Spirit Lures?

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Cybersnow

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 3, 2018
Messages
106
Location
McCall Idaho
I see a number of ads on google and other places about a “great” new lure called Looney something. They are suggesting even running it without a flasher for kokanee. Anybody actually using them? What, other than the typical flasher & wedding ring baited with corn or other bait is anyone using?
 
I
Going to have to give them a try. Looks like the recommended speed is a little faster than what I normally go but you never know. Was thinking of using a double snelled hook set-up.
What size spoon you think would work best? Kinda new at Kokanee fishing, is smaller better? I notice that most of the lures sold on line are relatively small. I am thinking of buying a six pack of different colors and running one on a downrigger and a conventional lure on the other.
 
I

What size spoon you think would work best? Kinda new at Kokanee fishing, is smaller better? I notice that most of the lures sold on line are relatively small. I am thinking of buying a six pack of different colors and running one on a downrigger and a conventional lure on the other.
I was thinking the size 1 since the low end of the recommended speed is 1.5 mph and doing the same 1 and 1. Always looking for something new to keep it interesting. I’m sure the pesky rainbows will like them if nothing else.
 
I was thinking the size 1 since the low end of the recommended speed is 1.5 mph and doing the same 1 and 1. Always looking for something new to keep it interesting. I’m sure the pesky rainbows will like them if nothing else.
What hooks and colors are you thinking? I am pretty new to Kokanee fishing.
 
I ordered 2 Pink Flamingos, 1 Watermelon, 1 Lemon Lime all in size 1. Also threw in a package of the Hula heads. I wanted the White Knight but it was sold out.
 
Again, I am pretty new at trolling for Kokanee. I see greens, pinks and whites. What colors at what depth? Also do you tie 2 hooks on or a single? Run bait on the hook? Corn, etc??
 
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Kokanee are soft mouth. I use a double hook setup which the trailing hook is referred to as a stinger. A good noodlee rod similar to a fly rod acts as a shock absorber helps with the fight preventing hook from ripping out. Kokanee like 52° which in early season the kokes in most instances are high in water column. As temps warm up so does the water driving kokes to stay in their comfort zone. I check water temps with a FishHawk temp/depth reader from the surface down to as much as 80’ or more if need.
52° is the key
 
I ordered several in different colors based on the choices above. What weight line on the double hook set up and which hooks. I do have a pair of Kokanee rod set ups from a Kokanee shop in Boise ID also bought a FishHawk. Bait or not?
 
You'll want to learn to make up your own leaders with stingers or RMT sells a package of leaders with stingers, always having replacements on hand. A fishing buddy showed me a container a few years ago he uses to store his leaders in. Its called Mack's Lure Pip's leader caddy available on Amazon or can be found in locally. I bought the same which there is 2 sizes, have both but prefer the larger 4½". Use 12-15lb for leader line, any heavier leader line will start getting too stiff and could affect lure action especially tipping with asticot or corn bait. Bait such as shoepeg corn or Asticot maggots is optional, another couple items good to have on hand.
 

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I see that the Kokanee Tackle store in Boise has the #4 double snelled leaders, I will go by next time I am in Boise. Amazon had the leader caddy so that was ordered. Any advice on corn color or scent?
 
Any advice on corn color or scent?

I used to split up a batch of shoepeg corn with Pautzke Corn Cure and liquid krill. One batch with the corn cure gets colored pink, the other plain corn colored with just the krill. Whether it is color of the lure or the corn, every day seemed to be different. My strategy was to throw out different colors and whatever hit first we'd switch up to and see how it goes from there. Usually, the guy who didn't switch caught the least fish.
 
That makes sense, along with the snelled leaders I purchased a couple of different colors and scents of shoepeg corn. When you are trolling do you run single or dual rods on each downrigger? Any suggestions on a decent release? I have tried a few on trout but not sure how hard a Kokanee strikes.
 
And to be clear, when I said "different colors" I mean the lures; we then would split the corn and see who's is hitting more.

As far as rods, we usually ran a long line out the center of the boat (which tends to get more trout), and one pole on each side with either a downrigger or Dipsy Diver (depending on who's boat we were in.) Sometimes we ran a 4th rod straight back with a diver on it. That usually gave us enough variety to see what is hitting for the day. We also varied the depth a little to help us out too.

As for releases, Chamberlain seems to be the best IMHO.
 
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Shoepeg corn is in the canned section on the shelves in grocery stores, some carry it some don't. I'm not sure what you meant by different colors & scents. When I only had 2 downriggers, I would stack 2 lines at ten feet apart on each DR. Here is 2 pics brands of shoepeg, I like the Green Giant. 2nd pic is a yellow offshore release which I keep on hand still but haven't used now for years. They also come in black & red. Yellow is preferred by most who use them. Each color has an adjustment for tension. The other end 3rd pic of the offshore is a quick attachment clip to attach to the downrigger cable for a single or stacking lines. Final pic, this is what I use a Blacks Release which is adjustable for tension release. I no longer do stacking since now have 4 electric downriggers. Chamberland releases are a popular brand and more pricey.
 

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Found the Chamberlains on Amazon and ordered 2. If I am going to stack as the water warms up, how far apart should the releases be and how far behind should the flasher/lure be?
 
I would not recommend using a chamberlain as a stacker. Its good to use it as your main primary release that will stay with the DR, use an offshore that clips 10' above your primary release to the DR cable.
 
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