2019 Anderson Ranch Reservoir Kokanee Fishing Report

[JagerR]

Fished Yesterday from about 9-5, first run of the year and man the word is out you can get your boat in for sure. It was a long slow day for us, we boated 2 kokes, 2 nooks, and 1 rainbow. We only marked one school all day, and end up catching one out of that group. We used different colors, depths, long lines, and we just couldn't mark any fish. We talked to a few at the launch and they said it was slow as well but they were still catching a few. Anyone boating any good numbers would like to share the depths their catching them?

 

[jacksdad]

Fished Yesterday from about 9-5, first run of the year and man the word is out you can get your boat in for sure. It was a long slow day for us, we boated 2 kokes, 2 nooks, and 1 rainbow. We only marked one school all day, and end up catching one out of that group. We used different colors, depths, long lines, and we just couldn't mark any fish. We talked to a few at the launch and they said it was slow as well but they were still catching a few. Anyone boating any good numbers would like to share the depths their catching them?

My first three trips I kept 25 kokanee. 5 hours a trip. All the fish were caught from 45-74' Mostly in that 60ish range. I have been trying to keep one rod with a longer set back so I can adjust that rod up or down if I mark a school. Not sure what everyone else has been doing, but I've been happy with the results. Hope this helps. Good luck

 

[JagerR]

Thanks Jack, I was defiantly fishing to shallow. My thoughts were, not seeing them on the fish finder, they had to be on top and they were dodging my boat. But the two kokes we did catch were at the 50ft range. Gotta try a few different locations next run and hope for the best.

 

[UncleLucas]

Took the wife out yesterday. We launched at the dam along with everyone else. We fished from 8am to 4pm. We ended up with 8 kokes and released 3 trout. We didn't mark any fish until the fall creek area, there we found one good school that really wanted to play but we had a hard time staying on top of them. We fished 4 poles from 15-60ft and didn't catch anything deeper than 30ft. The fish seemed to like the willow blade flashers best, which is odd for me. Color didnt seem to matter much. On a side note the meat of the kokes is much more bright orange than the fish we've been catching at lucky peak and arrowrock.

 

[DFowler]

Fished Saturday

Fishing was slow fished from noon to dark caught 9 lost 6. Could only catch them shallow 10 ft range most came longe lining with spinners. When we would catch them all the rods would go off. Then nothing for hours even on the same school. The water was raising fast but has good color. Don’t forget rain gear and a heater cause it’s still winter up there.

 

[dustyjohns]

We fished the narrow just downstream from Lime creek and brought 8 home. Released 5 nice rainbows and a couple small kokes. They were very sporadic and I changed colors quite a bit. Started off on top then went from 13ish to 30 feet and had hits on all of them. Is there a technique or something different that can be done to not lose so many right before the net?

 

[UncleLucas]

Get a longer net. The rubberized one with an extendable handle. Worth its weight in gold. Imo.

 

[dustyjohns]

Get a longer net. The rubberized one with an extendable handle. Worth its weight in gold. Imo.

I’m running the long slide out Ego 2. Pretty sure the net handle length isn’t the problem. Unless you know of something with a 30’ handle?

 

[sawtooth]

Is there a technique or something different that can be done to not lose so many right before the net?

Use a two hook setup and fight the fish to exhaustion farther from the boat. The short line near the boat has less give and allows the fish more leverage on the hook to pull it loose. Kokanee have a tendency to go crazy when they see the boat and that is when the line is the shortest.

 

[terek]

im hoping to get out next weekend. I just wanted to say how odd I find it when I hear you guys say you catch trout. I have fished Anderson for 7 years. I have caught hundreds and hundreds of kokes and nooks. The only trout I ever caught was a Bull. Last year we had 3 trips with 2 man limits, and 3-4 with 20-30 fish. No bows ever

 

[dustyjohns]

Use a two hook setup and fight the fish to exhaustion farther from the boat. The short line near the boat has less give and allows the fish more leverage on the hook to pull it loose. Kokanee have a tendency to go crazy when they see the boat and that is when the line is the shortest.

Thank you! I only use 2 hook lures. But that makes sense getting them to tire out before getting close. I’ll give it a try.

 

[dustyjohns]

I just wanted to say how odd I find it when I hear you guys say you catch trout.

Yesterday was definitely a new one for me. I’ve picked up a trout here and there at Anderson. But nothing like yesterday.

 

[MackayGuy]

Thank you! I only use 2 hook lures. But that makes sense getting them to tire out before getting close. I’ll give it a try.

And don’t high stick em. I see a lot of guys standing up on their toes in their boat high sticking their rod, reeling basically over their head. If you bring em to the surface too fast close to the boat they’re gonna freak out, roll like crazy and spit that hook. Keep em below the surface right to the boat and have a good net man. If you’re doing that already, try sharpening your hooks and keep a nice steady pressure on the line when working em and bringing em in. This time of year their mouths are pretty soft and you can’t horse em in.

 

[dustyjohns]

I’ve never thought about sharpening hooks! Most everything yesterday was new stuff I pulled out of my Charge Box. (I didn’t want to leave Chris’ with just an empty box LoL)

Keep the rod tip down more then? I’m use to fighting a lot bigger so keeping the tip up is just habit. Letting the fish fight the rod I mean.

 

[Armondo]

Try This

I’m running the long slide out Ego 2. Pretty sure the net handle length isn’t the problem. Unless you know of something with a 30’ handle?[/QUOTE

I have had good luck keeping the rod tip low to the water when they get close to the boat. Don't lift up, pull to the side. Using a snubber also seems to help. Watch the video "controlling the kok" http://www.kokabowtackle.com/videos.html

 

[Osu]

Ramps near pine open?

Are the ramps near pine accessible? If so has anyone fished the upper end? Making first trip of the year and bringing a first timer this weekend looking for best location for launch and schools.

Thanks

 

[dustyjohns]

Are the ramps near pine accessible? If so has anyone fished the upper end? Making first trip of the year and bringing a first timer this weekend looking for best location for launch and schools.

Thanks

There were boats launching from Curlew Sunday. From what I saw out in front of the ramp, the ice is mostly broken into sheets. The narrow just downstream from Lime Creek and then the Fall Creek area is where I was marking the most fish and food.

 

[Bog Jumper]

Improved?

Was there last Friday. Very slow. A few at daybreak but nothing like the week before.

 

[UncleLucas]

We fished Saturday from 7a-7p and ended up with 15 kokes and a handful of chinook and trout. 5 nice kokes around 18 inches and the rest were in the 13-14 inch range. Most fish we caught were 10ft of shallower. Blue was the most effective color for us. We also fished Sunday for a half day and it was very slow. We caught one koke and lost two others. The bonus was this very nice18inch trout. It made 5 good runs on me before we could land it. Super fun. I'm happy to report curlew is open and the docks are in place. However it seems like it will be a few more weeks before the water gets high enough to use the docks.

 

[Oldfishnfart]

Good job,! thanks for the report. We had a similar day Friday before last. Work and family commitments will keep me away for the month of April, so I will fish vicariously thru this site. Good luck to all!