2019 Dworshak Reservoir Kokanee Report

[stevec]

Finally out Tuesday!

Will be going out after the holiday once I get my boat out of hock at Miller Marine in Orofino. Would appreciate any updates anyone has on the lake this weekend. I plan on using sling blades & dodgers for the first time ever!
Thanks

Finally got boat wet Tuesday! Launched around 10 & played around testing boat for awhile and then headed up to Canyon Creek. I used a UV sling blade & super fly trolling fly (Sandpoint made) with 1 oz out 100'. The kokes just hammered it! The other pool had flashlight & green & red beaded wedding ring with 2 oz out 80'. Both outfits caught fish! Didn't keep any as I know I wasn't going to be on the water long. Next time!

 

[Freeheeler]

Fished Indian creek area on Saturday. Ended up with 30 fish between 3 people. Most productive were a wedding ring (white blade, red green body) behind chartreuse flash lites pautkzes fire corn, maggots, and mikes glo scent kokanee. Fished it with 2 oz at 100 ft back. Other was a sling blade with pink squid using same bait and scent. Used 2 oz at 30 feet and it did very well also. Third rod did okay with silver flashlites and red wedding ring catching 6 fish or so. Marked a lot of fish in the 15-30 foot range and later in the day saw a few groups around the 40 ft mark. Initially started a couple hundred yards from shoreline and progressively got closer to shore as the day went. First wave runners and wake boarders were observed for the season. Beautiful day hope to get out again next weekend.

 

[icelander]

Sounds like the kokes are broadly scattered which is cool. Caught some fish everywhere we hunted but dialed in at No Tellem' shoreline and 3 of us put near limits on ice. Only saw one other boat. Fished traditional, added way more rubber stretchers and broke out the net as they seem softer mouthed this year....or is it me? Kicking the motor out of gear to land put more in the net too. Probably averaged 11" or so. Beautiful day on the water and sweet to have the res nearly full already.

 

[stevec]

Boat in camping

Thinking about going to a boat in campground soon. Anyone else doing this yet? Used to camping the old fashioned way in improved campgrounds in tents. We don't have a RV. Any advise on the wildlife I might encounter? I would appreciate helpful input.

 

[icelander]

Thinking about going to a boat in campground soon. Anyone else doing this yet? Used to camping the old fashioned way in improved campgrounds in tents. We don't have a RV. Any advise on the wildlife I might encounter? I would appreciate helpful input.

The mini camps can be great when the pool is full. Friends had bear trouble once and abandoned camp due to aggressive behavior of the bear. They were at a mini camp near the mouth of Elk Creek. They didn't have a gun. Personally I fear the mosquitoes and skunks most of all! Hopefully the ticks are winding down.

 

[icelander]

Thinking about going to a boat in campground soon. Anyone else doing this yet? Used to camping the old fashioned way in improved campgrounds in tents. We don't have a RV. Any advise on the wildlife I might encounter? I would appreciate helpful input.

I'd have an adequate firearm and mosquito repellent. There's a better chance of sinking your truck at the boat launch than encountering an aggressive predator, but the firearm adds confidence (and better sleep especially when you're skilled at using it safely. Critters can get into your food, so cache it securely when away and at night. And have fun having a pristine camp on the water all to yourself!

 

[Elkchaser]

School location

Does anyone think the fish are moving up the lake? We fished around Merry Bay and caught 16 really nice fish but bites weren't real frequent.

 

[Elkchaser]

Still pretty slow for us

Fished Merry Bay and worked the shore line up into Indian creek this week. Long time in between bites. Ended up with 18 between 2 rods. Nothing as good as last June, when I knew even less than I do the summer.
Anyone have better luckout there?

 

[icelander]

Fished Merry Bay and worked the shore line up into Indian creek this week. Long time in between bites. Ended up with 18 between 2 rods. Nothing as good as last June, when I knew even less than I do the summer.
Anyone have better luckout there?

Haven't been fishing for 3 weeks, but it would probably be worth trying further up. What's to lose? How were others doing? Hoping to go next week.

 

[amxerhull]

We are still having good success in the Canyon Creek area. Downriggers at 25 feet, long lines with 1 oz at 70 to 100 feet.

 

[Elkchaser]

Success

Thanks for the update. My boat is a little underpowered to be running up the lake. I can put in around Canyon and try that. Anybody used that road lately? I had heard it had some washouts.

 

[stevec]

YESTERDAY

Thanks for the update. My boat is a little underpowered to be running up the lake. I can put in around Canyon and try that. Anybody used that road lately? I had heard it had some washouts.

Ran up there yesterday with my 19' I/O from Big Eddy. I would guess the road is ok as there were campers and boats tied to dock. I have a little 12' I like to take down that road. Several years ago I got hicentered on big boulder, but I hear they cleared that out. Good luck & tight lines!

 

[crazcougg]

Fished Merry Bay and worked the shore line up into Indian creek this week. Long time in between bites. Ended up with 18 between 2 rods. Nothing as good as last June, when I knew even less than I do the summer.
Anyone have better luckout there?

I’ve fished from the dam to the elk river arm over the last few weeks and caught fish everywhere I’ve fished in good numbers. If your finding the fishing slow your probably fishing too deep. We’ve been catching all our fish 10-12’ down.

 

[Elkchaser]

Too deep

Your right crazcougg. We've been probably close to 20' deep. I'll try 10' next time out, probably next week. Hopefully they will stay at that depth for a while. Thanks for the advice.

 

[crazcougg]

Your right crazcougg. We've been probably close to 20' deep. I'll try 10' next time out, probably next week. Hopefully they will stay at that depth for a while. Thanks for the advice.

No problem, they’ve been so shallow I haven’t even been using the downriggers. Forgot to mention I’ve been marking fish from 10-15’ deep on the sonar too.

 

[Elkchaser]

No problem, they’ve been so shallow I haven’t even been using the downriggers. Forgot to mention I’ve been marking fish from 10-15’ deep on the sonar too.

So according to my chart, an ounce at 40' is about 10' of depth. Does that sound right? I dont have downriggers.
That's at about 1.5 mph.
I'm new to this, so I ask a lot of dumb questions.

 

[crazcougg]

So according to my chart, an ounce at 40' is about 10' of depth. Does that sound right? I dont have downriggers.
That's at about 1.5 mph.
I'm new to this, so I ask a lot of dumb questions.

Well I count pulls, usually starting at 25 and working up to 40. On a typical steelhead rod I’d say that’s 50’ to 80’ of line out. I’ve been using 3/4 oz. and 1 oz. weights. Also been using ford fenders and flex lights. They’ve been out fishing dodgers at least 6-1 for me this year, typically there like 50/50, nonidea whynits been different this year. The fish I have caught on downriggers have been when it’s set at 10-13’. Also been having pretty much equal luck with run and shrimp scented corn. Haven’t died any pink this year but that usually helps me. Best rigs for me have been pink blades wedding rings and red/white stripe wedding rings, both my own creations.

 

[crazcougg]

So according to my chart, an ounce at 40' is about 10' of depth. Does that sound right? I dont have downriggers.
That's at about 1.5 mph.
I'm new to this, so I ask a lot of dumb questions.

I’ve been fishing 1.0 to 1.7 mph, I try to keep it changing all the time.

 

[Elkchaser]

I’ve been fishing 1.0 to 1.7 mph, I try to keep it changing all the time.

Hate to keep bugging you but what is a flex light? I use the Ford fenders and wedding rings and tuna oil in the corn. Do you use a shrimp scent like we use for steelhead?
Thanks for all your advice.

 

[crazcougg]

Hate to keep bugging you but what is a flex light? I use the Ford fenders and wedding rings and tuna oil in the corn. Do you use a shrimp scent like we use for steelhead?
Thanks for all your advice.

Flex lights are like ford fenders but plastic wings, usually find them in the same area at the tackle store, they produce a little less drag. I like mikes UV shrimp scent, same stuff I use for steelhead.