Kokanee though the ice at Strawberry

[icerman]

I would like to try for Kokanee through the ice at Strawberry. I have caught them before but more by luck. Any suggestions from those who have been successful? Is it better to find deep water close to a cliff or in the middle? At Causey, I fished deep water, 25' down with a pink color, is that the same at the berry?

Any guidance would be appreciated.
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[wiperhunter2]

I think catching kokes on bigger lakes like the Berry and the Gorge is just a matter of luck. Few members if any have ever been able to consistently catch them, at least by the reports I've read. Catching kokes on smaller bodies of water is a different matter all together, there is less area for the kokes to be in, so your odds of catching them go up but there still is no guarantee even at the smaller lakes. Just my opinion.
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[OCF]

I agree with WH2! I have caught several kokes through the ice over the years at Strawberry; however, it was a result of a random school swimming through. It has usually been at a depth of about 10 feet under the ice. The fishing is crazy for about 10 minutes & then the school moves on and they are gone forever. Generally need something small - chartreuse or pink in color. I have caught them in deep water adjacent to cliffs and in relatively shallow water - 20 to 30 FOW. Saw one caught right off the boat ramp at the Strawberry Marina in 10 to 15 FOW.
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[FINSUP]

I've done quite well at the berry for kokes this year at least one or two per trip fishing around 45-55ft it's all about location location location good luck.
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[PACKFAN]

Nice kokanee
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[wiperhunter2]

So on every trip you made to the Berry this Winter, you caught at least one koke? If that is what you are saying, I want to congratulate you on being the first member, that I have ever read about, that has accomplish that feat. [cool]
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[FINSUP]

Yes wiperhunter2 I found this spot because it slow and I kept moving till I found the fish. It could also mean there are a bunch in there right now and it's going to be a good year for the kokes. If so I can't wait for the ice to come off so I can get my boat on there and really get into them. Oh and I was only using white jigs no special colors.
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[wiperhunter2]

When you find kokes in a location like that, it usually means there is something in that location that is keeping them coming back. From my experience its very tough for most folks to catch kokanee in the same spot on every trip, even in smaller lakes, so the spot you found must have something that is special that keeps them coming back, good job on finding it. Those are some nice fish your been catching.
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[FINSUP]

I agree thanks.
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[RonPaulFan]

I wonder if it might be something like when I've occasionally swept leaves in the parking lot at work. The building, trees, fences and curbs there are structure. The wind blows and there are places where the structure transforms straight wind into a swirl. I see it as leaves swirling in those places and being deposited there while being blown away from other areas. Snow drifts are a different dynamic yet works to make snow buildup in places. Another example is a very large swirl in the Pacific Ocean that concentrates plastic trash floating in the oceans. It seems to accumulate there.

The Kokanee would naturally gather in swirls, if it acts to concentrate their food supply.

I wonder if it's specific to ice fishing because the cap of ice over the lake negates otherwise larger variables of wind and waves. With the lake capped, only the most subtle currents from other causes influence a swirl location. If my guess is correct, then I expect the location will be changing and inconsistent with greater varieties of currents with wind influence once the ice is gone.
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[wiperhunter2]

No doubt that is true but since kokanee feed on plankton, it must be an accumulation of it, in that location. Another thought and I've seen this in smaller lakes that have kokes, is that they are constantly moving when they are trying to locate food. When they reach the end of the lake or route, they turn around and go in the other direction, that can be a good location to set up. Also, when a lake narrows, that is another location to target them. I believe in larger lakes like the Gorge or the Berry, the kokes likely have a route they follow that could be miles long but along that route there are areas where plankton accumulates in the Winter, for what ever the reason.
Do those routes stay the same during soft water season, maybe, but they might also change. I guess time will tell in this case. It will be interesting to find out what happens and hopefully FINSUP, will let us know what happens.
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[RonPaulFan]

Kurt and group,

That fits with what I'm thinking. A swirl location will tend to collect plankton in the center of the swirl just like leaves I saw swirling in the air with wind. The plankton would remain suspended in the swirl and concentration will be at the center. I suspect the Kokanee would swim into the current swirl part containing the greatest density of plankton. They would swim in the circle in the opposite rotation of the swirl, so they are swimming and feeding yet staying in the same location. That's my theory. I could test it with my underwater camera, if I'm ever lucky enough to come across a swirl location in a Kokanee habitat.
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