Early Season Koke Tactics

HereDuckyDucky · 03-09-2010, 09:41 AM

My wife and I are heading on a camping trip at New Melones Lake (CA) in two weeks, and we plan on doing some fishing for trout and kokes.

I would prefer to target kokes, but I understand that this is a littler early for good koke fishing. Regardless, how do you guys go about targeting early season kokes?

RW

Doc_Rhen · 03-09-2010, 10:04 AM

Don't know about New Melones but here at LBC the fish have been destroying hootchies. Last weekend we had 6 strikes and got 4 to the boat on a Pink hootchie behind a 4" pink slingblade. We went 1 for 1 on a Green wedding-ring behind a gang troll. The fish on the hootchie had hooks buried through the roof of their mouths like they were extremely aggressively attacking the lure which seems a little strange for a koke especially this time of year. I know that some people have great success early in the year jigging. When the water hits the right temprature they seem to just "turn on" and fishing can be amazing.

HereDuckyDucky · 03-09-2010, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doc_Rhen

Don't know about New Melones but here at LBC the fish have been destroying hootchies. Last weekend we had 6 strikes and got 4 to the boat on a Pink hootchie behind a 4" pink slingblade. We went 1 for 1 on a Green wedding-ring behind a gang troll. The fish on the hootchie had hooks buried through the roof of their mouths like they were extremely aggressively attacking the lure which seems a little strange for a koke especially this time of year. I know that some people have great success early in the year jigging. When the water hits the right temprature they seem to just "turn on" and fishing can be amazing.

How deep are you targeting them?

RW

Doc_Rhen · 03-09-2010, 10:37 AM

We were running 1 oz lead and letting out 50-60' and running of line 1.5mph so we were probably 15-20' deep but early in the year you can go from the surface and down. we were just seeing alot of balls of kokanee at those depths and we were a little faster than we normally run because we were actually targeting bulls and just decided to throw out a couple kokanee lines for fun. Lots of folks will actually cast jigs to kokanee jumping on the surface and then jig/retrieve this time of year.

HereDuckyDucky · 03-09-2010, 10:40 AM

Is it typical to find kokes jumping on the surface? What makes them do this? Are they chasing bait?

RW

Cannon · 03-12-2010, 06:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HereDuckyDucky

My wife and I are heading on a camping trip at New Melones Lake (CA) in two weeks, and we plan on doing some fishing for trout and kokes.

I would prefer to target kokes, but I understand that this is a littler early for good koke fishing. Regardless, how do you guys go about targeting early season kokes?

RW

Smaller sling blade flashers and smaller baits. I like to fish a minimum of 50' behind the boat. FISH SLOW, no more than 1.2 this time of year. Fish are in the top of the water column usually no more than 25'. In the spring the fish are more sluggish so fish the edges of the lake where the sun has had a chance to warm the water. I fish with downriggers but also have luck with flat lining. If you are both fishing you can target multiple depths and presentations to find the hot setup. Change out anything that is not producing every 20 to 30 minutes until you get something that is producing. Fishing shallow, use chrome or brass flashers because UV is pretty much ineffective on the surface. Smaller baits such as kokanee bugs, Kokanuts, little cleo's and other small spoons in chrome or brass. Hoochies can also be effective, I just don't personally have much luck with them this time of year. Deffinately use scent! My go to scents are ProCure's kokanee special, crawfish anise, and garlic. Gary Miralles says that he has good luck with Carp spit although I havent tried it myself. Hope this helps

Doc_Rhen · 03-12-2010, 09:48 AM

Jumpers are quite common on LBC pretty much all year, Don't know about other lakes. I have not seen them going after anything so I am not sure what they are jumping for.

jzell · 03-12-2010, 02:49 PM

Here's my early season tactic......

Go catch a winter steelie or a springer and let the kokes grow,

jz

HereDuckyDucky · 03-12-2010, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jzell

Here's my early season tactic......

Go catch a winter steelie or a springer and let the kokes grow,

jz

Sadly, not an option here. I would much rather chase kings!

RW

jzell · 03-22-2010, 09:01 AM

By now you are somewhat familiar with my early season technique of letting the skinny little fish alone and allowing them to grow.

Now this is what one should be focused on....

Coastal or local Steel

or getting you or your guests a Springer

Had a wonderful 2 days with Joe (Fish-on-Bend) and Tom (Rum Runner).

jz

ps....I understand the drive to get after the little guys...but after a few years of koke fishing I'm learning some patience. Besides, I can drive 15 minutes for a shot at a Springer or an hour for a skinny 10-12 incher. You make the call.

cully · 03-22-2010, 09:25 AM

yes..we all make our own calls.

HereDuckyDucky · 03-22-2010, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jzell

By now you are somewhat familiar with my early season technique of letting the skinny little fish alone and allowing them to grow.

Now this is what one should be focused on....

Coastal or local Steel

or getting you or your guests a Springer

Had a wonderful 2 days with Joe (Fish-on-Bend) and Tom (Rum Runner).

jz

ps....I understand the drive to get after the little guys...but after a few years of koke fishing I'm learning some patience. Besides, I can drive 15 minutes for a shot at a Springer or an hour for a skinny 10-12 incher. You make the call.

Did you even take a look at where I'm located? Not a lot of Steelhead / Springer fishing going on in the Bay Area.

RW

PS I thought you said you were letting the little ones go? What's up with the dinks in the pictures?

jzell · 03-22-2010, 01:57 PM

HDD,

I enjoy giving the guys here in OR/WA a bad time about starting to fish for Kokes in the first few months of the year. It's all in fun. I know that everyone has their preferences and what they want to target and when. There are sooo many options out there to fish for. I love to fish for Kokes as much as the next guy but with lots of species to hunt, I like to wait....

jz

honker1 · 03-22-2010, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HereDuckyDucky

Is it typical to find kokes jumping on the surface? What makes them do this? Are they chasing bait?

RW

According to Gary Gordon, in the article "Kokanee University", the Kokanne are chasing Zooplankton (Daphnia or sometimes refered to as Water Fleas).
http://www.fishwithgary.com/kokaneeuniversity.html

HereDuckyDucky · 03-22-2010, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jzell

HDD,

I enjoy giving the guys here in OR/WA a bad time about starting to fish for Kokes in the first few months of the year. It's all in fun. I know that everyone has their preferences and what they want to target and when. There are sooo many options out there to fish for. I love to fish for Kokes as much as the next guy but with lots of species to hunt, I like to wait....

jz

No worries brother. As a law student stuck in the Bay Area, my options are really limited if I want to keep my trips under 3 hours and in fresh water. I could go hit the salt for stripers and sturgeon, but I don't have any big-fish gear down here. Back home (Central WA), I usually don't chase kokes until June. It's the short season between Springers and summer run Kings.

RW

Dropshot · 03-23-2010, 06:37 AM

Officially Highjacked?

cully · 03-23-2010, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HereDuckyDucky

No worries brother. As a law student stuck in the Bay Area, my options are really limited if I want to keep my trips under 3 hours and in fresh water. I could go hit the salt for stripers and sturgeon, but I don't have any big-fish gear down here. Back home (Central WA), I usually don't chase kokes until June. It's the short season between Springers and summer run Kings.

RW

***'s up with the bottom ad fin?

HereDuckyDucky · 03-23-2010, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cully

***'s up with the bottom ad fin?

What do you mean?

RW

FishnMike · 03-23-2010, 11:54 AM

Hey Ducky,

The kokes are just starting to show at Melones. Typicaly in late March and early April they are pretty scattered and it a matter of covering a lot of water to find them. They can be really tough to be consistent with when they are scattered. That being said I have had my best luck with small hoochies and small spinners during the early season at Melones.

FishnMike

Quote:

Originally Posted by HereDuckyDucky

My wife and I are heading on a camping trip at New Melones Lake (CA) in two weeks, and we plan on doing some fishing for trout and kokes.

I would prefer to target kokes, but I understand that this is a littler early for good koke fishing. Regardless, how do you guys go about targeting early season kokes?

RW