sawtooth
IDAHO Kokanee Forum Moderator
More fish, less Virus in 2021.
2021 Dworshak Reservoir Kokanee Fishing Report
- Thread starter sawtooth
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Dworshak in Winter
I put my new to me boat in at Freeman Creek today just to see if it floats (it does). I also gave a half hearted attempt to catch fish for a couple hrs. I flatlined 70-120' out with arrows and pink hoochies. No bites or anything showing on the finder.
Has anyone fished Dworshak in the winter and had success? Any tips on where they might be this time of year?
I put my new to me boat in at Freeman Creek today just to see if it floats (it does). I also gave a half hearted attempt to catch fish for a couple hrs. I flatlined 70-120' out with arrows and pink hoochies. No bites or anything showing on the finder.
Has anyone fished Dworshak in the winter and had success? Any tips on where they might be this time of year?
Winter Kokes
Check out this post: https://www.kokaneefishingforum.com/fishing-forums/showthread.php?8617-Winter-Time-Kokanee
My experience and understanding is the fish are down around the dam til dam discharge ramps up enough to cause current then many fish instinctively move upstream. The fish are said to be small this year so small lures, hooks and baits, and a bit slower troll. Water temps are colder than they prefer, so find the warmest which today looks to be 43.7 at 10-30'. Try closer to shore too. And please post back with how you do. Curious to know fish size this year. Thx!
Check out this post: https://www.kokaneefishingforum.com/fishing-forums/showthread.php?8617-Winter-Time-Kokanee
My experience and understanding is the fish are down around the dam til dam discharge ramps up enough to cause current then many fish instinctively move upstream. The fish are said to be small this year so small lures, hooks and baits, and a bit slower troll. Water temps are colder than they prefer, so find the warmest which today looks to be 43.7 at 10-30'. Try closer to shore too. And please post back with how you do. Curious to know fish size this year. Thx!
IDFG Dworshak Kokanee Article
https://idfg.idaho.gov/press/reflecting-back-2020-year-review-dworshak-reservoir-0
https://idfg.idaho.gov/press/reflecting-back-2020-year-review-dworshak-reservoir-0
Do you think the fertilizing may help substantially with the size of the super abundant Kokanee this year! Any idea as to the length of the fry last summer? Thx again!Dworshak Nutrient Restoration Update 2018
https://idfg.idaho.gov/press/reflecting-back-2020-year-review-close-3-miles-fish-habitat-restored-upper-potlatch
Key statements from the article:
"They’ll be bigger than they would have been if we didn’t add nutrients."
"it’s important to remember that their growth, and ultimately size, depends a lot on how many are out there."
"What we found was, on average, kokanee were about an inch longer and two ounces heavier in years when we added nutrients. This isn’t much if you’re thinking in terms of a single fish, but it can add up. For example, for a limit of (25) averaged sized kokanee, that will amount to an extra two pounds of fillets."
"...as this nutrient restoration project has continued, the abundance of kokanee has increased. As the number of fish has gone up, the size has come back down. With the addition of nutrients, the reservoir can support many more kokanee of a given size than before."
https://idfg.idaho.gov/press/reflecting-back-2020-year-review-close-3-miles-fish-habitat-restored-upper-potlatch
Key statements from the article:
"They’ll be bigger than they would have been if we didn’t add nutrients."
"it’s important to remember that their growth, and ultimately size, depends a lot on how many are out there."
"What we found was, on average, kokanee were about an inch longer and two ounces heavier in years when we added nutrients. This isn’t much if you’re thinking in terms of a single fish, but it can add up. For example, for a limit of (25) averaged sized kokanee, that will amount to an extra two pounds of fillets."
"...as this nutrient restoration project has continued, the abundance of kokanee has increased. As the number of fish has gone up, the size has come back down. With the addition of nutrients, the reservoir can support many more kokanee of a given size than before."
Every year this time of year I see them jumping all over the place in the backs of a lot of the bays. I believe the food source heads to the surface for a little warmer water when the sun is out. Might be a side planer or long line surface affair to catch them. I’d expect the size to be very disappointing, 8” probably being typical.
I ended up trying it out on 2/5. It was a nice day; sweatshirt weather. Caught 8 in 3 hours out of Canyon Crk. I lost probably another 8. The kid was doing most of the reeling. All 8-9 inches and skinny. They were jumping quite a bit, so I fished the surface. Surface temp was 42-43. I did see them at 40-50 ft at the entrance to Canyon Crk near the cliffy area, but i didn't bother fishing deep.
Thanks for the report Dorf, and glad you and the kid got some to the boat!
I didn't measure any this time, but they haven't grown since when I did measure a few in Feb. At that time, they ranged from 8" to 9". They're skinny, as expected.
It was colder and cloudier than forecasted. Surface temp was 42. Probably 50-55 air temp. Slowing my troll down to 1.0 mph seemed to increase the bite. I used brad's gold dodgers and pink paulina micro hoochies on 15" leaders all day.
It was colder and cloudier than forecasted. Surface temp was 42. Probably 50-55 air temp. Slowing my troll down to 1.0 mph seemed to increase the bite. I used brad's gold dodgers and pink paulina micro hoochies on 15" leaders all day.
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Haha. There's probably something to the flow killing the bite. At least on average. I noticed it last year. That was in April though. I do know that I regret not getting out there when it's a nice day, regardless of the fishing success I expect to have.
Captainvette
New member
- Joined
- Mar 24, 2021
- Messages
- 1
3/23/21
Caught 12 today from 1130am - 330pm between Big Eddy and Canyon Creek. Had 4 rods going with wedding rings and dodgers double stacking on 2 downriggers. Marked a ton of schools between 25’ and 45’
But they were small.... probably the smallest Koke I’ve ever caught.
We felt like we should have limited out with all the schools we went through but just 12
Caught 12 today from 1130am - 330pm between Big Eddy and Canyon Creek. Had 4 rods going with wedding rings and dodgers double stacking on 2 downriggers. Marked a ton of schools between 25’ and 45’
But they were small.... probably the smallest Koke I’ve ever caught.
We felt like we should have limited out with all the schools we went through but just 12
Reel Time report
Got this in my email today from Reel Time Fishing:
Kokanee fishing has been picking up over the last couple weeks. Toby caught 30 Kokanee one day last week. Smallmouth Bass will generally kick on around mid April.
That's all I've heard from the area besides what's on this forum page.
Got this in my email today from Reel Time Fishing:
Kokanee fishing has been picking up over the last couple weeks. Toby caught 30 Kokanee one day last week. Smallmouth Bass will generally kick on around mid April.
That's all I've heard from the area besides what's on this forum page.
fishingmom
Well-known member
4/30
Launched at big eddy at 2, short run up past first floating dock and fished opposite side, 4 oz 35-45’ line out shrimp scented corn, gold dodgers and red wedding style lures,,,got 9 lost 5 at boat plus many short strikes, didn’t measure but seems like they are growing...
Launched at big eddy at 2, short run up past first floating dock and fished opposite side, 4 oz 35-45’ line out shrimp scented corn, gold dodgers and red wedding style lures,,,got 9 lost 5 at boat plus many short strikes, didn’t measure but seems like they are growing...
