Utah Side Kokes at the Gorge?

[high_n_dry]

Going to the Gorge the end of this week, and I'd like to troll with my new riggers for some Kokanee, but I'm not sure if there are any areas worth trying on the Utah side of the lake this time of year. I could take the drive up north for a day, but we're going to do a lot of camping out, and I wanted to spend more time closer to the dam area sites with the kids.

Any suggestions or recommendations on areas worth trying is greatly appreciated.

If any of you are planning to be in the area this weekend and would be interested in meeting up, feel free to PM me.

Thanks[]
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[wiperhunter2]

There are two areas that I have fished on the utah side and done good. I'm sure there are many others but the Red Cliffs area and Hide out canyon are where I have caught them. I have heard of some of the guys doing good for them by the dam but I have never fished for them there. Good luck this weekend and let us know how you do. WH2
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[kok_head]

Jarvis canyon is probably the closest area from cedar springs marina, of corse the reds aren't as big there, but if you find the big guys, they will average 2-3.5lbs but just as fun non the less. Good luck.
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[marinaman]

Gold point has had a lot stacked up the last couple of days. The Cliffs in front of North Skull creek is another great run. I have been picking them up over by the islands by the bridge as well. Good luck.
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[marinaman]

Stop by the store at the marina and I'll show you a couple places on the map.
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[high_n_dry]

Thanks for the feedback. This will be my first attempt at the Gorge since setting up my mag20's. I tried Strawberry a couple months back with no luck finding the fish.

Can you offer any other constructive advise that may be helpful in locating the fish as their probably won't be a lot of boats trolling for them like up north as a starting point, and it's a big lake as you well know?

I'm about as green as they come with regards to Kokanee fishing. I've sock piled up a small fortune of RMT, and FWG stuff to work with, and I'll probably start with the patterns you've all listed as being productive up north over the last few weeks (e.g. Pink UV Squid behind a RMT Hyperplaid Dodger, MiaTia Serpent Spoon behind a similar type dodger, etc.)

I have two riggers mounted. Would you suggest setting them at different depths two with different setups to start? How often should I change depths, patterns, trolling speed, etc? I've read here that running s-turn patterns are beneficial, and this will probably be my initial plan of attack.

Thanks again![]
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[RILEYFISH]

First, try the cliffs over around Kingfisher. Lots of fish stacked in there. Use your electronics and find the fish. Once you mark them, drop down on them. GET IN THERE FACE! try diffrent things until you find what they want. Try the things that you have mentioned. Hyper plad dodger is always a great start. The pink is good. been the best color all around all year long. Dont be afraid to try diffrent things!squids have been pretty effective all year also.

There staging to spawn. they are all grouping up. try trolling slower and then faster. run your riggers right on them. remember they strike out of anger, not hunger. IF you can, remember the pink and red fish are this years spawners. they will help keep the kokes going on the gorge for more years. Catch and release! please. Good luck to you.
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[bbkyle35]

If you have RMT stuff all you need to do is find the fish. It works year round. You may have to mess with dodger/lure combinations a bit to improve your numbers, but hyperplaid always works.
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[high_n_dry]

Thanks for the heads up on the spawners. I'm pretty much a catch and release guy anyway. I only keep what I can eat for a meal or two, and call it good.

Great advise as always from members on this board.

Thanks,

Glenn
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[Ryno]

The fish finder is the probably the most valuable tool in the boat when fishing for kokes. Down in the Canyon reach, you can troll over a lot of dead water, so I always start in areas where I'm marking good numbers of fish. The kokes right now are hanging between about 45-60ft over the main channel. I've also gotten a few as deep as 75ft, while fishing for lakers, closer to shore. Like Marinaman said, upstream from Gold Point is a good place to start looking.

In general, fish will begin to migrate north, staging to spawn in Sheep Creek Bay. You can actually hit kokes one day and go empty the next, because they've moved somewhere else. So don't hesitate to pull gear and start looking, if the fish finder goes blank.

You're typically trolling pretty fast for kokes (1.6-2.2mph) and monitor my speed with a GPS. My fish finder is adjusted so I can see my cannonballs, and place them so they are slicing through the fish I'm marking. If you can't see your cannonballs, give them a little more depth to adjust for the angle in downrigger cable, so the lures are tracking closer to the depth of the fish. That can really help when the kokes are being picky.

Lately, it's really fast action first thing in the morning. As the sun gets higher and hits the water, I notice a little break in the action. It picks up again, but never as hot as the early morning bite.

Sounds like you've got a good supply of baits. If they're hitting good, most anything that is prone to catching kokes will work. Needlefish (#2) in pearl/red, flour. green hot tiger, and pearl bikini and RMT Serpent spoons in watermelon, carribean sunset, and mai-tai are great spoons to start with. Lately, when the bite is tough, I'm actually boating more fish on a Hyperplaid RMT dodger with a hot pink squid (Shasta Pee-Wee). Shorten your leader so it's about 12-14 inches, and you'll get some sweet action.

I graphed a lot of fish last weekend, and the bite was pretty good. Most of my fish were running around 2-2.5lbs, and the males are starting to get some teeth and hook in their jaw which makes them easier to boat than when they were soft-mouthed.

Hope it helps, good luck, and let us know how you do. Ryno
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