one day last week. Smallmouth Bass will generally kick on around mid April.

That's all I've heard from the area besides what's on this forum page.

**fishingmom** · 04-02-2021, 08:27 AM

Launched at big eddy at 2, short run up past first floating dock and fished opposite side, 4 oz 35-45’ line out shrimp scented corn, gold dodgers and red wedding style lures,,,got 9 lost 5 at boat plus many short strikes, didn’t measure but seems like they are growing...

**eschmit04** · 04-13-2021, 09:35 AM

Seems like not many are fishing dworshak this year??? Was doing ok earlier in the year had my slowest day ever Wednesday 4/7 with only 13 in the boat. Trying again Thursday hoping for a better bite.

**pollackoke** · 04-14-2021, 02:35 PM

Hello Koke Fishermen of the Great North,

I've never tried Dworshak; just fished Kokanee in the Boise River system. Now retired, I am looking forward to a trip up there in a couple weeks. I want to do a cast-n-blast with turkey thrown in. Could someone please give me some ideas where to start? I hope to tent camp a few days along the reservoir, fish and hunt. I have a 15 ft boat with a 30 hp outboard, so I can move along fairly well. THANK YOU.

**Dorf** · 04-14-2021, 03:51 PM

I would camp at Dent Acres. You'll have to boat a few minutes to the south end of the res for fishing.

Aside from Corps ground, there aren't really any non-private hunting opportunities near the south end of the res. And the corps ground is typically pretty steep. North of Dent acres, once you get past the private land, there is an endless expanse of State, Potlatch, and FS ground that's pretty good for turkey hunting.

**pollackoke** · 04-14-2021, 04:40 PM

Thank you Dorf, much appreciated.

Good luck this year on your home waters.

SW Idaho is pretty slow on Kokanee right now. Hoping Anderson Ranch is viable after winter releases 'er.

**Kate** · 04-15-2021, 12:08 PM

Only one place to launch with water levels this low looks like it will be awhile before anywhere but the dam will be useable

Dworshak Dam
April 2021
Day of Month Total Generation MWh Average Generation MW Station Use MWh Inflow kcfs Total Outflow kcfs Generation Flow kcfs Spill kcfs Midnight Reservoir Elevation Average Forebay Elevation Average Tailwater Elevation Average Head feet Midnight Storage kaf
1 9659 402 21 4.50 9.80 9.70 0.00 1505.96 1506.36 978.01 528.35 610.80
2 9650 402 21 5.40 9.80 9.70 0.00 1505.21 1505.56 978.02 527.54 602.00
3 7941 331 21 6.60 8.10 8.00 0.00 1504.95 1505.01 976.77 528.24 598.90
4 6757 282 21 7.60 6.90 6.80 0.00 1505.07 1504.99 975.90 529.09 600.30
5 6754 281 21 8.80 6.90 6.80 0.00 1505.39 1505.21 975.91 529.30 604.10
6 6747 281 21 8.80 6.90 6.80 0.00 1505.71 1505.56 975.89 529.67 607.90
7 6747 281 21 8.50 6.90 6.80 0.00 1505.98 1505.85 975.88 529.97 611.10
8 9.30 6.90 6.80 0.00 1506.38 1506.18 975.88 530.30 615.90
9 8.20 6.90 6.80 0.00 1506.60 1506.50 975.86 530.64 618.50
10 7.80 7.10 7.00 0.00 1506.73 1506.66 975.96 530.70 620.00
11 6.90 7.80 7.70 0.00 1506.58 1506.65 976.43 530.22 618.20
12 6.10 7.80 7.70 0.00 1506.31 1506.44 976.40 530.04 615.00
13 5.70 7.80 7.70 0.00 1506.01 1506.10 976.46 529.64 611.40
14 6.10 7.80 7.70 0.00 1505.71 1505.85 976.59 529.26 607.90
15