Lucky Peak Kokes

[Ferg]

Tuesday evening fish

Went out yesterday after work. We launched from spring shores and fished through the mouth of robie creek? With the highway bridge? Not sure because I'm not really familiar with the lake yet. Then we fished about half way up the narrow stretch towards lucky peak dam and back. We caught two NPM and nothing else. Not sure where you guys are catching these monsters out of spring shores but with a little more time I'll figure it out.

 

[luckykoke]

Ferg,
I have to ask, what does "NPM" stand for. I haven't seen that term used before. Also yes, by the bridge that is the Mores Creek arm. I've never fished in there so not sure if there are fish there. I have fished the narrows area towards Lucky Peak and have caught fish there. Like I said, I haven't had much luck on evening fishing either. May give it a try soon though. Will report.

 

[Ferg]

Npm

NPM = Northern Pike Minnow (if you're politically correct) formerly known as squawfish.

 

[King Tut]

snubber

I have never used a snubber with my downrigger, but I have behind a trolling weight. If you have a soft rod would it still help?

 

[salmonster]

Hey Tut, Nice to see you posting!

 

[Mojo]

I have never used a snubber with my downrigger, but I have behind a trolling weight. If you have a soft rod would it still help?

I always fish snubbers. I fish them in front of my dodgers, not between the dodger and lure. I use some pretty wimpy rods as well as some that have a little more background, and use snubbers on all of them. They really do make a difference.

 

[King Tut]

snubbers

What is the best color of snubber? My worry is that it might distract the fish from the real prize.

 

[Mojo]

I use the tan ones...natural colored. I use the smaller ones, not the "salmon bungee" type.

 

[skookum9]

I noticed this discussion and am marveled at the differences in some of your experiences from most of mine. If I want to lose more fish all I need do is use a snubber. I do use a sensitive rod with a soft tip but that is all. I have tried on many occassions, more with silver salmon that koke's but it's the same for both, and whenever I use snubbers I can rarely get a fish to stick. And I always use braided line. I have not found the need for snubbers yet. Perhaps if I were using a really heavy rod that had no more flex than a 2X4. I'm not sure what the difference between the fishing that others experience than that which I do but there must be something significant. I would love to learn someday what that difference is.

In my experience, what Gurnealius experienced has nothing to do with snubbers, or anything to do with their soft mouths. When I've seen fish do this it's always because they are not taking the lure well. I've often found this is because of the leader length being either too short or too long. Sometimes I've found it to be because of the speed of the boat. And sometimes I've found it to be because of the action imposed by either the lure or the dodger being just a tad too radical or even not enough. Again, this is just my experience and I can't say for all times for all people. But I would love to know the difference between those who fish snubbers successfully and myself. I'm always learning as much as I can but sometimes I just don't see what others may find obvious.

 

[King Tut]

snubbers

Thanks Skookum 9 and Mojo for the info. I'll run up in the morning and try one with and one without a snubber. Last Tuesday eve at LP I don't think it would have mattered. They pounded my bait, many had both hooks in them. I'll let you know.

 

[Driftfish'r]

new to the forum

Just found this forum a couple weeks ago when steelhead was over. Lots of great info. Just thought I would give my fishing report. I've only koke fished 5 or 6 times so I seem to spend a couple of hours getting things figured out. Went to LP this mourning and from 9 to 11 all we caught was one little kokanee and four rainbows. We finally switched to Macks kokanee killers green with double hooks and dropped to 55 feet and got 11 kokanee over the next 2 hours. I am curious to see if every body was fishing that deep. We were fishing just northeast of the dam. Almost all the kokes were about 16 to 18". Thanks again for all the info.

 

[kodiak1]

Sounds like you got into them. Congrats! We went up to Spring Shores last night just for a ride, and talked to some guys pulling out. They are def. "in the know" and were fishing with all the right stuff. Didn't catch a single koke. P.S.: get used to "trying to figure things out". Just part of the territory with kokanee. Obviously you did a fine job of figuring! Welcome to the site and hope to hear regularly from you. Sending you a PM

 

[hoolee99]

About a week ago around the same location we were downrigging at 60' that seemed to be the magic number for us. We were using 6lb downrigger balls so at 1.6mph is not sure what depth, we guess at about 47-51'. We used dodgers and squid jigs and did good. Saw a lot of people using wedding rings and no downriggers and they were also doing ok.

 

[King Tut]

little fish - big fish

Yesterday fishing was busy but 8 koks were small 4 were big [ 14-16 ] and 4 trout,1 big one. Good thing about it is I only had to clean 4 fish. Today we caught 18 big koks, 2 small, 1 trout and a NPM. Downriggers caught most the fish but only half the depth as the stories before. Could not make a call on the snubbers. Splatter back squid was the hot one. Perfect fishing morning with the overcast. Hope to hear how everyone else did.

 

[Gurnealius]

Thanks for the tip shookum 9. Makes sense that it wasn't the snubber- I might have been trolling too fast or leader length might be it too. I've been running them at 9 inches off sling blades or basic 4/0 dodgers-
went out for a few hours on Saturday morning and caught 2 kok and 2 bow just east of turner gulch in the canyon- they seemed to like purple squid- Reading most fish at 40' to 50'. Set downrigger at 35' and worked pretty well. We did lose about 4 kok right at the boat but they were pretty small anyway. I still haven't hooked into anything bigger than 15+. Keep hearing you guys say you're hooking them at 17.5 and 18. Hopefully I'll find em soon.
Fish on!

Oh, I did catch a 20inch bull up at arrowrock about 200 yards out from the first launch area. It was about 4 weeks ago and was a great fight. The drag was in effect let me tell ya. I had a very light pole with 4lb test. As I got him close to the boat he kept diving down. Good times. My first Bull Trout was a memorable one.

 

[sawtooth]

Went out Monday morning and limited by noon. Lost three at or near the boat before finally getting my first fish of the day around 9 am. Homemade spinner in green and pink seemed to be the ticket. Downriggers were set from 25-35 feet down. Smallest was 14 inches, two were at 17 inches. Hoping to get out again this weekend.

 

[kodiak1]

Sawtooth,
Congrats!!! What part of the reservoir did you find them? Must be more fun on your own spinners!

 

[sawtooth]

Thanks Kodiak 1,
The only thing better than catching them on my own spinners was that the rod I was using was also one of my own. An 8 foot 3 wt fly rod blank, with a graphite handle. Those larger kokes can really put a bend in that rod.tongue2 Picked up the fish off the point across from Spring Shores ramp and the cove just down stream.

 

[kodiak1]

Man, they must be fun on that fly rod. Thanks for the response. Mike

 

[King Tut]

good night fishing

Fish were all over the place. Caught fish at 50, 35, 30, 26, and 23. Many small koks ( 8 to 10 ). Ended up at 9:00 with our 12 big ones 14 to 16. Plus 2 trout.