Strawberry - June 16th

[OCF]

Went back to Strawberry on Monday June 16 & on the water at 6:15 a.m. Fishing was slower today, not sure if it was due to the skies being heavily overcast or the fishing pressure from the previous weekend. By about 8:00 a.m. I counted 10 boats trolling the same small patch of water. The fish were being pounded pretty good for a Monday a.m.

I ended up catching 15 fish (12 kokes, 2 slot cutts, 1 rainbow). Lost another 8 fish on the way to the boat. The Kokanee seem to be getting bigger with my limit weighing: 2 lbs 9oz, 2lbs 7oz, 2 lbs 2oz & 1lb 15oz. Over 9 pounds of fresh salmon!

Fishing with downriggers, I never did key in on anything that worked well for me this a.m. I was changing squids every 20 minutes – various white, pink & oranges. I was fishing anywhere from 15 to 40 feet of water. I would catch a couple of fish & then nothing. The bite died for me at 9:00 a.m. I was off the water at 10:30 a.m. with the wind starting to blow.

I again took some video. It appears I only cut across one school of fish today. Other than that, most of the fish passing through were singles or doubles, which may account for the slow bite? (It was sure different from last Thursday.) Not sure if the lack of fish was due to the low light or the fishing pressure.

Met up with 4 or 5 of the other boats at the fish cleaning station. Everyone seemed to have a limit (or multiple limits) of kokes. One other guy mentioned he thought today’s bite was slower than last week; however, he caught 35. Maybe this was just an off day for me.

Enjoy!
[signature]

[liketrolling]

like your Video
can you post some pictures of how you mount the go pro
to the ball
I'm going Wed. don't know if I will go to Strawberry or Soldier Creek side. fishing pressure may be slowing things down.
I have a i-Pilot Link trolling motor and Humminbird and like to use the follow the contour but can't because of all the boats.

last year I bot the Hero3 black (and after that the + came out)
I have never put the Black on my rigger ball. will do it Wed. and see what it looks like.

If you have Two downriggers which gets to most fish the one with the go pro on are the other one?
[signature]

[lavaman]

I'm glad you got a few.

Ya, don't discredit the impact of a heavily fished fishery. It sure can take it's toll on the fish population over time. Those fish don't simply grow 20+" overnight.

When I was there last weekend, I couldn't believe the amounts of fish being harvested (and that was just over one weekend). You can't expect continuous catching like that over the entire summer, not even for Strawberry.

Now can that lake handle the pressure better than other lakes? Absolutely. It's a huge body of water with lots of nature feed and cover.

But it's the place that most everyone likes to hit up when the going is good. And that, eventually, takes it's toll.
[signature]

[TheCarDoctor]

Really cool videos. Thanks for sharing. I'm not sure what it makes me want to do more: get set up for koke fishing or get set up with an underwater camera. []
[signature]

[OCF]

I have attached some photos of my "ProTroll" Down Rigger series mount. It is very easy - attach the mount inline on the down rigger wire just above the ball.

Trolling with the camera definitely has an affect on the catch rate. I use the rear down rigger opposite my trolling motor. I extend the boom out as far as it will go (5 to 6 feet). I have been using the camera at a depth between 20 & 30 feet. Yesterday, I snugged the squid fairly tight up to the ball - so the dodger and squid are traveling approximately 4 to 5 feet behind the camera and ball. You can do the geometry, however, I think the dodger & squid are within 25 to 35 feet of the boat at this depth.

My other setup on the second down rigger is 70 to over a 100 feet (depth & distance) away from the boat. I probably catch 2 to 4 times as many fish on this pole while I am using the camera.

I have been surprised of what I have learned watching the videos.

(1) I did not realize that the fish would swim up this close to the boat and that schools of fish would get this close.

(2) I thought you had to run your setup fairly close to a fish, they would become annoyed & attack it. It appears they will swim a good distance out of their way to see what is going on.

(3) I have seen fish follow the squid for over a minute & just nipping at the tail.

(4) I think you could have your cheater hook and you main line hook fairly close to each other and increase your double hook up rate because you will be pulling two setups through the same school of fish. I will be trying this soon.
[signature]

[buckhunterhart]

I love watching these videos from underwater. One thing I wonder after watching this one is how you would adjust your fishing technique (speed and presentation) after watching this?
[signature]

[liketrolling]

Thanks
I was going to buy that one before I Made mine.
that may be why your videos look better.
I spend to much money on fishing
If I did not fish I could go on a cruse every year.
[signature]

[PACKFAN]

Enjoyed the video, and your post as well. The wife and I are headed to Starvation after work today for 5 days, we both luv to fish Kokanee. We may have to run up to Soldier Creek for a morning's fishing. Thanks again for posting.
[signature]