Northwest Fishing Reports

Watched an interview this weekend with a guide that runs trips on Lake Merwin for kokanee. He was consistently pulling in bigger fish than is the standard for that lake. He went on to state that he was casting to jumping kokes and that was where he was getting the larger class of fish from.
I just wondered if anyone else had tried/heard of this technique. I have jigged for spawning kokes with great success but have never tried casting at jumpers except for tuna.
Interested in any thoughts or experience on the subject. I will be trying it out on my next trip.

Just think, jumping trout, or whatever, are usually feeding on bugs, minnows trapped against the surface, you'd think that some would take your lure thrown at them.

I am sure steelheadin360 will chime in when he sees this. I know he has had luck doing it.

It's a good reminder, around here we tend to focus on trolling for kokanee, but there are of course other methods. I remember Loon lake in Eastern WA as being one of those lakes guys would still fish with corn/maggots anchored at night.

Lot's of ways to skin a kok.

Gringo Pescador wrote:I am sure steelheadin360 will chime in when he sees this. I know he has had luck doing it.

You know me all to well!

In the early spring and late fall those little silver footballs tend to hang around on the surface of the water and are difficult to catch (at best) on regular trolling gear. When Im out there trolling and I always have a rod with a 3/8oz Mack's Sonic Baitfish in The firetiger ready to rock and roll. I keep it on a spinning rod loaded with braided line, for casting distance, and a 15' top shot of 10# mono. Now, this is very important, if you get to close to that school they will spook and you wont hook any. The trick is to get them off the side of your boat, close enough to cast but far enough away so they are happy little kokanee. I buzz the jig to the other side of the school and slightly in front of where I think they are heading. I let it sink 5-15 seconds, then I jig it back using a 1,2 jig, 1, 2, jig method moving the tip of my rod about 12-18". They will hit it 90% of the time when you are jigging it so be ready to starting cranking. This isn't like trolling for them. you want to get them in pretty fast. Hope that helps!

I love this Website. I went out and bought a wide variety of spinners and spoons to try on my next trip out. Looks like another trip is in my future.
Steellheadin360, did you happen to notice that you were getting a consistently larger size of fish than you would normally pick up trolling?
Thanks for the info, I may have get sick so I can miss work and go fishing.

It's about the best to tag one on a fly! I've never done it myself but I know a couple guys that swear by it.