What lures to use for Kokanee?
Popular Kokanee baits are Pink Maggots (real or synthetic), dyed-cured shrimp and dyed-cured White Shoepeg Corn. Be sure not to put too much bait on the hook as it will take away from the lure’s action. Once piece of corn or 2 small maggots on each hook is adequate.
What time of day is best for Kokanee fishing?
Now while kokanee will bite all day long, the early morning and late after are the best time windows through most of the year for fishing. Unlike many other freshwater fish, kokanee will readily eat during the middle of the day but at much deeper and colder depths.
What size hooks for kokanee?
Hooks: Dropshot hooks (also called splitshot hooks) are much superior to the traditional Octopus style hook, said Black. He prefers sizes No. 2 or No. 4 and whether they are red or black does not matter.
How do you fish for kokanee without a downrigger?
One easy setup that can be used for trolling for deeper-water kokanee without a downrigger involves using a cannonball weight on a sliding sinker sleeve that leads to a swivel (see below), followed by a 18-24 in. leader to a dodger, and another 6 in. of line from the dodger to the terminal gear.
What time of year does kokanee?
Spawning begins in August and usually runs into early February but kokanee have been found spawning as late as April. Again genetic factors and environmental factors like temperature both play a role in this timing.
Where is the best kokanee fishing?
Flaming Gorge Reservoir, Utah and Wyoming: The Holy Land… errr I mean Holy Water of Kokanee anglers. No other body of water is renowned for its big Kokanee than this giant desert reservoir straddling the border of Utah and Wyoming.
Is kokanee good to eat?
Kokanee is best eaten just before the spawning stage. Their flesh is the dazzling bright orange that many anglers long for, and it is richer in flavor than trout but softer than other salmon. If the fish is longer than 12 inches, you can fillet it. You can also butterfly it or gut-and-grill it.
Can you catch and release kokanee?
Some anglers prefer to harvest a limit of the larger sized fish, while releasing the smaller, more abundant Kokanee in the process. Or catching and releasing once their daily limit has been reached in order to continue fishing.