Wallowa Lake Kokes and Trout

[Kokanee_hub]

Planning a trip to Wallowa Lake in less that 2 weeks. Anyone out there with some info on the kokes this year? Any size? How? Have only fished the lake from shore about 20 years ago, so know very little about the lake other than it pumped out some extra large kokes a few years back, but understand they are gone. How about trout?

[lentz]

Last year we tried our hand at them and only caught a couple. The use of a down rigger would probably helped our cause but we didn't have one. Those crazy trout will pool up around the inlet but they wouldn't bite anything last year. I dropped numerous combos right in front of them with no luck. The number to the marina is (541)432-9115. Give them a call, they are normally pretty helpful with info. Alot of times they will know the depth of the kokes, what set-up is hot, ect. I do know that the far side is better for kokes. One last thing. The marina parking lot doesn't open untill 7 or so. So if you are planning on hitting it early then you will need to use the other ramp. Good luck and have fun.

[k9jeff]

I am headed over there also in about the same time frame. Anyone else have a report or tip/trick for the lake?

[LuckyStrike]

It is true that the kokanee are small. Hasn't been anything even close to the 6 pounder caught there a couple of years ago.

If you haven't been, plan a trip around early sept and you can see the kokanee for yourself as they make a run up the Wallowa River. Seems to always be a few big fish. The lake at the mouth and the river are red from fish! It is cool.

You can catch alot of kokanee using a downrigger and instead of using corn for this lake, stop at the sports corral and get some maggotts. Don't ask. You can dye them pink or blue has worked for us.

Use wedding rings or kokanee kandys in pink, green and purple.

For trout, if you troll, troll along the west shore where the summer homes are. Troll in 40 feet of water. Troll dodgers and flatfish or wedding rings.

If you just want to catch quantities of planters, anchor off the mouth of the river in 10 feet of water, throw anything in yellow or chartruese. If you prefer bait, power bait below a bobber just behind the boat. Be aware that the lake is very clear and you will see alot of the fish when at the mouth.:twocents:


Last year we tried our hand at them and only caught a couple. The use of a down rigger would probably helped our cause but we didn't have one. Those crazy trout will pool up around the inlet but they wouldn't bite anything last year. I dropped numerous combos right in front of them with no luck. The number to the marina is (541)432-9115. Give them a call, they are normally pretty helpful with info. Alot of times they will know the depth of the kokes, what set-up is hot, ect. I do know that the far side is better for kokes. One last thing. The marina parking lot doesn't open untill 7 or so. So if you are planning on hitting it early then you will need to use the other ramp. Good luck and have fun.

Lentz, pm me when you are heading to wallowa this year. Maybe we can get a trip going over there. We did very well there last year. I am heading to Paulina for a week next week and then will be back in gods country.


LS

[Kokanee_hub]

Thanks for the info, guys. Good luck at Paulina. Good news is that I understand that they are catching limits. Bad news is that they are only 8 to 11 inches long. They are catching a few browns though, nothing big. Friends went over last week and caught a few using leaded line with a worm threaded on the end. Never heard of it, but guess it must be a California thing. That's where they came from. I'm also heading to Odell mid-July. Understand there's a lot of kokes there again this year, but only running 9 - 12 inches.

Going over to Brownlee after a few days at Wallowa. We are just going to "wing it". Anyone with suggestions on campgrounds, maybe on the Idaho side, with boat access to Brownlee and maybe fish for a few cats.