cold weather koke fishing

[Rogerdodger]

I am a rookie at kokanee but am looking forward to getting out there, I have fished mostly on American Lake. I have the impression from various posts that not many people fish for kokanee in December and other winter months. Is this only because of the cold weather or are the fish less tasty, less inclined to bite, or what? Any responses are welcome.

 

[Fish On!!!]

Im fairly new to Kokanee fishing also but went the past weekend and caught several Kokes and Rainbows. The fish have a ton of fight in them right now which makes up for less quanity. We missed or lost quite a few don't know why, they seemed to be hitting pretty hard.

 

[KOK head]

fish on!!! what lake did you fish if you dont mind me asking and what depth was the koks at thanks !

kok head

 

[Fish On!!!]

Lucky Peak and we caught one at 25 then the rest at 35-40...

 

[kokanee_slayer]

NICE WORK!!!! I miss Idaho. I lived at Mt. Home from 1994 - 1998 but didn't get into Kokanee Fishing until I moved back to Washington.

 

[Rogerdodger]

Nearly all my kokanee fishing has been at American Lake near Tacoma, WA. Due mostly to cabin fever and cold weather I went to Sportco in Fife today and picked the brain of Tom Pollack, a well known fisherman around here. Tom fishes in Lake Washington a lot and tells me he stops fishing, or at least eating kokanee from that lake, in October or November when they are deteriorating due to spawning. He starts fishing again in May when the young ones have grown up a little. I assume that may be true for other lakes as well, although i read about people catching them early in the spring, and understand that there will be full grown fish in the lake all year round. Is this your experience?

 

[Kingchinook]

Kokanee are good all year you just have to be smart enough to tell the difference between spawners and non spawners easily identified if you are fish smart or look online for the tell tale signs

 

[Rogerdodger]

So are you saying kokanees bite just as well in winter as other times but those that show colors indicating they are ready to spawn should be released to spawn? This is welcome news; from my experience fishing for walleyes i have noted a lack of willingness to bite in real cold weather/water. Guess i need to dig out the longjohns and bundle up for winter kokanees. Thanks for the information.

 

[kokanee_slayer]

Its been my experience that you can catch Koks year around but it's slow until the water temp gets to around the 50 to 55 degree range. American lake produces well but Clear and Alder Lakes aren't bad either but the fish are a lot smaller.

 

[Kokanee-Toni]

Its been my experience that you can catch Koks year around but it's slow until the water temp gets to around the 50 to 55 degree range. American lake produces well but Clear and Alder Lakes aren't bad either but the fish are a lot smaller.

But Clear is not a year round lake.
Do you fish the same way for them as when the temperature is 50 VS 60?

 

[Kokanee Kid]

Rogerdodger, wait 2 months. By then with a little good weather it will hopefull be on! It was last year, just wait. I wanna go too, but I know better. Yes a few could be caught now but it will be tough fishing. A few months that will all change.

 

[Rogerdodger]

I hear ya. Meanwhile i will keep trying to catch a wily steelhead, if the weather ever shapes up. My only kokanee101chromefish101 experiences have been at American Lake, due mostly to price of gas. When spring gets here i will go to some of the lakes described in this forum. Sounds like Wallowa is the prime choice for big kokes, but doubt i will get there unless price of gas goes down.

 

[Rogerdodger]

I hear ya. Meanwhile i will keep trying to catch a wily steelhead, if the weather ever shapes up. My only kokanee101chromefish101 experiences have been at American Lake, due mostly to price of gas. When spring gets here i will go to some of the lakes described in this forum. Sounds like Wallowa is the prime choice for big kokes, but doubt i will get there unless price of gas goes down.

 

[rkcarguy]

We managed a 13" kok and about the same sized cutt on 1/7, water was 42* and it was snowing. The FF was showing alot of fish but only the 2 takers, the kok hit my shallow offering "great white" style from underneath and I watched it happen, pretty cool!
Had good expectations with those hits coming in the first 1/2 hour of our trip, as it's typically either on or off, but that was it for the day.