How do you catch Kokes?

[Elkoholic]

Anyone willing to share some tips or suggestions on how to catch Kokes? I have only fished for them 1 or 2 times and that was trolling. I have never caught one and would like to scratch them off my list. Where can you get them besides the Gorge, Causey, and Porcupine?

Thanks, Elko.
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[Fishry]

Moonlake is probably the best place, but don't expect to catch any more than 10 to 12 inches long. The fish are usually concentrated along the cliffs that are towards the inlet of the lake suspended over deep water. Usually a downrigger is required for consistent kokanee catching, but lead core line worked just as well there. The Apex Kokanee Killer lure in watermellon color almost always works best for me. Also the rainbow colored Kokanee King (replace the stock hook with a larger pink or glow colored hook). I usually put an egg sinker before the popgear on my leadcore setups and go out anywhere from 3 to 7 colors. It helps to tip your lures with a piece of worm, meal worm, maggot, or a power bait artificial corn nugget (preferred because I can leave it in the boat and not worry about it dying and rotting). I could go into more detail about using the downrigger at another time if you would like. I don't have much for you on advice on catching kokanee through the ice. The kokanee fishing through the ice seems to me to be rather inconsistent. I had one good day at Porcupine using rat finkies about 15 feet below the ice over deep water by the dam, I was unable to follow up on other days.
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[archerben55]

There are Kokane in Strawberry as well. I have had a few good days in the past catching them, but that was drift fishing from a boat. I have never pulled one through the ice up there, but man I'd sure love to.
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[Elkoholic]

Thanks for the tips guys. I will definately try them on the soft water. Right now I am mainly interested in catching them through the ice.
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[Lundman]

The only success through the ice for Kokes was up in Montana
At St. Mary's Lake - west of flathead.

The kokanee swim through in schools from 15' to 30' over deeper water - up there you could put your face in the hole and see the gaint schools swimming by. Water was super clear.

They bit on the usual ice-fishing setup - small icefly with a maggot. On some days they swim right up to it and then just swim by like it wasn't dinner time.

Those are the best eating fish you can catch in the winter - strawberry would be great if you could find out where.

You will have to find the roaming schools of Kokes to be successful.

Good Luck.
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[Fish-Dog]

I live for hardwater kokes. I've had the best luck at Porcupine and Causey. The last couple of years the DWR set the limit of kokes in Porcupine at 12 to help keep them from stunting. The limit at Causey is 4.

I have good luck with one or two Red or Pink Ratfinkees about 3" and 10" below a 1 1/2" swedish pimple attractor, tipped with wax worms. Having 2 hooks on will cause a lot of tangles however I have been able to hook a lot of doubles with this set up.

The kokes come through in schools 10 to 40 feet deep, sometimes deeper. Several people fishing fairly close together will have better luck than a single pole because the flashing of the attractors does attract them and keep the school close longer.

The kokes are very aggressive but do not hold the bait in their mouths. you have to pay close attention and strike fast. Keep two or three poles ready so that when you hook a koke you can get back in the water fast. The schools generally stay around for only a few minutes (5 or 6). When the school swims under your fishfinder the screen will go black with signals.

The Kokes at Flaming Gorge and Strawberry are larger 14" to 20", at porcupine and causey about 12" to 15", at moon lake 9" to 12".

Have patience when fishing for Kokes, sometimes I will fish from 7 to noon without a bite and then catch a dozen in the next few minutes.

Hope this helps
fdg
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