Question from a Koke newbie

biederboat · 08-28-2009, 04:09 PM

Well I have been waiting for years to add this to my fishing repertoire and I'm finally getting my chance tomorrow, headed down to my old stomping grounds - Green Peter. I am reasonably certain I can find out where to fish, what speed, I have FF and downriggers, pretty sure I have decent terminal gear (wedding rings, Apex, tied up some hoochies, small flashers, etc.). I just really didn't have any time to get dialed in on rods/reels/line so I'm pretty much limited to my lighter weight salmon rods w/ 30 lb. Maxima Ultragreen. Am I headed for disaster? Should I use my trout rods instead and maybe wind up some 10 lb on it?

Also, to soften up the action, I have some lightweight snubbers that I use for coho. While a coho is much stronger, I'm sure the Kokanee will be able to work these somewhat, adding some cushion. They are black and about 20" long and I was going to put them before the dodger. Normally I put them after the dodger for Coho but it seems like you want maximum lure action for Kokes and therefore short leaders?

Anyway, just wanting some assurance that this setup will be okay. If anyone's going to be on GP Saturday I'm in a plain black boat, white inside, two Hondas on the back. Try not to laugh if we're looking like idiots but feel free to yell out "Hey "beaterboat", how ya doin'?"

Thanks,
Biederboat

salmontroller · 08-28-2009, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by biederboat

Well I have been waiting for years to add this to my fishing repertoire and I'm finally getting my chance tomorrow, headed down to my old stomping grounds - Green Peter. I am reasonably certain I can find out where to fish, what speed, I have FF and downriggers, pretty sure I have decent terminal gear (wedding rings, Apex, tied up some hoochies, small flashers, etc.). I just really didn't have any time to get dialed in on rods/reels/line so I'm pretty much limited to my lighter weight salmon rods w/ 30 lb. Maxima Ultragreen. Am I headed for disaster? Should I use my trout rods instead and maybe wind up some 10 lb on it?

Also, to soften up the action, I have some lightweight snubbers that I use for coho. While a coho is much stronger, I'm sure the Kokanee will be able to work these somewhat, adding some cushion. They are black and about 20" long and I was going to put them before the dodger. Normally I put them after the dodger for Coho but it seems like you want maximum lure action for Kokes and therefore short leaders?

Anyway, just wanting some assurance that this setup will be okay.

Thanks,
Biederboat

See the Green Peter report thread today..personally, I would not use the snubbers..these fish are super aggressive right now and the dual hook setup that comes with Rocky Mountain pink hoochies is just nailing them. In fact Monday, believe it or not, I left my landing net home. I thought no way would we land these devils as they do the death role....boated 16 of 17 without a net as testament to the fact they are burying the hooks right now. The gear sounds a littlle heavy, but if you have the normal hoochie leader you should be OK. Orange apex working well as well as pink hoochie...I have been getting in the water about 6:45 lately and the first hour or two is best. About quarter of mile from island start trolling center of lake and you should be ok 50-70'. 1.2-1.4 mph works for me but who knows. No more than 10-12" inch leader from sling balde or dodger to hoochie. White shoepeg corn a must although I have friends that use firecorn. As to rods for the future..I really like my 8.6' IM 7 8-12lb size. Good luck.

biederboat · 08-28-2009, 06:19 PM

Thanks Salmontroller, I did see your post on the GP thread and was going to hit the island area. I wish I could get out there that early but my college son and his buddies "compromised" on 9:00 AM!!! Oh well, hopefully we'll get some.

Thanks for the tips and I'll shelve those snubbers.

Biederboat

Doc_Rhen · 08-29-2009, 08:59 AM

Hopefully you took the trout gear, I prefer a slow action ultralight. My favorite downrigger rod is an Angler's Touch 7' s-glass "innerflow" I believe it is rated at 2-10# but I have also ran a couple ul glass spinning rods that were rated 1-4# and really liked them also. The soft rods make up for the snubbers as long as you are not hanging too much on your line they will work beautifully and allow you to fight the fish not the gear. 30# maxima seems a little heavy for catching 1-2# fish don't you think? I do know some guys will run 30# braid mainline for Wickiup mostly so that they can get their dodgers back when they hang on the maze of stumps in that reservoir but this is usually loaded on a slow action ultralight.

salmontroller · 08-29-2009, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by biederboat

Thanks Salmontroller, I did see your post on the GP thread and was going to hit the island area. I wish I could get out there that early but my college son and his buddies "compromised" on 9:00 AM!!! Oh well, hopefully we'll get some.

Thanks for the tips and I'll shelve those snubbers.

Biederboat

Time of day is only relevant as to the wind issue..usually about 10-11:30 a strong wind begins coming from the dam and blowing towards the island and makes it difficult to fish in..but the fish still bite, I just don't like it. So, that aside, you should do just fine. Fish bite all morning and early pm,..just need to be patient.

Akatrout · 08-29-2009, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doc_Rhen

Hopefully you took the trout gear, I prefer a slow action ultralight. My favorite downrigger rod is an Angler's Touch 7' s-glass "innerflow" I believe it is rated at 2-10# but I have also ran a couple ul glass spinning rods that were rated 1-4# and really liked them also. The soft rods make up for the snubbers as long as you are not hanging too much on your line they will work beautifully and allow you to fight the fish not the gear. 30# maxima seems a little heavy for catching 1-2# fish don't you think? I do know some guys will run 30# braid mainline for Wickiup mostly so that they can get their dodgers back when they hang on the maze of stumps in that reservoir but this is usually loaded on a slow action ultralight.

Use the trout rods.... that is if you want to enjoy catching your fish. Little fish on big rods make for little fun. The snubbers might help keep fish on but if I were you I would go with lighter tackle so you can feel what your reeling in. Betcha a buck if you use the light tackle and get into them you will become one of the many koke addicts frequenting this board

biederboat · 08-29-2009, 08:00 PM

Well we got two!!! I can't exactly post a hammer-down about that but it was encouraging. We did have a few problems, first the wind was pretty bad as Salmontroller mentioned, we started right about 10:00, and the loose drag on one downringger was a bit tight, couldn't seem to loosen it up. We got one smaller (10-11") about 11:00 and then went to an arm to still fish (no luck). Then we came back, wind was much calmer and we got into some action but only managed to bring in one bigger buck, about 15" and defintely showing some spawning colors, I hope it's okay to eat (gave it to my son who caught it, guess I'll find out later). We caught both on pink hoochies w/ 2 #4 hooks w/ a chrome/red prism dodger. The other rod got no action with a similar set-up w/ various color dodgers and also a wedding ring at times. We had the "grubs" and yellow "corn", only caught fish with the corn.

It can only get better from here, right???

Thanks for all your help,
Biederboat