Ok all you hard core Kokanee fisherman out there. We've shared a lot of good information on the subject of fishing for Kokanee this week and now the wife is planning on firing up the old smoker this weekend and smoking up a batch of fresh Anderson Kokes. Stephanie has asked me to ask you guys if you have any favorite recipies you'd like to share? What kind of brine you perfer, type of wood you like to use and any other info you might care to share. I know I'm sure looking forward to some smoked Kokanee and some ice cold beers. Does it get any better than that??[cool][cool]
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Refer to the "packfan" post on July 5th. "Guest" posted a recipe for smoking. Of course, that is just one of many.
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Lunddude: I just saw your post. I use a "Indian Candy" Recipe. Google the above since there are several variations. Main ingredients we like are the pure maple syrup and honey. Another thing I like is a shorter smoke time. I brine overnight in one of the above recipes and then smoke for 4 to 5 hours. They dry out considerably after 4 hours. (Big Chief with apple, alder, cherry or a mix of 2 or all 3) I prefer the kokes moist so the shorter the smoke period the less dry. I usually wind up taking "mine" out early and leaving others for the wife longer. (up to 8 hours since she likes dryer fish) Smaller kokes will smoke much quicker also.
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Aluma 165: Thanks for the info. Steph had all ready started the brine when I saw your post. We will try that on the next batch as it sounds really good. We brined the fish over nite in a honey, brown sugar, salt, onion and garlic mix. Steph used cherry wood chips and smoked em for 3 1/2 hours with fresh Bing Cherries in the smoker. When I got back from fishing Anderson Sunday nite I was pleased to see an "ICE COLD BEER & SMOKED KOKES" waiting for me. They turned out really well. I am like you in that I do not like my fish smoked too dry. I did bring home another 24 kokanee for the smoker so it looks like we'll be doing some more real soon.[
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Lunddude: Sounds like an excellent Sunday at Anderson. 24 is a whole lot better than my nephew and I did. What was your method this time? Did you hit the "racetrack" at the Lime Creek bay area?
I'd like to try a couple of more areas there but don't have the luxury of time to discover where they are. Lucky for us we were pointed to the fish by Kodiak and others and the fish were there. Ton of them down there according to my finder. We marked definite pods throughout that area as well as isolated fish at the same depth away from the groups.
I pulled my last batch of 10 from the Big Chief last night. Turned out really good. Indian Candy recipe with apple chips this time. 2 pans over 5 hours time. Really good. I think I have my "go to" smoking system down now in relation to brine, smoke time, pans, etc. I'll vary recipes now from time to time.
Your recipe sounds great; I'd like to try something like that next time.
I can only eat one for lunch with Ritz and a brew or two. Very rich and oily. About the best fish I've ever eaten. A 14 or 15" kokanee is more than enough for one meal.
Take care and look forward to your reports. We have to keep this board going and get more new members out there after kokanee. Once they smoke a couple they'll know...
The California based group on another forum is well organized. They all have CB's and you have 50 or 60 regulars reporting regularly on several state fisheries. Good source of info although their frustration level and incidents with power boats and just numbers of people on some of the lakes is scary. I thought it got busy on our Idaho lakes but nothing like what they experience.
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Aluma 165: I posted a full report this evening on Sundays fishing at Anderson. It was fun and I spent the whole day fishing, infact I didn't come off the water untill after 6:00P.M. I had two other guys a grandpa and grandson (no relation) that were going to go but called me at 9:00P.M. Saturday night and had to cancell. Steph had her Sunday planed out between doing some things with her horse and smoking those Kokes so I went by my self. So it made for a pretty active day for me. The wind was almost non exsittent so I just put down the front electric and set the auto pilot on with a speed of 1.5 mph and the boat just drives it's self kinda. Which leaves me to riggin and reelin and netting. Nothing better than a day on the water with a fishin pole in your hand. I leave for Willard Bay on Saturday for 5 days I'll post a report on the Utah site and the Idaho site after I get back.[
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