Koocanusa

[MTmountainman]

Has anyone been to Koocanusa lately? Thinking about taking the Wife and two babies up for a few days and we have never been there before. I really want them to have a good time.

Thanks

[MTmountainman]

Has anyone been to Koocanusa lately? Thinking about taking the Wife and two babies up for a few days and we have never been there before. I really want them to have a good time.

Thanks

I heard that the crested 1.5' below full pool and just started dropping yesterday. Fishing has been off a little, but should be picking up. Fish are larger than normal this year. I think I will be up later in the week and will post a report.

Can anyone recommend a good area of the lake to fish this time of year? Preferably one with a campsite nearby :)

Any secret lures or baits to make sure to bring? I will have the downrigger (1, stacked) and a couple of leadcore rods. I hear the magic depth is 30' right now. That's a little deep for my leadcore rigs. Maybe some snap-weights?

[dsmith]

I don't fish for the Kokanee but know lots of folks who do and the are all doing well up by Rexford Bench. I believe most are jigging them or running wedding rings out the back of the boat. If need specifics let me know and will see if I can find out more.

[MTmountainman]

Thanks buddy! I would love to know more. We did not make it up there yet, but have tentatively planned our trip for the first week of August.

[MTmountainman]

Everything's tentative with two babies ;)

[dsmith]

Where are you coming from and do you have a boat?

[MTmountainman]

We're near Missoula. Have a boat with one downrigger we stack two lines on along with leadcore, planers, etc.

[dsmith]

The rainbow fishing has been slow but the Kokanee fishing is supposed to be on fire. The fish are running 10-12" and are around 40-45' deep. You can try using lead core line about 6-7 colors or your down-rigger. Flashers with a wedding ring tipped with a maggot. Try north of rocky gorge. If you haves fish finder and can locate a school of fish you can jig them. Good luck.

[MTmountainman]

Thanks! We leave tomorrow and are very excited :)

[autorick]

Any new info? I will be heading there next weekend.

[dsmith]

Pretty much the same, just 10' deeper.

[autorick]

It was on fire. Now of to Noxon.

[Kootenai]

The Lake Koocanusa is producing a few nice sized kokanee uo to 14". Recently the water level was significantly raised and the fishing was pretty darn good.

[MTmountainman]

That's great news, Kootenai!

Are most of the fish still in the 8-9" range? Planning a trip in early August, but not excited to get a bunch of dinks. The difference between an 8" and 10" fish is surprisingly big!

[Kootenai]

I hit several days where the fish were 10-12" average and lately all I can find are dinks in the 6-8" range? Where the larger fish went ??? I've been fishing between the dam to several miles north of McGilivery and the fish are at 10 to 20 ft sometimes just below the surface if there is cloud cover.

Good Luck and let me know how you do, I'm going back to fishing the river as soon as they drop it to 10k cfs.