TOS & Disclaimer
Fishing Tips
Known for their aggressive behavior and excellent table fair put kokanee as one of the top freshwater game species. Primarily a plankton feeder, they will also feed on insects and their larva. Kokanee is a large schooling fish that, once located, gives the angler an opportunity to catch several. Whether they are protecting a food source or a pre-spawn area, kokanee will defend with vigor.
Lures
Bright colors, ultra-violet, and glow lures are at the top of the list for kokanee. Erratic action also triggers their aggressive behavior. Spinners and spoons have been one of the most popular lures for kokanee for many years. Our splatter blade spinners and spoons combine extreme glow, ultraviolet, and vibration that fish can’t resist. Over the last decade, there has been a big change in squids from their size to the material they are made of. At Kokanee Creek Tackle, our mini squids combine ultra-violet and glow. Our Double Trouble series also provide the vibration needed to trigger their aggressive behavior. The Ghost Squids combine ultra-violet and fluorescent colors that make them Just Deadly.
Dodgers
Dodgers come in many sizes and shapes. Most are either metal or plastic and are designed to give a lure more action than if trolled by themselves. Depending on their shape, some have more action than others. Our Maximum Action Dodgers shape is time-proven with the addition of deep cups on both ends that make this dodger’s action second to none. I personally like to start trolling with a dodger that has silver tape (Matrix, Leapin Lizard, Shattered, Silverstreak). They reflect sunlight in several different colors that makes them more versatile. Once a bite color has been established (pink, green, orange, etc.), I will change my dodger to that color to see if my bite ratio increases. Remember that the closer your lure is to the dodger, the more action it will have.
SCENTS
Scents are something that is often overlooked. The proper scent can make or break a day. In addition to masking human scent, it is proven that kokanee will follow a scent trail. Herring, Krill, Shrimp, Corn are some of the most popular. I prefer a gel to liquid or spray and apply it to the dodger and not the lure. There are a couple of reasons. First, you can apply more scent on a dodger than the lure, and second, clean up is much easier; just paper towel your dodger, and it is clean vs. washing a lure. I generally run two different scents, one on each side of the boat, until the scent of the day is identified. Most advanced fishermen will have as many scents on their boat as they do dodgers and change them out until the perfect pattern is found. Tipping your hook can make a big difference whether using a natural product such as a mealworm, wax worms, or a power maggot (which is what I prefer). Small details will make your fishing more successful.
Speed
Speed can be a little tricky. Many lures have an optimum speed at which they run. However, if you are running several rods at a time and I will run as many as 6 rods, you have to run like type lures or at least those that have a similar drag in the water. Spinners, squids, and spoons can be trolled at like speeds. Apex, flatfish, Lyman Lures, or lures with front bills must be trolled at slower speeds to prevent rolling. Anglers will troll anywhere from 1.2 MPH to as fast as over 2.0 MPH. However, I have found that my optimum speed is 1.5 to 1.7 MPH.
Depth
In the spring, with colder water temperatures, kokanee will be near the surface 10 -17ft. As the water temperature rises, the fish will move deeper and follow the thermocline. Thermo cline is a layer of higher oxygenated water. The fish may not always be directly in the thermocline above it or below it is quite common depending on water temperature. As the water warms in the summer months, they can be 35-50 ft and fall as deep as 50-70ft or deeper.
Maximize Your Lures Effectiveness
Our lures exposed to sunlight will automatically charge. However, in the early morning or low light conditions, you must charge your glow lures. Artificial sunlight conditions can be created using an LED or halogen flashlight, a camera flash, or a UV blacklight to effectively charge your lures.