Catching Kokanee through the ice

[familyteacher]

I know it's difficult to catch Kokanee through the ice consistently, and most people that I've talked to seem to think catching them is just by chance through the ice, but was just wondering what some of you opinions/ experiences were it's one of my goals this season to catch some (1 is the goal but some is always better (: ) through the ice.
Thanks for comments!
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[Squawminnow]

I have caught quite a few kokes ice fishing both in Idaho and at Porcupine. If you are looking for Stawberry specific tips I can't tell you, but generally Kokanee act the same everywhere in the winter time.
Timing- if you can get out before the new year your chances are better. They get less active towards the end of Jan.
Bait- I always have a few pink jigs, spinners or ice flies rigged up with a waxie ready to drop on the schools.
Shack- the kokes will travel in small schools usually about 15 ft or less under the ice. You really need to have an ice tent or clam tent to block out glare and see when the schools are under you.

When you do see the kokes moving get your pink jig down fast right in front of them and jig softly. I could usually catch 2 or 3 out of one school before they move on.

Montpelier Res in the Bear Lake side of Idaho is very good for pre Christmas kokes, but they top out at about 10 inches. Once Strawberry freezes up, give the Strawberry Bay shop a call and they can direct you onto bigger ones. Good luck, they are way more tasty than planter trout.
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[SkunkedAgain]

Kokanee are very possible to ice, but you need to know when they are under you and at what depth... Fish finder is my method of knowing when and where they are at... I have also caught them at Porcupine and Blacktail in Idaho... I use a crocodile or Kastmaster and like mentioned you have to get it back in the hole fast if you're going to catch more than one per school... They will swim through in clouds and when it's good everyone will catch fish, but you may only get one or two schools per trip so make them count... I still think that Kokanee need to be a team catch fish and you need to take out a bunch of people scatter them far and wide and drill lots of holes at each spot and when one person gets on the fish, holler to the whole crew and have them all come grab a hole while the fish are there and then when they are gone, all go back to their original holes until the next wave moves through one of the holes... If you could only move fast enough to make that happen... I find at Porcupine the fish usually bite from 40' to the surface, anything deeper usually won't take your offering... Usually the shallower the fish are, the more active they are for taking the lures... but the less warning you get before they are on you and gone... I don't know if the koke in the berry act like they do at the pig, but I expect they are somewhat like this... they were at Blacktail, but both of these lakes have the smaller variety of koke, where the gorge and strawberry have the bigger fish and they may not school up as much... Anyway hope there something in that blub that will help... Later J
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[familyteacher]

Thanks for the help!
I just got into Kokanee fishing this past summer and they are just so addicting (both to catch and to eat). As my stock is being used up the thought of fresh smoked salmon in the winter is just so tempting.
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[SkunkedAgain]

They taste better in the winter, their meat is firm and dark red. You'll like winter ones better than summer. Good luck. J
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[doitall5000]

Please keep us informed about the kokanees ice fishing I to am very interested. I use my family to help find them . We spread out 100 feet apart, and search till they show up. Using radios, we keep in touch. Remember noise in the ice will push the fish way. Good luck. If you do a private message to me, I will show you more stuff.
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[Fish_Utah_Bob]

A fun video showing kokes being caught as a school passes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ypupaa7FFk
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[The_Red_Leaker]

That video is awesome as is the kids fast acting when another jacker goes off.

Also, very informative thread - thanks to those that provided info. I learned a thing or two and hopefully will put it to good use this year.
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[Bmarsh]

Go to lure for Kokes are Swedish Pimples in Pearl and Pink, swap out the treble for a single hook, tip it with a wax worm torn in half for scent. Key is having something to show you the depth. If you have that its all about hitting them with either jigs or dead sticked. The best success I have had on them is with 6-8 people actively jigging pimples and you could usually bring the schools in and hold them.

Blackfoot is a little different animal for them with doing holes all over the place and then crusing to the holes where the schools are at. In Idaho we fished Blacktail and Mackay a bit and the best success we always had was jigging pearl pimples. Once the school is in the name of the game is get the fish up and off quick and have enough weight to get back down to them quick.
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[familyteacher]

Thanks everyone for all the tip! I primarily plan to attempt at strawberry, it seems like the majority of you fish at different lakes I'm sure there's some similarities though. Anyone have any experience going for them at strawberry?
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