Nantahala Koke Head Project

[SeaDog]

Hi ff!

Where were you fishing mostly on West Hill last year?

Because I was averaging 12-15 inchers all last year (few 16-17") down the east side 1st cove in 44-47 ft. of water!

End of season last year caught a bunch of 2 year olds.
Also marked a lot of 2year old schools -> Mostly down at the south end.

Personaly I think this will be a banner year at WH!

Might try East Twin this year -> Though I hate to have to pay O'Hare's to launch my boat for a body of water that I pay to have stocked!

SeaDog

 

[Fishfinger]

All over, i troll, but the majority of the fish last year were on the eastern shoreline, from the big boulder south to brodie beach. The deep hole looked barren compared to other years.

 

[SeaDog]

Hi ff,
I pretty much just jig for Kokes!

I am though, of the firm belief, that Kokes do school up according to size because they are so aggresive.
The bigger ones will muscle the smaller ones away from food sources.

See you soon on WH!

SeaDog

 

[rgarbar]

SeaDog

Speaking of food sources. Did you know the reason the Nantahala kokes get so big is because they eat "grits". They also whistle "Dixie" when we put them in the cooler!

 

[trollmonkey]

Anybody into kokes yet?

Is anyone catching kokes yet?I'm hoping to get to Nantahala sometime in the next 3 weeks or so.Last year was way too busy and we only fished kokes three times last summer,wanting to hit it more in 2011.Remember ,save your heads.101chromefish101

 

[rgarbar]

TM

I am up at Nantahala. Will be launching my boat tomorrow at Big choga to test out the new carburator, fish finder and shuttles. Hoping to do some serious fishing later this week. Will keep you posted and save any heads. I now have internet at my Nantahala house so I can keep in touch with the forum.

 

[rgarbar]

Finally got on Nantahala lake. I had no luck with the kokanee but I did pick up a nice pair of rainbow trout. The water at the lake is vert clear. no sign of the summer plankton bloom yet. The surface temps ranged from 72 to 74 degrees. My FF indicated the thermocline between 8 and 12'. Marked fish all over the water column but no pods or schools. I did not start catching kokes until the 3rd week in June last year. Did not mark much in the area of the dam. Fished mostly Big and Little Choga coves.

 

[trollmonkey]

Nice rainbows,we were out there late May last year and got 12 or 13 nice stocked rainbows and 6 kokes.Its weird about the rainbows being stockers because the state doesn't stock the lake with bows .I wonder if there are stocked streams above the lake the trout are moving down from.Let us. know how the koke search goes. I am really ready to get back out to the lake. Good luck Mark101chromefish101

 

[rgarbar]

TM
I don't think the Nantahala rainbows are stocked. The only trib still stocked is Buck Creek way up in the Rainbow Springs area of the upper Nantahala area. There are a number of wild trout streams beside the Nantahala river feeding the lake. The meat was as orange as kokanee and IMHO they tasted better the kokanee using the same grilling recipe. Have you ever caught a brown or a brook trout at the lake?

 

[trollmonkey]

TM
I don't think the Nantahala rainbows are stocked. The only trib still stocked is Buck Creek way up in the Rainbow Springs area of the upper Nantahala area. There are a number of wild trout streams beside the Nantahala river feeding the lake. The meat was as orange as kokanee and IMHO they tasted better the kokanee using the same grilling recipe. Have you ever caught a brown or a brook trout at the lake?

I think Harpoon got a nice brown last year ,but I haven't seen one so far. I would almost put money on no brookies being in Nanty.We caught 15 or 16 rainbows last year with only one being a wild bow. The wild fish are more sleek and their fins have straight rays and aren't rounded like stockers. The wild lakerun bows can be as silver as a kokanee.Tony Robinson(first NC Kokanee record holder). turned in what appeared even to state biologists to be a koke in the picture.,upon further examination it was identified as a rainbow . It was a beautiful mint silver lake rainbow typical of wild lake rainbows in WNC. A lot of trout feed now has components that give hatchery trout red/orange meat,and they definitely taste good fried or grilled.101chromefish101

 

[rgarbar]

Mark

Thank you for your informative reply. Since the state has not stocked Nantahala in many years it is possible the stocking is being done by some private groups or local HOA's. The Rainbow Springs Fishing Club who control most of the Nantahla river head waters might also be doing some private stocking in their beautiful and very private stretch of the river above the lake. I will heading out to fish both the Nantahala river and the lake this week. Will keep you advised of any luck with Kokes.

Ron

 

[rgarbar]

Nantahala Kokes

Got out on the lake for a few hours and hit paydirt. Caught 2. One was almost 18" the second was 17". One caught at 18' the second 35'. Have the heads marked and in the freezer. They hit hard and jumped all over. This might be a banner year.

 

[trollmonkey]

Sweet

Hey Ron ,Those are nice looking kokes,congrats.You,re killing me I'm going to try to get out there Sat 6-18 .I've got a white Key Largo CC come over and say hello if you see us.This week is rough I'm working in Andrews and fishing in the gorge at lunch hour,its hard to be that close to the lake without my boat. Good luck with your fishing ,keep us posted . Mark101chromefish101

 

[rgarbar]

Mark

Let me know for sure when you come up to the lake. I will make it my business to meet up with you. I trust you launch at Rocky Creek? I have a white 14' Carolina Skiff DLX cc with a blue bimini top with bow mount troll motor. One of my most productive koke places is not far from the launch. I will also bring the koke heads I have if you want.

Ron

 

[rgarbar]

Another Head

Mark

Got out a bit today. Cut short by a thunder storm.. Did manage a nice 18' koke and a walleye.

Ron

 

[rgarbar]

View attachment 2643Mark
Got out for about 2 hours sunday. The chiggars bit my wife up pretty good mountain bike riding yesterday so she did not want to ride. Left my comfort zone and tried a new area of the lake. Got another nice 18" koke and a rainbow. Did mark a couple of schools of fish at 40' to 43'.