Question about gear for Baker Lake sockeye?

So im planning a trip to Baker Lake on the 5th. Will my Kufa rods with 200A Shimano Cardifff reels work for the sockeye there? They all have 10lb Gamma line spooled on the reels. I plan on using my wide array of 8" Shasta Sling Blades but im not sure what to use with them. Any advice will help. Thanks guys.

Not sure which kufa rods you have.

While typical kokanee gear will work one needs to be careful that you clear all the gear and get the downrigger wire up. The sockeye are typically 4 to 8 pound fish (average about 5# though other anglers seem to be catching larger fish than I do). This fish are pretty active with many making multiple jumps and are active around the boat.

I typically use light steelhead type rods -medium action rated for 8 to 12 pound lines. I like direct drive reals but anyone with a good drag will work. Because the larger dodgers seem to work better more consistently (size O or maybe O/O) it will pay to up the line test on the reels a bit - maybe 14#. If not be sure the line is good shape and check your knots frequently.

For terminal gear just think an size upgrade of kokanee many of us are familar with. Most folks are using hoochies (1.5 to 2 inch) in pink with or without a smilie blade in front. Other options inlcude a smilie blade in front of 3 or 4 beads, bare 2/0 hooks (with or without ablade), another good option are spin-n-glos in size 6 in pink or red with mylar wings. Fish those rigs on short leaders (9 to 14 inches) with the shorter leaders for the hoochies and bare hooks. I use 30# leaders and double hooks about 2 inches apart reqardless of the "lure"; while that heavy is not needed to handle the fish it does transfer the energy of the dodger to the lure as well as provides a cushion so one can catch multiple fish without worrying about the leader during a hot bite.

It helps to add a piece of small piece of meat (pink dyed shrimp) to either the front hook or both hooks or at least apply generous amount of scent frequently. With the pieces of shrimp you will sometimes have the sockeye "nibbling" on the rig before taking. Once hooked remember these are just jumbo size kokanee and should be played carefully. Lots of folks lose quite a few fish due to a heavy hand (especially when the fish is near the boat).

By the time you are there expect to find the fish at that 20 to 45 depth (maybe deeper mid-day). It pays to watch the depth finder and adjust to what you see. The fishing will be at the upper end of the lake over the old Baker Lake bed. This area is roughly bewteen Noisy and Silver Creeks ) east/south lake side tribs. You will see the fleet in the area.

The above should get you started though it will be typical of the fishery that the hot set-up and area changes a bit as the fishery develops.

Good luck
Curt

Thanks Curt for all the great info! That will help me out quite a bit. I think my Kufa's will be way to small. Especially pulling size 0 or 00 dodgers. I will be buying 2 Ugly Stick Light's 8'6'' rods that are medium action 8-12lbs. I plan on putting my Abu Garcia BCX 5600's on them spooled with 15ib test line or I do have 2 brand new C3 6500 spooled with 30lb PLine CXX on them. Which reels you think would be the best choice? I made my own hoochie double hook set ups but only used 12lb leader. I'll redo them with much heavier leader.

FiliIslander -
Fished the lake again this morning. Most folks seemed to have been struggling a bit. By fishing a little deeper (32 to 45 feet on the wire) than most folks and a little faster (1.15 on the GPS) over deep water my buddy and I did well. Used O silver dodgers with either pink hoochies with silver smilie blade on 12 inch leader or a red spin-n-glo with mylar wings on a 15 inch leader with both hooks baited small pieces pink prawn (scented with kokanee fuel). We fished three rods and tried to bracket schools we saw on the screen with the top and bottom rod - a typcial set up would have rods set at 36, 40, and 44 feet. Had the best luck fishing a little outside the fleet!

Had the first hook in the water a 5:15 and the 6th fish in the box before 6:30, Had a hectic hour of fishing.

Good luck this week end
Curt

Thank for another fine report.

Wow!! that is an epic day Curt!! Great job! Well I'll try my best on Sunday and post a report and pics. Thanks for all the helpful tips!