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So I've been trolling for a couple years now but I'm still struggling to find the right setup for Strawberry. I have a decent finder and a couple downriggers. I'm wondering if anyone would be willing to share a few tips on the configurations that work best for them. I realize the setups are different depending on the types of target fish, so let's just assume one setup for kokanee and one for rainbows.
For either/both of those configurations:
How are you typically rigged up? Cowbells, dodgers, flashers, something else?
How far behind your attractor are you rigging your lure?
How much line do you let out before attaching the downrigger and dropping?
And finally... how fast do you normally troll? Is there a difference in speed depending on your target fish?
I'm hoping for the collective wisdom of thousands of days on the reservoir to improve my results next time. Thank you!
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As far as the Kokanee go, just doing a little searching over existing posts you should be able to learn a lot. I find the search function quite useful on a regular basis.
A squid 12 to 18 inches behind a dodger is typical Koke set up. To much distance between the dodger and the squid reduces the action of the squid and there fore a reduced efficiency.
Good luck
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Everything you asked varies by what the fish want and the water conditions. Kokanee and trout 1.7 to 2.5 mph typically but some lures won't work at certain speeds. Stab your pole in the water and see what the lure is acting like the adjust the speed or tune the lure. Start out with a set back of 40 feet and if the bite is aggressive or the water rough move it in, if the bite is slow and there are allot of boats making the fish boat shy move it back sometimes way back but then remember to run at different depths 10 feet or so and watch the turns, long sweeping turns will be required.
Kokanee as stated before lure 10 to 15 inches behind the dodger tip it with maggots and use scent. some of us build our own but squids, wedding rings, assasins, anything from the kokanee section works when used right and is the right color and depth for the day.
Rainbows love needle fish, kastmasters, rapalas, and kokanee gear like assasins in brown, black, white, yellow, green and any combination above black_white, yellow and black looks like a bumblebee, etc. Keep the dodger silver for trout however. On bright sunny days use shiny lures and silver, rainbow, etc on overcast days use brass or dark like frogs. Make some big sweeping turns notice did the outside pole get hit? Speed up. Inside pole? Slow down. Cover allot of water then target areas with fish.
Hope this helps
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On Strawberry, I now only target Kokes. This year has been by far my most successful. What I say here is from my own experience and not necessarily the only gospel for catching them.
I started the year back in early May. The water was a bit cold and I was unsuccessful until the water made it up to about 45*. I think the first kokes we got were around the end of May. They were near the surface. Back then we used smaller dodgers trailed with squid of the same color - best was orange or red back then. We tipped the squid with Berkley maggots pink or white. One important note is to bend the dodger to get the best action. It should sweep back and forth without rolling at the speed you are going - faster less bend - slower more bend.
We caught fish very fast during June - didn't matter full or no moon - but as the water warmed we moved deeper. Fish moved as well. We started on SC side, moved to Haws point on Strawberry, then north of the narrows.
*One note - back in May and early June, a lead line with cowbells trailed by a squid also worked pretty well - no more - they are too deep.
Recently - July - they have moved deeper and I have changed to the larger size dodger. Also we are now fishing farther north. I still like red or pink dodgers - but notice RMT color selection is pretty limited in the larger size. Only one I can find is a hyper pattern with a pink stripe. It did pretty well yesterday - off the lake early.
I think overall the thing I have learned this year is I have to change with the water temp and time of year. They are moving to spawn. One I caught yesterday had already started to turn pink.
Now rainbows - troll pop gear at Starvation. Can you tell, after getting addicted to Kokes - during koke season, rainbows are trash fish - no interest.
Just my 2 cents.
Good luck
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]I sent you a PM on my methods. Not secret, but sure to generate disagreement. Thought I'd save the hassle. [
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]Please feel free to try - or NOT try. It works for me.[/#800000][/font]
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Bob Hicks, from Utah
I'm 83 years young and going as hard as I can for as long as I can.
"Free men do not ask permission to bear arms."
