2020 Dworshak Reservoir Kokanee Fishing Report

[ricks]

Kokanee take some experience. Figuring out how deep your terminal gear is, how fast you should be going. They aren't like most other fisheries in that kokanee aren't feeding on what you are putting in front of them. You're trying to piss them off so they attack, totally different from presenting something tasty.

Another big thing to get geared up for on your kayak is getting the fish immediately on ice when you take them off the line. Kokanee meat starts getting soft immediately. They taste much much better when kept in the 3o's.

Rick

 

[Dorf]

Now that's a cabin cruiser on a budget. Good for you!

The one fish looks quite a bit bigger than the others.

The big one is a trout.

For the price I probably could have bought a decent aluminum boat. No room for one though.

 

[Dorf]

Kokanee take some experience. Figuring out how deep your terminal gear is, how fast you should be going. They aren't like most other fisheries in that kokanee aren't feeding on what you are putting in front of them. You're trying to piss them off so they attack, totally different from presenting something tasty.

Another big thing to get geared up for on your kayak is getting the fish immediately on ice when you take them off the line. Kokanee meat starts getting soft immediately. They taste much much better when kept in the 3o's.

Rick

I was bummed I had to lay them back there like that. The cooler I had brought was just too big, and I had to leave it at the truck. It was cold enough that day that laying them under my jacket was probably sufficient though; I ate them and I didn't die. I've since bought a smaller soft cooler, and it works great.

 

[eschmit04]

About 5 hours on the water today. 31 in the boat and one rainbow. Sling blades did best beer cans came in second. Small pop gear pulled 1 or 2. Great day! Called in sick for Tuesday! Lol let's see what sunshine does for the success rate...

 

[eschmit04]

Forgot to post fished Tuesday 66 in my boat with two bonus rainbows. Friend landed another 6, he got a late start.

 

[Sands]

Forgot to post fished Tuesday 66 in my boat with two bonus rainbows. Friend landed another 6, he got a late start.

That's awesome. Care to share any secrets?

 

[eschmit04]

No secrets. Running 4" Mack's dodgers. Or beer cans. 2oz at 25 feet on the front rods. 1oz at 30-40 feet on the back rods. Garlic salt corn worked good. And pink maggots.

 

[Sands]

Thanks. Hopefully we will be trying again in the next few days. Were you near the dam?

 

[eschmit04]

No I was in canyon creek

 

[Dorf]

Fished between Freeman and Canyon Creeks on Saturday. Caught 5 before 11, then only got one nibble the rest of the day. In the morning i caught them at 20ft down with pink wedding rings and spinners behind a silver/gold beercan and a silver arrowflash and crawfish corn. I tried everything for tackle once I stopped catching them.

I know others were catching them reliably. I'm curious at what depth. The schools down at 40-60 ft had me questioning myself when I stopped catching them.

 

[eschmit04]

Had an interesting experience yesterday. Went kokanee fishing with my buddy yesterday on his 21' custom weld. We used his kicker motor. Long story short, same location, same gear, using my rods and tackle. We only caught around 20. Fishing all day long. Is that really all come down to a kicker and being boat shy? I see a lot of other people not catch as much when I'm out and they are using kickers. My little 14 foot boat with electric always does well...

 

[Sands]

What speeds have people been trolling? Went out again and still no luck.

 

[eschmit04]

.9 - 1.4mph personally.

 

[Sands]

The slowest we could go was around 1.3. Forgot to try lowering my trim tabs to see if that will slow us down. If not I will look at getting a different prop for our kicker.

 

[icelander]

Trolling speeds

The slowest we could go was around 1.3. Forgot to try lowering my trim tabs to see if that will slow us down. If not I will look at getting a different prop for our kicker.

To check if troll is too fast see if inside rods, on moderate or gradual turns, produce strikes. Experiment and you'll get it dialed in!
What size are they this spring?....with a genuine carpenters tape please lol

 

[amxerhull]

We were out a month ago. Most of them were 9 inches, none bigger.

 

[bigjim1992]

Dworshak ramps

Been seeing some rumors online that all ramps are closed at dworshak?? Can anyone confirm this?

 

[eschmit04]

I'm curious if anyone thinks different parts of the lake or different schools carry larger or smaller fish? I've heard reports of people catching a larger class of fish than the 7-10 inchers I have been landing. Out of 190 fish this year my largest is 10.5 so far.

 

[Dorf]

Been seeing some rumors online that all ramps are closed at dworshak?? Can anyone confirm this?

Freeman Creek launch was open yesterday.

 

[ricks]

Rumors and virus closures?

My wife mentioned that she heard that the Dworshak bathrooms were closed by Army Corps of Engineers. Anyone heard whether there are any ramp closures? Silly closing bathrooms. Makes the lake the nearest bowl and it has 483 miles of possible toilet ring.

Rick