2013-2016 Idaho Kokanee Fishing Reports Quick Links

Kokanee Fishing Forums

Help Support Kokanee Fishing Forums:

I'm new to the site but thought some would like to get any reports this time of year as fishing is just starting to heat up. Two of us launched about 930am and fished the area behind the dam with trolls and two ounces of lead. We picked up 25 by about 130 and the fish stopped hitting. They are still dropping the lake and the fish are spread out and only found a few small schools of fish. The fish were in the nine inch plus or minus a little for the most part. Should be nice fish later this summer. When they stop dropping the level the fish should school up more and a limit of 25 should be easy to get. View attachment 7104
 
Looks like they dropped the water level below Bruces #1 ramp. Too bad, have to travel up to Big Eddy or Dent now.

Was there yesterday and it was still useable and there were quite a few folks using the ramp. Looks like the water is dropping fast though. Big Eddy probably the best bet.

Wound up with 14 in a few hours. Lost a lot :mad: right at the boat. Pretty consistent locations and lots of scattered fish.
 
Fished Friday (4/18) - the fishing was fantastic from about 7 – 10 (little-no wind). After that windy but every boat I saw had their net out. I tried in the middle, close to the two houseboats but it was not very consistent, spent most of the time in Merry’s Bay. Saw fish at varying depths on fish finder and caught them anywhere from 20 – 70 feet.
 
Fished Friday (4/18) - the fishing was fantastic from about 7 – 10 (little-no wind). After that windy but every boat I saw had their net out. I tried in the middle, close to the two houseboats but it was not very consistent, spent most of the time in Merry’s Bay. Saw fish at varying depths on fish finder and caught them anywhere from 20 – 70 feet.

We fished the same area with the same results. Every boat had nets out. Most fish seemed about 20 feet down. We put about 30 in the cooler. Great fun.

They began filling the lake today. Will the fishing get better????????????
 
Fished today launched from spring shores way cold in the morning 46 water temp, hard fishing till around 10 lots of wind tons of boats looked like a parking lot. Started with a small trout then finally started finding kokes ended up catching a limit for me And my buddy. Nothing real big 14", fairly thick. We lost as many as we boated for sure. Once the wind died the temp got warm when we left water temp got up to 53 degrees.
 
Thanks for the report Hoolee99. The wind has kept me from heading to LP......that and the thought of 30-40 boats all trying to keep a straight track while being blown sideways. Glad you caught some fish, last trip out we only boated two Kokes and two trout. Will have to head up soon.
 
Fished Easter noon till 4.30 and the wind blew us off. 9 in the cooler and lost several. 13-14 inches and in good shape. Got there at 8.30 - went to launch and had forgotten the boat key at home.. another round trip to meridian lol. Sling blades with pink hootchies 15 ft down
 
Went out this weekend. My kid wanted to go up lake - wrong choice! We finally made it back down to the dam in the afternoon with not much on board. As we got to the spillway we got plenty busy tending poles. From there all the way into Merry's Bay we stayed hot and heavy.

What a beautiful day! Water temps up 9 degrees from 2 weeks ago. And yes, looks like they turned off the spigot. Should get better and better the next few weeks.

Thanks for all the tips and thoughts everyone. If I followed them I'd a had a lot more fish in the tank. I just have to try out other places though. Always been a bit of a weirdo that way.

Rick
 
Welcome to the forum B run. That combo has been working well for me the last couple of weeks as well. Looking forward to your future posts.
 
Thanks for the report Rick. Is the #1 launch at Bruces Eddy open now? Not a bad idea to check out other locations, pays off sometimes, what kind of gear were you using, downriggers, long line? Have been chasing wild turkeys, still have one tag to fill, bagged one nice Tom, 21#, with 8" beard, and 3/4" spurs, but can hardly wait to get back to the Kokanee fishing, looks like it's going to be a good year.

Ken
 
Thanks for the report Rick. Is the #1 launch at Bruces Eddy open now? Not a bad idea to check out other locations, pays off sometimes, what kind of gear were you using, downriggers, long line? Have been chasing wild turkeys, still have one tag to fill, bagged one nice Tom, 21#, with 8" beard, and 3/4" spurs, but can hardly wait to get back to the Kokanee fishing, looks like it's going to be a good year.

Ken

Bruce’s was right at the don’t use mark. I drove up to it, but couldn’t tell if the ramp ended before you got deep enough… it is close. Add a couple feet of water and it’ll be good to go.

I had 4 poles out - a 50-60 foot DR, a 30 foot DR, a 2 ounce long line and a weight free long line. When I hit by the dam and into Merry's I had everything hitting, all of em. So I left a DR at 30 and put everything else on weight free long lines as more efficient.

I talked a little to another boat with 4 people on it. He ended mid afternoon with 50 on board out of Merry’s Bay. I didn’t ask him his rigging.

What a beautiful day it was! Hope to see you out there soon. Good luck on the last turkey. My place in Grangeville is running over with them.

Rick
 
Last edited:
I know some folks were doing well earlier ie March. Any thoughts to why there are not more positive reports. Or are folks just being more careful with what they are posting. From afar it seems this lake is tougher fishign this year?
 

Latest posts

Back
Top