Fishing Forum

Kokanee fishing, just picked up my first boat a couple of weekends ago and it's time to break it in with the kidos. Thinking we'll try LP for some kokanee but have never done this so any help with setup and rigs would be much appreciated. I will have 2 downriggers.

Thanks in advance.
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Sportsmans Expo is in Boise right now! Run over and pick up some of FishWithGary's lures. He puts on a great show and will teach you all the science behind Kokanee and water temp and light at depth. Learning what Gary has to offer is worth the price of admission all by itself!
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Micro hoochies and sling blades work well, but you will always be in the running with a wedding ring and shoepeg corn behind pop gear. Mike
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Kodiak1 speaks with wisdom. One you don't hear much about but has been producing on LP the last few years is the Little Cleo spoons. Go with either blue/silver or green silver. They will pickup fish on days nothing seems to work. Don't tell anyone! [bobhappy]
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Thanks guys, went out today with no luck...didn't look like anyone was doing well. We set off from spring shores. Maybe back at it again tomorrow.
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It's still a bit early. You want the surface temp over 60 degrees so that the Kokes can be found in groups at consistent depth.
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The fish are there, they are just really deep. It is no-kidding downrigger time.
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Interesting . . . Kokanee are plankton feeders and plankton require sunlight to flourish. Generally the only thing that keeps them out of the "feeding zone" is water temperature. Since they thrive in a temperate zone of water at or around 56.5 degrees Fahrenheit and the surface temps are still relatively cool I would be looking for them much higher in the water column.

I guess that is why they call it fishing . . .
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Believe it or not, this time of year the warmer water is deeper. The lake will turn over soon and the fish will get shallower in a hurry.
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I understand the lake turnover effect. Kokanee fishing generally leans more to food supply (plankton) vs. water temps to warm for the Kokanee to enter. Cold water is not a problem hence the time we spend on the hard deck fishing for them and still they are most prevalent at a depth of 10 to 24'. Even during the winter photosynthesis produces food in the upper reaches of the water column..
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I'm not doubting the location you are finding fish at, I just find it interesting.
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