Landlocked Chinook Question

crawdad · 02-12-2010, 07:45 PM

With the new two rod rule in effect this year, I'm thinking of having one rod set up for kokes and another for chinook.

For those of you who have had luck with the chinook, any recommendations on what to use? Bait, lures, divers, flashers etc. How about depth? My first thought is cut plug herring right off the bottom. But admittedly I have no experience targeting these fish. The only ones I have caught have been dinks that hit wedding rings while targeting kokes.

Anyone care to share a few pointers?

7mmstw · 02-12-2010, 10:32 PM

im with crawdad... i have heard of guys picking them up 1 or 2 here & there on coke gear....but no real info on how to target them precisley
most i have heard of also are small in size like cokes
im sure they grow much larger but need to be more in tune whith what
to hammer them with.
anybody tryed to target them???

happybrew · 02-12-2010, 10:57 PM

Back when ODFW was denying their existence to me in e-mails, I saw some big ones in Detroit (around 8 years ago). No idea how to target them, although the idea intrigues me. Perhaps when my kids are older I will have the time to investigate. Good luck!

Rick on Rogue · 02-13-2010, 05:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crawdad

With the new two rod rule in effect this year, I'm thinking of having one rod set up for kokes and another for chinook.

For those of you who have had luck with the chinook, any recommendations on what to use? Bait, lures, divers, flashers etc. How about depth? My first thought is cut plug herring right off the bottom. But admittedly I have no experience targeting these fish. The only ones I have caught have been dinks that hit wedding rings while targeting kokes.

Anyone care to share a few pointers?

It seems anything red, at least that has been my experience so far.

dlm · 02-13-2010, 06:42 AM

Met a guy last fall while stealheading that targeted the big ones in Detroit. He was using a large dodger, like you would for Salmon on the Columbia, and the smallest size herring. I think he said the "red" package herring but not being a big river guy I am not up on herring sizes or terminalogy. The only thing he left out was depth so I assume he was spotting them on the FF.

Badgerj · 02-13-2010, 08:39 AM

I have no experience targeting them but I spoke with one gentlemen who claims he uses saltwater tactics, just scaled down a little.
I would like to learn more about it because every year ODFW dumps a lot of them in Lost Creek Lake down here. For the first month or two you can't keep the little buggers off a wedding ring outfit, then they just disappear. I have no idea what happens to them. I never hear of anybody targeting them or catching hold overs. I would think at least some of them would make it.
I have always wanted to spend a whole day targeting them, just to see if there are any larger chinook in there.
Not to hijack this thread but does anybody have any experience with them in Lost Creek?

Poindexter · 02-13-2010, 06:29 PM

We catch them over on the East side with helmeted or cut plug herring behind dodgers. Sometimes we use hootchies behind dodgers. Usually on downriggers, sometimes on planers.

Prowler44 · 02-13-2010, 07:00 PM

I caught this Nook in Green Peter while fishing for Kokes. Green Wedding ring with a chunk of worm behind a 4.0 dodger at 60' I have caught them at various depths but not with anything special, just koke gear. Caught another (small) one today on GP. My only thought for specifics is, when I see fish deep, I assume they're big Nooks. Don't know if that is the case or not.

Rick on Rogue · 02-14-2010, 12:59 AM

The first year I had my boat (2006), we caught almost as many Chinook as Rainbows, 2007 not so many, and 2008 and 2009 up till September, none. Then ODFW planted them again. As to where they go and do they mature and get bigger, I don't know. I do know that on many occasions while crossing the deeper part of the lake I have seen large fish on the F/F and tried on various occasions without success to get whatever it is down there to bite and been unable to entice them. Hopefully they will mature and grow with the planters again this year. Right now they are a pain; trying to get to the nice holdover fish. At the rate they bite, and their aggressiveness, maybe they get literally fished out. "Inquiring minds would like to know". Maybe a call the the fish biologist is in order.

2 keepers.jpg
Photo is from May 2006

DUKiller1 · 02-14-2010, 11:12 AM

A chinook is a chinook. Fesh or saltwater. We used to catch them in Couer D Alene. Used the same stuff as the ocean. Dodgers, flashers, herring or plugs.

chartreuse moose · 02-14-2010, 03:51 PM

If you wish to succeed in targeting Kings you will need a temperature probe.
For their fresh water brothers. Kings love 42-46 degree water. I use Flies and spoons mainly. You will catch them out of their temperature zone only while they feed. Or like this time of the year they will be in the top 70' of the water column and vary aggressive while the surface temps are low. I hunt Kings like the Brown hounds do here and Calif.

Halibutt · 03-05-2010, 06:02 PM

Came across this tech report from Luhr Jensen. This might give ya a couple ideas. I remember reading somewhere that the Lake record on Detroit Lake was 13 pounds. Anyway I hope to fish this sometime.
http://www.luhrjensen.com/downloads/...etroitLake.pdf

chartreuse moose · 03-06-2010, 04:50 AM

There are 4 tournaments in Calif for land locked kings at these lakes. Lake Berreyessa, Don Pedro, Oroville and Shasta. This is set up for guys that are pro's or think they can keep up with the pro's,and It's all deep water fishing.

Davy · 05-23-2010, 03:22 PM

The Chinook in Detroit feed "up" on the smaller fish. Currently with the kokes and trout in the top 20' running the big rod at 18-28' feet is the best bet. Right underneath the kokes. K7-9 Kwikies, cut-plug herring with salmon dodgers, some unmentioned plugs out of Canada work well. Joni and I usually troll two rods for kokes out the sides with another down the middle and deeper for the blackies. You have to commit and be patient but the chinook are there in Detroit. Big trout too

Connelly · 05-23-2010, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DUKiller1

A chinook is a chinook. Fesh or saltwater. We used to catch them in Couer D Alene. Used the same stuff as the ocean. Dodgers, flashers, herring or plugs.

I have also fished Couer Dalene. Flashers & dodgers with small herring and streamer flys.

cuddlefish · 05-23-2010, 06:56 PM

I have not targeted the chinook in the lake but i can assure you they are 4 real. years ago on the way back from Marion lake i stumbled on a whole pile of these fish spawning in the north santiam trib above Idanha, NO JOKE these fish are big(10-20lbs) and must be chalenging to target
good luck!

chartreuse moose · 05-25-2010, 05:26 AM

Does anyone know if the lake is full or how the water level is ? Just might be worth the long drive up.

Rainbow1 · 05-25-2010, 06:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chartreuse moose

Does anyone know if the lake is full or how the water level is ? Just might be worth the long drive up.

Hi, was there Sunday before last, lake was 90% full. By now it may be totally full. I have caught chinook up to 15 inches fishing the top 20 ft.

DUKiller1 · 05-25-2010, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chartreuse moose

Does anyone know if the lake is full or how the water level is ? Just might be worth the long drive up.

C Moose,

It's a beautiful lake and the fishing can be fantastic. You're looking at 13-14 hours towing a boat. If you make it up that far you have to hit priest lake for macks. It's only a couple more hours and would be worth the extra effort.

chartreuse moose · 05-25-2010, 12:52 PM

DUKiller1

"13-14 hours towing a boat" Man I would be in Canada in that amount of time. Only takes me 3 hrs to Crescent from here. Isn't Priest in the state of Idaho and Detroit just out of Salem ?

Show me the way

and I will tag a long for some double digit fish

Rainbow1
If want Big Landlocked Kings, your going to have to fish a lot deeper. They love 42 to 48 degree water and will come up to 54 degree water to feed. Yes Detroit is on my hit list this summer.

Rainbow1 · 05-26-2010, 06:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chartreuse moose

DUKiller1

"13-14 hours towing a boat" Man I would be in Canada in that amount of time. Only takes me 3 hrs to Crescent from here. Isn't Priest in the state of Idaho and Detroit just out of Salem ?

Show me the way

and I will tag a long for some double digit fish

Rainbow1
If want Big Landlocked Kings, your going to have to fish a lot deeper. They love 42 to 48 degree water and will come up to 54 degree water to feed. Yes Detroit is on my hit list this summer.

YEAH, I know going deeper will get me bigger fish, just haven't been able to target the chinook, just get those big fat rainbows,suffering with that!

chartreuse moose · 05-26-2010, 07:50 PM

Rainbow1
There is nothing more exciting than hooking up a nice King at 125', when he dives and starts pulling line down, one always wonders if he will ever stop.

Then after a good long fight you see his dorsal fin cutting through the surface of the water headed towards the boat, thinking he is yours. Just as someone reaches for the net, he makes another mad dive for the bottom of the lake peeling line and the fight is on again. It's not until you get him on the surface and he lays on his side, is it safe to net His Majesty