2019 Dworshak Reservoir Kokanee Report

[bigjim1992]

Where’s the fish

Heard that it was good fishing up around elk creek and dent roughly a week ago. Let’s hope that they already moved up a bit.

 

[onemorecast]

One small fish

My wife and I went up on Monday the 15th. The weather was nice and I was anticipating a good day of fishing. We launched at Big Eddy, and headed for Canyon Creek. I should have known something was amiss when I was the only boat trolling in Canyon Creek. I had 2 poles with jet divers and dodgers, and 2 poles with lead and homemade trolls. I had 4 different scents of corn to try. We got one fish on a #20 jet diver/dodger/superbait rig. I tried 1 ounce, 2 and 3 with the other rods and never had a bump. We also hit Indian Creek, nothing, and Mary's Bay, nothing. Better luck next time I guess.

 

[amxerhull]

We had similar results, two weeks ago we had a good day and Thursday we caught two. Water temperatures were the same both trips. On April 15 they began releasing 10,000 CFS (not a tremendous amount) through the dam which may have them off the bite. I used to think that water releases would not affect the fishing but I am starting to have second thoughts.

 

[Elkchaser]

Water release

I agree on the water release killing the bite. Anybody had any better luck the last few days? Still can't believe how they just shut off like they did last week.

 

[Fog]

Hi folks, new guy here.

Tried dworshak for kokanee for the first time yesterday and got zero. Only had about four hours to spend on the water so we didn't make it very far up from Bruce's Eddy where we launched.

Tried several lures and five different scents of shoepeg corn. Depths between 5-30'

I know they are up there and I'll be trying again before too long.

 

[ricks]

Hi folks, new guy here.

Tried dworshak for kokanee for the first time yesterday and got zero. Only had about four hours to spend on the water so we didn't make it very far up from Bruce's Eddy where we launched.

Tried several lures and five different scents of shoepeg corn. Depths between 5-30'

I know they are up there and I'll be trying again before too long.

Welcome to the addiction.

Fish are in there. And what I have always been taught, but not often successful at, is that the fish can be caught in almost any conditions, just have to know where they are and how to approach them. This board is invaluable since all it takes is one successful member describing a different, and successful, method, for all of us to learn a new trick. Last year when this happened it was shallow water where the fish seemed to be. We'll see what happens this year. Best of luck to all!

Rick

 

[Fog]

Welcome to the addiction.

Fish are in there. And what I have always been taught, but not often successful at, is that the fish can be caught in almost any conditions, just have to know where they are and how to approach them. This board is invaluable since all it takes is one successful member describing a different, and successful, method, for all of us to learn a new trick. Last year when this happened it was shallow water where the fish seemed to be. We'll see what happens this year. Best of luck to all!

Rick

Thanks, I'll be up there again, probably later this week.

 

[Elkchaser]

Any reports?

Hope someone unlocks the secret to successful catching again. I'm reluctant to go back up until they start biting again. Never seen a fishery dry up like it did last week.
Let us know how you did Fog.

 

[Elkchaser]

Any reports?

Anybody on the lake recently? Thinking about making a few circles this week if it warms up a tad.

 

[Big Mack]

Fished 4/28 from 8-12 without a bite. Merry's Bay to the marina. Surface to 50 feet down. Surface water was 54 degrees. 4 other boats seen gave it an hour before they all ran up lake. I'd give it some time unless you want to try searching up lake.

 

[Elkchaser]

Any reports?

Thanks Big Mack. Saved me a trip. I dont have a lot of horsepower so not getting too far from the put ins.

 

[Lou Mc]

new guy

Fished canyon creek, & Mary's bay on april 18, & 25. one fish each time april 25 also went up to
Dicks creek, nothing.

 

[sawtooth]

Fished canyon creek, & Mary's bay on april 18, & 25. one fish each time april 25 also went up to
Dicks creek, nothing.

Lou Mc,
Welcome to the forum. Sorry the fish weren't biting, but we appreciate the report. Better luck on future trips.

 

[icelander]

Welcome to the addiction.

Fish are in there. And what I have always been taught, but not often successful at, is that the fish can be caught in almost any conditions, just have to know where they are and how to approach them. This board is invaluable since all it takes is one successful member describing a different, and successful, method, for all of us to learn a new trick. Last year when this happened it was shallow water where the fish seemed to be. We'll see what happens this year. Best of luck to all!

Rick

Thanks and right on! We've fished Dworshak since 81 and used to get frustrated when the catch in all the hot spots suddenly died. In snooping the previous years posts, and other research we finally learned why. This forum can be a wealth of helpful information. Thanks to all who are willing to share!

 

[lilolvintner]

So share what you learned!

Thanks and right on! We've fished Dworshak since 81 and used to get frustrated when the catch in all the hot spots suddenly died. In snooping the previous years posts, and other research we finally learned why. This forum can be a wealth of helpful information. Thanks to all who are willing to share!

I’m pretty curious what you learned!

 

[Fog]

Thanks and right on! We've fished Dworshak since 81 and used to get frustrated when the catch in all the hot spots suddenly died. In snooping the previous years posts, and other research we finally learned why. This forum can be a wealth of helpful information. Thanks to all who are willing to share!

Would love to hear your observations about catching them when the bite stops.

I know I'll unlock the secret eventually, but always grateful for a few pointers from people with more experience.

 

[Elkchaser]

Catching reports

Will this warm up help the bite? What's everyone's thoughts on this. See a lot of boats headed to the pool, maybe something is changing. Buddy of mine is catching some nice kokes in Hayden. He says they're scattered but big and fat.

 

[icelander]

Would love to hear your observations about catching them when the bite stops.

I know I'll unlock the secret eventually, but always grateful for a few pointers from people with more experience.

In searching previous years posts some say the Springtime higher dam flows will move the fish 20+ miles upstream. Have you noticed sometimes the bite is best trolling upstream closer to shore? There is current especially when outflows are high, and current definitely changes Kokanee behavior. Study river flow, time of year, and compare to angler success and where. Take opportunities to question fisheries biologists, especially the ones actively researching Dworshak kokes. Outfitters and guides sometimes share info when asked. The outdoors is where they pay their bills so you can bet they've done their home work. Seems like I've read some of their posts, or referrals to their web sites and articles on this forum. Good stuff, and appreciated!

There were an estimated 60,000 adult kokes last year, 250,000 this year! Hope to be on the water there in a couple weeks.

 

[Fog]

In searching previous years posts some say the Springtime higher dam flows will move the fish 20+ miles upstream. Have you noticed sometimes the bite is best trolling upstream closer to shore? There is current especially when outflows are high, and current definitely changes Kokanee behavior. Study river flow, time of year, and compare to angler success and where. Take opportunities to question fisheries biologists, especially the ones actively researching Dworshak kokes. Outfitters and guides sometimes share info when asked. The outdoors is where they pay their bills so you can bet they've done their home work. Seems like I've read some of their posts, or referrals to their web sites and articles on this forum. Good stuff, and appreciated!

There were an estimated 60,000 adult kokes last year, 250,000 this year! Hope to be on the water there in a couple weeks.

Thanks, I'll pay more attention to flow rates. I'm friends with a few guides that fish up there so I'll ask them about it next time I see them, they've always been really helpful in the past with information.

 

[Freeheeler]

New to Kokanee Forum

I've been trolling this forum as a guest for the past year or so and finally registered. I appreciate the info that has been shared. Only been fishing Dworshak for 4 years and feel like there is a lot left to learn. In the past years May, June, and July have been very productive. Similar to other posts I spent the weekend of April 27th camping at Freeman and fishing the lake/reservoir. Two days of trolling and one bite, fished canyon, indian, merrys, and toward the marina. No downriggers but tried everything from 1 oz to 6 oz sinkers, dodgers, squids, wedding rings, superbait cut plugs, and macks flash lites to no avail. Also had 4 flavors of corn and three different colors. We got checked by fish and game and they said the fishing had gone cold as soon as they started filling the reservoir. I've heard rumor that during fill the fish push towards the shore any truth to that? Did fish one day on Hayden earlier in April and similar to a earlier response fish were scattered but are chunky guys biggest was 13.5.