2020 Dworshak Reservoir Kokanee Fishing Report

[sawtooth]

Hoping to make it to this great fishery some time this summer. Best of luck to all that make the trip.

 

[bigjim1992]

2020 Dworshak

Fished canyon creek and elk creek today got 25 but they were pretty small probably average 8 inches

 

[Scooter429]

Thanks for the report! Just moved up to north ID from south ID. Hoping to tackle some kokes this spring! I've never caught or fished for them. In research mode now....

 

[sawtooth]

Best of luck in your research and welcome to the forum Scooter429.

 

[crazcougg]

Don’t overthink it!

Thanks for the report! Just moved up to north ID from south ID. Hoping to tackle some kokes this spring! I've never caught or fished for them. In research mode now....

Fish shallow, for some reason dworshak fish are way shallower than almost places I’ve caught them. I’ll usually start with a downrigger at 10’ and one at 15’ or maybe 20’. I also fish two long lines with ford fender and 1/2 or 1 oz drop weights on sliders.

Oder of importance on my boat is: depth, speed, color, bait.

Last year pink was hands down better than any other color but orange and green had their moments. I generally use shrimp or krill flavored corn. Anywhere from .8 to 2 mph works for me but I usually stay in the 1-1.5 range.

 

[Sands]

Just learning to fish for kokanee. Been to Dworshak twice in the last week and havent had much luck. Talked to a few people who said they were catching fish. Looking for any pointers we can get.

 

[MackayGuy]

Just learning to fish for kokanee. Been to Dworshak twice in the last week and havent had much luck. Talked to a few people who said they were catching fish. Looking for any pointers we can get.

Tell us what gear you’re using and how you’re fishing your gear. We can probably help you adjust your technique to be successful.

 

[Sands]

Tell us what gear you’re using and how you’re fishing your gear. We can probably help you adjust your technique to be successful.

We tried dodgers, ford fenders and other types of pop gear with wiggle hoochies, smile blades, wedding rings for terminal gear. Topped with corn and some bloody tuna scent. Trolled around 1.1-1.8 MPH tried different depths from 10-40'.

 

[mrmike]

Number 1# what's the water temp?
Has a lot to do with it. The guys catching might be jigging if fish are schooled. With they usually are in first part of the year. If fish are scattered trolling will be easyier If waters to cold they may be off the bite. This is very early in the year. Water temp in the high 40 going to make it ruff.

 

[mrmike]

Also are you on a kicker or trolling with your big motor or electric /Kokanee can be very boat shy should have your surface rods back at least 90 ft.some folks go back further. I start one rod at 90 sec at 110 ft. There not line shy. Go to bumabee tuna in oil / not water. Drain the oil into your shorpeg corn. Most Kokanee fisherman I've met are very helpful fisherman ask them, ask to see how there rigging. This should get you on your way.

 

[amxerhull]

We tried dodgers, ford fenders and other types of pop gear with wiggle hoochies, smile blades, wedding rings for terminal gear. Topped with corn and some bloody tuna scent. Trolled around 1.1-1.8 MPH tried different depths from 10-40'.

Sounds like you have the basics. Depth is very important. We were on the lake last Thursday prepared to fish up high (left downriggers at home) and experiment with side planers to get our lures away from the boat. We hit a few fish but it was slow. We finally put on one ounce of lead and dropped back 75 feet on the long lines where the action picked up considerably. Wedding rings with corn and/or fake maggots caught the most. Six inch dodgers outfished pop gear by 3 to 1.

Keep at it, you'll find them.

 

[SuperD]

I can't speak to Ford fenders or Pop gear but with dodgers, leader length can also be super important. Unless I'm running an Apex or some other kind of diving lure, I NEVER run anything longer than a 12" leader and 9" is probably my most commonly used leader length. I also would not run the heavy pop gear type jewelry but if you were, I'd think that waiting until the fish were deep would be the best time to do so. It's also still very early in the season, the bite will pick up with time.

 

[Sands]

Thanks for all the advice. We are still figuring out the boat and all the equipment, it is all new to us this year. We were trolling on a kicker and had our setbacks from the downriggers between 30 and 50'. Need to pick up a bunch more gear. Only have a small selection right now.

 

[mrmike]

Sounds like your on the right track,your asking question. You have to understand your opponent (Kokanee) they are plankton eaters. Plankton are Sun sensitive. The Kokanee feed on plankton at night the plankton rises to the surface. Long line in the morning on the surface that were the kok are feeding. DR set like about 5 ft /as sun get higher plankton drop lower into the water column. Hope this helps alittle

 

[mrmike]

Equipment I do use florocarbon leader 12# p line. 9/10 inch leader on wobblers. 30 inch leaders when using spinners, I've settle on Paulson Cascade wobblers called arrows fantastic wobbler. I probable have many,many wobblers. I've settle for arrows just food for thought. 12# leader stiffer more action to your hooks and bait.

 

[eschmit04]

Went out on friday, and caught 15 only fished a few hours. Didn't have a fish finder so it took me a little while to find the fish.

Sling blades with wedding rings or hochies did best. Beer can did alright as well. First time using a sliding sinker system vs. a banana sinker and my landing ratio went up.

Installed a basic fish finder on sunday so I'm looking forward to going back out.

 

[Dorf]

Went out Sunday. First time fishing for Kokanee. I fished from a kayak out of Freeman creek and caught 8 kokanee and 1 rainbow. I spent a lot of the day working out newbie kinks. I hope to do better next time. I fished the downrigger from 10 to 25 ft and did best at 15'. Longlined at 150' without weight and with 1oz at 100'. Did much better without weight. Pink hoochies. Weather is looking miserable this weekend, bummer.

 

[ricks]

On the kayak trolling, check out some of Spilt Milts videos on youtube. He has some great little tests on leader length and gearing up for kokes. Running weights versus downriggers.

I haven't dewinterized the boat yet. Guess I better get my butt moving.

See ya all on the water.

Rick

 

[Dorf]

On the kayak trolling, check out some of Spilt Milts videos on youtube. He has some great little tests on leader length and gearing up for kokes. Running weights versus downriggers.

I haven't dewinterized the boat yet. Guess I better get my butt moving.

See ya all on the water.

Rick

Split Milt's videos have been really useful for me. I still need to watch many of them though. The two most difficult things about the kayak are not being able to motor to someplace better, and sitting for hours on end.

I went again yesterday and caught 8. A few out of Canyon Crk, and the rest right around Freeman Crk. There are a lot of them out there, so it must just be a little early or I'm still learning. I have only caught a few so far that are a decent size.

 

[amxerhull]

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

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