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Fourth and final day of fishing at Hayden for this round (sniffle). I had been riding pretty high off my limited out day so I slept in again and shot for the 10:00 bite (It was also forecast to snow/rain with 35 degree temps). Same thing as the previous day- headed to the sweet spot, lines dropped, trolled into position and fish on! Consistent bite until 2:00 when I tucked my tail and ran from the rain. This excludes a 20-30 minute period with pounding rain and 20 mph winds, white caps, could barely move my hands or keep a straight troll line. I would of left then, but I saw a break in the distance.
Two things that have seemed to pay off for me are thinking about the wind and water temps. The wind had been blowing with the storm system out of the SW. To me this seemed to move the plankton (KOKANEE FOOD) to the east shoreline/west facing points and bays. I hit these areas hard doing the same thing for three days and hooked many fish. The flats/bays I've been fishing also seem to warm up quicker, which should increase productivity and fish activity. When the bays were cold from rain the fish moved out to the warmer open water. Just my two cents, but thinking about this stuff may help you some time!
My success rate absolutely tanked Sunday, so I had to give it a 4. This is based more on my angling abilities than fish cooperation. I ended up around 8/22, with 6 kept and two fish in the 10 inch range released ( leaving some for the rest of you :D). Should have been at least 10 landed, which would put me in the .500 batting range but still... I want to increase my fish landed to fish hooked ratio. Last year during my first season of kokanee fishing I didn't lose a single fish (spoiled!).
These may just be excuses, but here are some thoughts on fish lost and things I've been tweaking with. I got some actual kokanee rods thinking this might help as I lost several fish my first catching day right at the top. I was thinking my medium rods were too stout and I needed something lighter that wouldn't pull them to the surface... har har, some of these kokanee cannot be prevented from hitting your gear and running straight to the top. Those fish almost give me a heart attack!
The lighter rods seem to prevent this somewhat, but are harder to pull from the rigger clips, and almost seem to have too much play. I am getting more used to them, but think I lost some fish in the process. They are, however, very nice for reading action and bites and if the fish really pull the bend is awesome. With the rigger clips, I've been letting the rod sit a little to make sure the fish is there because I've lost a couple grabbing too soon... maybe I need to grab sooner anyway to increase hook sets? Not sure, need to find a happy medium there.
I've been tweaking with my net handle length, first I added length to it and it was too long and unmanageable solo. Then I took it down to the original length and it was too short for the light rods I bought... lost two fish I definitely should have netted Sunday because I couldn't reach them, they were literally about 1 inch from the net rim. Watching a fish swim away through the net mesh is rough! Its hard to find the right handle length, especially with a lighter rod, but I will say longer is better. Kokanee do not like the boat!
Along with the netting fiiasco, I have learned some other things about kokanee. I lost some fish pretty far out/soon after clip release. I would feel them tugging away, slowly reel, feel one firm head shake, and then nothing. If I feel this now I freespool my reel and let the fish run. This is a great technique and I got more fish up to the boat this way at least. Kokanee are light and easy to bring in, but finesse seems to be the way to land more fish.
With my medium rods I had been trying to get the fish in as quickly as possible by pulling them to the boat and getting the net under them. Many fish I've landed are thrashing around... this is not good. For my own sense of peace, when a fish does this next time I will put my rod tip down and hope for the best with finesse letting the fish swim and run. Like I said, kokes don't like the boat! Some I had on would be calm until about 20 feet out then start the trashing and/or running, some I landed even ran straight under the boat. Oh what fun!
Well, thats enough rambling, if you're still with me thanks for reading and see you all in Chelan!
Tight Lines.
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