downriggeral
Well-known member
Lake Roosevelt Kokanee 2016
Fished the Keller area for kokanee starting around 8:30 on Sunday. We knew it might be tough fishing based on rising water and a storm forecast to come in around 2 in the afternoon. Caught the first fish of the day (rainbow) on the lead core at three colors and 1.7 mph with a UV Simon dodger and a pink/UV hoochie set up. We got the first koke on the same rig around 9:00 and thought we might be into them. Caught another one of the silver beauties around 9:30 and then one more around 10. Not exactly fast fishing but enough to keep us interested.
We continued trolling for the next four hours without a bite and finally caught one more trout around 18 inches. We finally moved down stream and were exploring when the rain started around 2 as predicted. Maybe this will help? Up to that point all of the fish had come on my rods; one lead core and the other on the downrigger at 16'. Ron's pole finally came to life landing another koke just shy of 20". These fish are so strong, what a blast to catch them. His pole went off again when we were putting it out and we didn't get that one in the boat. We turned around and trolled back to where we hit fish and caught another ; yahoo one to go for the six wild fish limit for the three of us. It didn't take long and we had the sixth fish in the boat in the pouring rain around 3:30. Long day for sure.
We ended up with 3 bowes and the six kokanee ranging from one "small" 18 incher to the others just shy of 20" with one making the 20" mark. Long day for sure but we are so spoiled with this fishery.
Tight lines - Alan
PS We really appreciate the courtesy of the fish checker at the launch. What a wealth of information Brandy had.
Fished the Keller area for kokanee starting around 8:30 on Sunday. We knew it might be tough fishing based on rising water and a storm forecast to come in around 2 in the afternoon. Caught the first fish of the day (rainbow) on the lead core at three colors and 1.7 mph with a UV Simon dodger and a pink/UV hoochie set up. We got the first koke on the same rig around 9:00 and thought we might be into them. Caught another one of the silver beauties around 9:30 and then one more around 10. Not exactly fast fishing but enough to keep us interested.
We continued trolling for the next four hours without a bite and finally caught one more trout around 18 inches. We finally moved down stream and were exploring when the rain started around 2 as predicted. Maybe this will help? Up to that point all of the fish had come on my rods; one lead core and the other on the downrigger at 16'. Ron's pole finally came to life landing another koke just shy of 20". These fish are so strong, what a blast to catch them. His pole went off again when we were putting it out and we didn't get that one in the boat. We turned around and trolled back to where we hit fish and caught another ; yahoo one to go for the six wild fish limit for the three of us. It didn't take long and we had the sixth fish in the boat in the pouring rain around 3:30. Long day for sure.
We ended up with 3 bowes and the six kokanee ranging from one "small" 18 incher to the others just shy of 20" with one making the 20" mark. Long day for sure but we are so spoiled with this fishery.
Tight lines - Alan
PS We really appreciate the courtesy of the fish checker at the launch. What a wealth of information Brandy had.
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