I started fishing for Kokes in late April to early May last year. Still a bit cool still but the bite was on. I remember some reports of unsafe ice still in some of the canyons but the main body was open.
i too have chased the kokes at the gorge in the middle to the end of april over the past 5 or 6 years and have never gone home without our limits but finding active fish is a little tougher.