Kokanee on a fly??

[SlamminKokes]

Anybody ever tried doing this? Have seen many people at Billy Chinook try it without luck until last year, watched a couple guys in a boat do pretty well. I want to tie some flies that might work on them and give it a shot this summer!

[GutshotApe]

Yes, people catch kokanee on black gnat-type flies in upper Yale Reservoir - springtime evenings esp. And I've done it at Odell Lake using a size 8 streamer with tinsel/mylar for flash. In the spring schools of kokes will be near or on the surface dimpling etc and casting into the visible schools sometimes brings fast & furious action.......usually on overcast spring days and calm evenings.

[Mad Mikey]

I've never tried it with a "true" fly rod but can attest to the fact they will definitely take flies.
I grew up in LaGrande and during the Summer time would fish all over. One of our favorite spots was Wolf Cr. Resevoir near North Powder.
This particular day my mom took me out and we drove into where the creek dumped into the resevoir, the water was low and the creek arm for several hundred yards was just a slow moving dredged channel, very non descript.
I guess the kokanee were moving into the creek to get ready to spawn but I didn't know this, only had caught trout there before but it was almost Sept. so I guess it makes sense in retrospect.
I had an old spinning rod, trolling bobber and a black teeny nymph. After fooling around with losing fish for over an hour I figgered it out.
I'd toss it out and leave it, give it a minute then start an excrusciatingly slow retrieve. The bobber would not go under, just backwards and you'd have to set the hook very lightly. That worked great, took home a pile of fish.
I wish I could go back and hit it right with my 4wt but now I'm stuck in the city with all these darn salmon and steelhead to contend with.

[will_e_fish]

Kokanee on a fly is possible. Last summer I took a trip to Pelton dam I was searching for a Koke pattern before I went . I posted here and someone suggested a small shrimp pattern. When there I used iot with no success for Kokes but got a nice brown and more Pike Minnow. The two RV camps had a Pike Minnow Contest and some local Guides caught the most on a flies in a drift boat. Like 70 Lbs a peice secret squaw pattern I guess.
Fathers Day great fun for the kids.

The Big Kokes (3Lbs record 4.4 lbs) that were caught were trolling 50 ft down. My kids got some Kokes trolling surface with worms and wedding rings.
Gong earlier next year I love those Kokanees.

[FallRiverGuy]

Have not done it myself but, the shrimp pattern worked for a friend who took a guided trip to East lake. I worked with a guy that fished Crane alot and would catch many in the Deschutes channel with a black chrominid fished slow near the bottom. And last year someone posted on the kokanee page that they caught some at Paulina on a fly at first light. If you could get into them on a fly rod it would be a blast.

[SlamminKokes]

Ive thought about a shrim pattern of some sort. Im thinking some type of woolybugger would be the ticket. I anchor in about 13 feet of water for them and they jump like crazy, but havenever seen them "slurp" anything off the surface. I think i will try a pink and red wooly as my starter fly to see how that works! Could be a long summer of experiments for me!!!! :grin:

[garyk]

We've caught them above BillyChinook in the lowermost Metolius, as they've begun their spawning run in late Aug/or Sept.

The deeper pools were thick and you'd swing a small bright fly through them - a tiny shad spoon might be good - now and again one would bite. About half were foul hooked.

[happybrew]

The first kokanee I ever caught was on a fly. I was fishing with my brother at Big Cliff Reservoir, and picking up a lot of trout on flies, when I caught one that looked really different from all the others. I had never seen a kokanee before, and didn't know what it was. This was in the spring.

happybrew

[FallRiverGuy]

will-e-fish,

I mostly troll using downriggers with various terminal tackle behind dodgers. That was the method used to take the fish you are referring to. I also jig but much less frequently even though I do enjoy jigging. When the conditions are right (i.e. the fish like the jig I have) I can catch fish faster jigging. I need to start carrying my fly rod for the times I see them working the surface.

The fly shop in Madras would likely know. The SunRiver fly shop is familiar with the patterns that work at Crane (541-593-8814).

[SlamminKokes]

FallRiver, where do you mostly do your koke fishing? I pretty much do all mine jigging in the upper end of the metolius arm at LBC. If youve been there, you know how those fish school up in shallow water, thats why i really want to try the lil Orvis out there this year. I was thinking something with a tungsten head to give it a jig like effect when being stripped.

[will_e_fish]

Fall River Guy thanks for the flyshop info. I have never been to the Sunriver shop, I will go to check it out. I usually troll and jig too when others are in the boat. When I have "Me" time I flyfish.

That reminds me to try a black wolleybugger behing a Kokanee Lake Troll to see what I get.
Probably big Pike Minnows.

[FallRiverGuy]

SlamminKokes,

Being South of Bend I usually fish Paulina and Wickiup since they are closest. Started to fish Odell, Cresent, and Simtustus this past year. Have not fished LBC but once and have plans to learn more about that water this year.

will-e-fish: No reason the wolleybugger should not work. I met a guy at a kokanee tournament in California last year who was experimenting with fishing flys using his downrigger. He said they worked well. To me they looked like steelhead flys. I would try the wolleybugger behind a dodger to give it some action. In the spring when the fish are near the surface you could long line a dodger fly setup with a fly rod and have some fun.

[ 01-29-2003, 03:48 PM: Message edited by: FallRiverGuy ]

[will_e_fish]

Fall River Guy- I remember you posting pictures last summer with some nice kokes what was your method then? I also recall you mentioning the black chriominid pattern and I am going to try to find it. The fly guideshop in Madras perhaps?

Most of these fish are attracted by movement by what I have experienced and also from what others say. This year I am trying more jigging, twitching, or slow trolling with all the fly patterns I am using. The rising fish, how old or big they are, is a question I have searched answer for. Not much info on Kokes movement of % going up and down in a lake. The kokes eat a krill like shrimp. The shrimp have the up and down movement with temps. Kokes have spawning patterns like salmon that vary a litttle from lake to lake. They go deep in the heat, where most big ones have been caught.

[SlamminKokes]

FallRiver, heck, ill show ya LBC if you show me Paulina. Ive never even been to that lake though would like to get to know it!Let me know if interested!

[FallRiverGuy]

SlamminKokes,

Sounds like a good idea. Once Paulina opens up we can head up there. Stay in touch.

[ 01-30-2003, 12:35 PM: Message edited by: FallRiverGuy ]

[reelman]

I have caught them at Wickiup in late Aug. I fish a grey hackle peacock in size 12-16. You never know what you will hook as I caught Browns, Rainbows ,Whitefish and Kokanee all in the same hole. I fish these along the bottom and only in low water years.

[JeepMcMuddy]

I talked to a guy at yale who said he tied up his own koke flys, they were basically a small red hook, with a small white Puff (kinda like an egg fly). I guess since they love red and white shoepeg corn trailers, that outta do the trick.

[SlamminKokes]

Oh boy, my minds a reelin now! Cant wait til may-june to give it a shot. FallRiver, lets definitely do it, you can show me the ropes of a downrigger too since you use them. Havent quite got the grasp of it! Guess if you dont have confidence in something, makes it hard to fall back on. Great ideas and info everyone, thanks!!!!!!

[FallRiverGuy]

Nope, white corn on a bare red hook does not work. :wink:

[will_e_fish]

Fall River Guy-Putting corn on a wedding ring red or green works. Worm on the same unit will work. Both will catch other speices and darn the Pike Minnow. So follwoing this logic a puff of white yarn, redhook and corn trolled with dodgers or flasher should work.
I agree all I ever catch with corn on hook is pike minnow not Kokanee. Ok I am making plans to go to Simtustus or LBC, Fathers Day to try all this out. IF you or Slanning Kokes are in that area about that time I would like to meet with you.

[SlamminKokes]

Will_E, If youre at LBC around Fathers day, leave all trolling gear at home. It will be lights out with Buzz bombs. I fished that weekend last year and had 17 fish at 7 am. Went back in to camp for breakfast and fished again from about 11-3, finished with 42 fish that day!!! Thats not for the boat, but just MY rod. Let me know when you plan on going, we can definitely hook up!

[will_e_fish]

Downriggers are my next challenge as well. I see most of the big fish that are caught the angler used a downrigger. Going to LBC and Simtustus this year, but I also fish Merwin,Yale, and Swift for the Kokanee. Downriggers will help at all those lakes.
Reelman- that gray hackle in Wickiup sound effective. Is that the lake having problems with nonnative Bass ?
Jeep McCuddy- red hook and white yarn puff, almost sound like a steelhead rig . Add the shoepeg corn and got a Kokanee rig.

[FallRiverGuy]

will_e_fish,

I may be around Father's day. It would be fun to hook up for a little Kokanee fishing. Get back to ya around the first of June.

[will_e_fish]

Fall River Guy & Slamming Kokes- I am looking forward to meeting you so I am writting it on the calendar as a must do event. Our family really enjoyed Lake Simtustus RV park last year and it will be easy to talk them into LBC as well.
I am going to the Sportmans show tomorrow to hang around the the fly tying theater. Going to research a Kokanee fly patterns. I will post whatever I find out or to perhaps show you as well.

[ssteelheadsteve]

Size 10 prince beadhead out fish you all.
Wickiup,Paulina,Foster
Vary the retrive. Start stop works well most of the time. If a hatch is going retrieve fast.

Work your fly more like a lure than a fly.

[ 02-04-2003, 09:05 PM: Message edited by: ssteelheadsteve ]

[Ace of Speyds]

Last summer, I hooked two Odell Lake Kokes on Christmas Island Crazy Charlies. Pink size 4, with lead eyes, dressed sparsely with crystal flash. Used 200 gr. sink tip. Varied depth, but always stripped in quick 8" to 12" strips. I don't believe they're very picky, you just have to locate 'em and be at the right depth.

[SlamminKokes]

COUNT ME IN!! :smile: Will_E Hope you find something out about the koke fly at the show. I think i will dedicate all of July fishing for them with the lil orvis. Like i said before, if we all hook up around that time, its a jigging thing in shallow water, about 15 feet.Sounds like fun, hope it all works out!

[will_e_fish]

ssteelheadsteve & Ace of Speyds - I will add those to my list of "To Try Flies" . I believe you are right that the Kokes are not that picky. From experience and what everyone is posting. Movement attracts them, seems to be the theme. I have done well in shallow water with a worm (threaded) and power bait or corn on the end of the hook, on the bottom reeled in moderately.

SlammingKokes-Yes count me in! Jigging is fun too! I am out to the Sportmans Show.

[lost_sailor]

That's it, the fly rod is going to Odell this year!