If You Had One Lake to Fish.........

[kokehunter]

My wife and I want to go on a kokanee fishing trip to somewhere else besides the Boise area. I realize that I am leaving a great fishery, but we want to try somewhere new. Anybody got any tips to other lakes(OR. Id. Mn.) that I can catch 15" + kokes? 10hrs drive time one way is pretty much my limit. Thanks, Don.

 

[sawtooth]

Every Kokanee fisherman needs to make at least one trip to Flaming Gorge in their lifetime. There are some great fish to be had, and some excellent fisherman on this forum who live near the reservoir and can get you set up in the right direction. Not in Idaho, Montana, or Oregon, but still within you travel time frame at about 8 hours drive time.

 

[dragonfly]

well with that size requirement the closest lake that meets that in Oregon is Wickiup but you want to be there before the end of June because they use the lake for irrigation and river level control and can be pretty low after that. Wallowa has the record but hasn't had anything close in 3 years a lot of our lakes have 20 fish limits and the fish are fat, bright and very feisty like Odell (my favorite ) and Greenpeter. in WA from the reports so far is lake Chelan, the one I want to go to. and there are a few guys on here that have been fishing it that can elaborate on that. dfly

 

[mtncat1]

if you choose the gorge you won't have to worry about catching 15 inchers I'd say 19 to 21 is a good average koke in the gorge. it is a bit of a drive from Boise though

 

[fishslayer13]

Another vote for Flaming Gorge ! I haven't been over in a few years but am going again this year. Its about a 14 hour drive for us, but worth it.

 

[mtncat1]

you got to luv Utah man I forget how lucky I am to be just a couple hrs away from the gorge. but man what a fun lake to camp and fish on. plus I can hit strawberry for large kokes every weekend. I d sure like to get up to the north west and try a change of scenery

 

[SuperD]

If I only had one lake to fish, it'd be the big blue on a flat ass calm day. LOL!

 

[mtncat1]

what's the big blue.

 

[SuperD]

what's the big blue.

a.k.a. Pacific ocean. 101ok101

 

[downriggeral]

I'm with you on the flat calm day! Thank goodness for Scopalomine thumbsup

 

[BigggCountry]

With all the votes for flaming gorge it got me wondering what the daily, possession limits are. Also any idea how much a non resident licence would run me. Probably a three day licence.

 

[Bogey]

Where is flaming gorge? What state? LOL, now I'm curious.

 

[kokehunter]

Great response guys!! Thanks! Where are the hot spots on the gorge? My boat only has a 45HP main motor so I would need to camp closer to the fishing grounds. Any body fish Flathead lake in Montana? How about Odell?

 

[SuperD]

Gorge daily and in possession limits are 3 kokes. Camping at Buckboard campground would be the best bet as the fishing grounds can literally be just outside the marina. I usually buy a week license and it runs about $75 bucks. You also need a Wyoming AIS sticker for your boat which runs about another $40.

 

[Bduck]

Non-Resident AIS for Wyoming is $30. Utah requires a daily launch AIS questionnaire at launch site to be filled out or do the online test that will be good for a year. If you fish both Utah & Wyoming you will need a reciprocal stamp for your fishing license, $10 from either state. A second pole permit is required in Utah to fish 2 poles, Wyoming doesn't require a 2 pole permit, it's permissible with their state license. I'm hearing Utah is in the process of a possible change on this matter.

The Gorge is my favorite inland waterway for fishing.

 

[mtncat1]

Lucerne, anvil draw, and buckboard are all good options,my personal favorite spot is anvil, sheep creek is also a great option . the gorge is a big lake with several marinas and dozens of ramps, you will have no problem finding fish anywhere on the lake. and if you don't want to travel far on the water , you can trailer to other areas. you will be cheating yourself if you don't sample more of the lake than just buck board. you can buy a fishing map that is very accurate. for ten bucks. p/s the Wyoming side is a little better fishing , but the best scenery is in Utah.

 

[kootne]

Great response guys!! Thanks! Where are the hot spots on the gorge? My boat only has a 45HP main motor so I would need to camp closer to the fishing grounds. Any body fish Flathead lake in Montana? How about Odell?

The kokanee are gone from Flathead lake, the lake trout ate them all up. You can catch plenty in Koocanusa but won't be many 15" ones. There are kokanee in a lot of Western Montana lakes but Koocanusa is the only one I have fished. (and I am no expert) I have not been out yet, it is just getting warm enough and I'm muddling through a bunch of warm weather chores.
kootne

 

[dragonfly]

I fish Odell though you might catch a few 15' most will average 12'' but you can catch 25 a day. dfly

 

[SuperDaveMT]

The Helena area has a lot of options, and is about an 8 hour or so drive as I recall. Helena Valley Regulating Reservoir is a small lake (about 500 acres) and has good koke fishing. This year the fish seem to be in the mostly 14" to 16" inch range. I usually do pretty well until about July 4th. The fishing is probably pretty good after that, but I just don't seem to do as well when the fish drop into the 30 - 40 foot range. It's an electric motor only lake. Canyon Ferry, Hauser and Holter all have good trout fishing, and the walleye fishing can be pretty good too. The Missouri River below Holter is world class trout water and has lots of shore access. A 10 day non res fishing license is 53.50 with the conservation stamp. Camping is available at all of the local lakes except the regulating reservoir

 

[mrmike]

My choice is Wickiup camping and mooring your boat is great the fish are extremely large,very good limit of KOKANEE 25 fsh limit with nice brown trout fishery/there is a local restaurant down the road at twin lake resort/set backs shallow lake in my personnel option it over quickly when that water warms up July ISCH. I THEN move over to ODELL which has every thing wickiup has but the fish are smaller but plenty of them PLUS THERE IS MACKINAW.