Lucky Peak Kokes 2011

[koko71]

Hey Idahokanee was out a spring shores on sunday and caught a couple of kokanee. I noticed you limited and was curious what type of bait and scent you have been using for hooking up on kokanee this year. I have had success with a scent called kick-n-trout sold at cabelas; but I have not had any luck with the pro cure scents mixed with anise krill gel. On sunday I also caught a few small kokanee on the other side of spring shores. The kokanee I caught were full of midge flies which they were feeding on at first light. tight lines, james

 

[Idahokanee]

Hey koko71

Hey Idahokanee was out a spring shores on sunday and caught a couple of kokanee. I noticed you limited and was curious what type of bait and scent you have been using for hooking up on kokanee this year. I have had success with a scent called kick-n-trout sold at cabelas; but I have not had any luck with the pro cure scents mixed with anise krill gel. On sunday I also caught a few small kokanee on the other side of spring shores. The kokanee I caught were full of midge flies which they were feeding on at first light. tight lines, james

I have never done well with pro cure, and have stopped using store bought scents for quite a while. I catch twice as much (Kokanee/Salmon/Steelhead/etc.) with natural scents.

White Shoe-peg corn. One container was tuna oil (from small can of tuna) as a scent, and the other was pure Anise oil drizzled over corn. They both worked about the same. On Saturday small pop gear with wedding ring work great, but Sunday only my 5.5" dodger with pink homemade Hoochie worked (pulled in a 17" and an 18", all the rest were 14") this is the first season that I too have caught (and released) lots of little guys, good to know there are going to be plenty in there next year. ........The best advice is once you find them, stay with them (and for right now, stay closer to the surface) SHHH, don't tell anybody. ;o)

....Good Luck!

 

[Idahokanee]

I know this isn't the recipe forum section, but given the recent news, I thought my fellow Idaho fishermen might like my take on "How to make Kokanee bin Laden". see link below.

http://kokaneefishingforum.com/fishing-forums/showthread.php?t=4629

 

[MackayGuy]

.....for those of you who do not know, loading/unloading your boats should never take more than 2 minutes, and should actually be less than 1 minute. ) fencing

For those of us that don't have boats that we could carry on top of our cars less than a minute would be a real challenge. Did not realize it was a timed event. 101duh101

 

[kodiak1]

I'm sure IdahoKokanee wouldn't be upset if you took approx. 5 minutes, but don't criticize him until you have spent a weekend afternoon trying to get your boat out of Lucky Peak. It can be most frustrating. Last time we were up there, a fellow put his boat in (on the exit side, of course) and sat there putting his reels on his rods, stringing the line, tying lures on, and on and on. He noticed me with my empty trailer waiting there, and saw my wife holding the boat and struggling with the wind. Also, if you haven't seen the water skiiers pull their boat out just a few feet and wipe them down, before clearing the ramp, you haven't fished up there much!!! So, give the guy a break! Mike

 

[koko71]

Idahokanee thanks for the info; I was using the same kind of gear and the same depth so it must be the bait scent. I'll give the natural scents a try. Have you ever tryed a black dodger and a black spinners or hoochies trailer around first light? There are times when that set up works well. tight lines, james

 

[MackayGuy]

I'm sure IdahoKokanee wouldn't be upset if you took approx. 5 minutes, but don't criticize him until you have spent a weekend afternoon trying to get your boat out of Lucky Peak. It can be most frustrating. Last time we were up there, a fellow put his boat in (on the exit side, of course) and sat there putting his reels on his rods, stringing the line, tying lures on, and on and on. He noticed me with my empty trailer waiting there, and saw my wife holding the boat and struggling with the wind. Also, if you haven't seen the water skiiers pull their boat out just a few feet and wipe them down, before clearing the ramp, you haven't fished up there much!!! So, give the guy a break! Mike

Thanks Mike....I've seen it all....and I live in Boise most of the time so I've seen all the numb heads who don't know or don't care about ramp protocol at leaky peak. Also seen them at all the other local lakes. We've all sat off the ramp waiting for our turn. I can think of a lot worse things to do. I was out there the same day, but I launched at SS instead. Minor waiting, no numb heads. I don't go to Turner for that very reason. I will give the guy a little break, but not much....unrealistic expectations always provide disappointment. It is what it is and is unlikely to change. I've come back to the ramp and seen that circus before.....time for one more trolling pass while the crowd works it out.

 

[kodiak1]

I hear ya'. Seems like the stupids really congregate down by the dam!! I, too, would much rather head up to Spring Shores, eve if I plan on fishing the dam area. All I can say is thank God my wife and I are retired, and can stay home on the weekends, and head up there early morning weekdays. Your philosophy is a good one. Just circle one more time until they head out!! Good fishing to you. Mike

 

[Idahokanee]

For those of us that don't have boats that we could carry on top of our cars less than a minute would be a real challenge. Did not realize it was a timed event. 101duh101

Sorry MackayGuy. I wasn’t trying to sound upset. I’m actually very laid back and very patient, and never in a hurry for anything (after all, fishing is supposed to be relaxing, right?). But there are plenty of great people out there that just don’t realize there is a certain protocol, and I just wanted them to know that we all need to be more considerate. Even the day I was talking about, it was very windy and very cumbersome, so I understand taking more time in certain situations. …I’ve even been yelled at because the guy in front of me can’t get his motor started at the dock (no big deal, we all have problems once in a while) but, what am I supposed to do, launch on top of him? Anyway, I’m just hoping one or two people who read these forums find this information helpful and pay it forward. …. I know we may never fix it all, but every little bit helps, you know.

Happy fishing. )

 

[Idahokanee]

Idahokanee thanks for the info; I was using the same kind of gear and the same depth so it must be the bait scent. I'll give the natural scents a try. Have you ever tryed a black dodger and a black spinners or hoochies trailer around first light? There are times when that set up works well. tight lines, james

James, thanks for the info - I have never used a black dodger, but there was one I was thinking about buying (w/green-yellowish spots on it). Also, I went out today and did a little test, I used scented corn that was about five days old (been out in the sun and on the boat a few times). First of all, I couldn't get anything to bite for almost 3 hours, thought it might be the gear, so I changed it out a bunch of different ways, when I started getting bites, they turned out to be (a LOT of) small trout (which like the stinky stuff). I had to really work hard to get the Kokes to take it. after more than six hours, I left the lake with only 3 Kokes. I guess that's the long version of: Use fresh bait. ;o)

 

[salmonster]

Boat Launch

That ramp at Turner Gulch is a constant source of frustration. We often refer to it as the idiot's ramp (yes i use it) More often than not it is just as described above, where people's blatant disregard for their surroundings and others causes the problems. I can't believe the number of people who tie-off their boats on the inside of the docks (when lake is full) or to the that little plastic thing when it's like it is now. Sunday at noon a guy unloaded his boat and had his wife hold it from the dock while he went and looked for a parking spot- 4 trailers waiting on ramp to pull boats out.

Pull the dam thing into the bank. Every time I try to help someone by explaining to them what a reasonable and prudent person would do in this situation, they look at me like I am from outer space. If it didn't take 4 gallons of gas for me to run down the lake, I'd by a pass for Spring Shores. Fewer boneheads up there.

 

[salmonster]

cont

Forgot to add, when I finally got my trailer in, the guy launching in the next lane backed all the way to the water- and still had his cover on!

 

[MackayGuy]

My wife and I will occasionally take a lunch and just sit and watch the insanity at the ramps by the dam. Hard not to laugh out loud. It used to be better when the economy was better and there were a lot of new captains launching their new boats. I'm pretty patient with someone who is trying to learn and willing to listen to the do's and don'ts, but I start to lose it with the blatant rear end orifice people. The last time I used Turner three idiots took 20 minutes to manhandle their boat on the trailer, then pulled it up the ramp 20 feet, stopped and celebrated with a cold one…..all while there was a line of folks trying to put in or take out. I was next in line so I walked down and asked them politely to move their rig, pointing out the congestion they were causing. The invited me to perform a physical impossibility upon myself. I declined and informed them they only had the time it would take for me to walk back up to my pickup, then I would relaunch their boat and pickup with my big American diesel pickup. They moved it and continuously saluted me as they passed me going up the ramp. They were still blocking the ramp at the top when I left. They gave me the single digit wave again. I don’t need that crap, nor does anyone else, so I avoid it. It’s worth the extra fuel to go to SS. I quit going to LP altogether when the jet ski gnats come out. I am lobbying for the state to require everyone to take and pass a safe boating class and have to carry proof when operating a vessel, like they do in Oregon. Getting cranky in my old age.

Rick

 

[matt_has_mail]

I saw the best example of failure in action at the dam launch Monday. First off the guy launched his boat and didn't tie off to the dock. He then went back to the truck to get something and his boat or rental boat floated away. Luckily for him it was a standard windy day on the lake and the baot hit shore 50 yards away. Then he went to move his vehicle, also a rental and it wouldn't start I ran my boat on shore and went to help him. For the record your car won't start in reverse even with the parking break set. It was pretty funny and I didn't mind the extra 10 min at the dock getting to watch this circus act. Plus I caught 6 kokes 14"-18" and a nice 19" rainbow. so I was happy.

 

[idahowolverine]

I have a question about docking protocol out here. I saw something on Sunday that is a big no no were I am from in Michigan. We pulled up to the dock and were 3rd in line to dock our boat. We had been waiting for about 20 minutes when two boats pulled up to the shore and dropped off a guy and they went up and got there trailers and pulled around. This moved us back in line. On Lake Michigan this would have started a very harsh argument or even a fight. I finally dropped my wife off and had her back the trailer down the ramp. Which was funny to watch. Nobody seemed to minded so I just wondered if this was normal.

 

[BlueBack79]

headed out after a bit for the first koke trip of the season. hopefully this weather doesnt get nasty again like last night. still looks a little wet outside.

 

[Larkinforce]

LP 6 May

Hit the lake at 0930, did not get my first hit till 1130 when the sun popped out and the wind stoped. Had 4 hits in 20 min. Landed one and lost the other three on the way up. Picked up my fishing partner at the dock at 1:30. After getting back to the spot he missed one and I landed one. About 4:30 we both got hit at the same time he lost his and OI landed mine. So total was 3 landed 5 lost on way up. The only thing they hit for us was green spinners at 15-20 feet.

 

[MackayGuy]

I have a question about docking protocol out here. I saw something on Sunday that is a big no no were I am from in Michigan. We pulled up to the dock and were 3rd in line to dock our boat. We had been waiting for about 20 minutes when two boats pulled up to the shore and dropped off a guy and they went up and got there trailers and pulled around. This moved us back in line. On Lake Michigan this would have started a very harsh argument or even a fight. I finally dropped my wife off and had her back the trailer down the ramp. Which was funny to watch. Nobody seemed to minded so I just wondered if this was normal.

Normal? To the guys that think they're smarter or better than everyone else, yes. To a civil respectful human being, no. I'm betting you're talking about Turner Gulch ramp? If so, then yes that is the nornmal if there is a normal there. I've been there later in the season when it's reaalllllyyyy busy at that ramp and there's been some guy there directing traffic and keeping it somewhat organized and sane. I think he's with the park?

 

[MackayGuy]

Hit the lake at 0930, did not get my first hit till 1130 when the sun popped out and the wind stoped. Had 4 hits in 20 min. Landed one and lost the other three on the way up. Picked up my fishing partner at the dock at 1:30. After getting back to the spot he missed one and I landed one. About 4:30 we both got hit at the same time he lost his and OI landed mine. So total was 3 landed 5 lost on way up. The only thing they hit for us was green spinners at 15-20 feet.

Thanks....I was just about to ask if anyone had been out yesterday. I was going to go, but had something come up at the last minute. It looked like a good day to be out there. Lot's of folks out there?

 

[salmonster]

Thursday

Fished Thursday evening after work. Only ended up with a couple of keepers (14 inch). we caught 10 or so of the small koks- which I think are next year's spawning class. We turned them all loose. In the past we have occasionally run into these, but this is the second time this year that we have really gotten in to large numbers of those little ones. Something different.