Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum

Fishing in British Columbia => General Discussion => Topic started by: Rodney on July 18, 2020, 08:27:23 PM

Title: Cariboo's Fishing Highway Kokanee Fisheries
Post by: Rodney on July 18, 2020, 08:27:23 PM
(https://i.imgur.com/c2BQUaL.jpg)

I'm working on some features on the kokanee fisheries at Fishing Highway's lakes. These ones came from Deka Lake. They were around 18 to 19" long, weighing between 2 and 3lb each. They are easily the best kokanee I have ever tasted.
Title: Re: Cariboo's Fishing Highway Kokanee Fisheries
Post by: RalphH on July 18, 2020, 08:36:57 PM
gorgeous fish! What technique/tackle did you use to catch these?
Title: Re: Cariboo's Fishing Highway Kokanee Fisheries
Post by: Rodney on July 18, 2020, 09:28:34 PM
We trolled like everyone else by going over where they are known to hang out over and over again. Success rate is not as high as I had hoped, one or two hook-ups per hour (in Big Deka, but hook-ups are more often in Small Deka which has a higher density of smaller fish). We trolled with Gibbs' Kokanee Dodgers and TKO lures, hootchies or pink flies. Trolling depth was between 10 and 20ft.
Title: Re: Cariboo's Fishing Highway Kokanee Fisheries
Post by: Hike_and_fish on July 18, 2020, 10:44:13 PM
The problem is you were trolling Gibbs tackle Rod. Ditch the Gibbs and catch more fish ;)
Title: Re: Cariboo's Fishing Highway Kokanee Fisheries
Post by: Rodney on July 18, 2020, 11:20:20 PM
What would you use?

We actually had the most success on the hook-ups among all the boats during both days.
Title: Re: Cariboo's Fishing Highway Kokanee Fisheries
Post by: Fish Assassin on July 18, 2020, 11:27:46 PM
Those are fat kokanees. Been eating well
Title: Re: Cariboo's Fishing Highway Kokanee Fisheries
Post by: Rodney on July 18, 2020, 11:32:11 PM
Those are fat kokanees. Been eating well

Stocked as fry 2.5 years ago, lots of food in the lake!
Title: Re: Cariboo's Fishing Highway Kokanee Fisheries
Post by: Hike_and_fish on July 19, 2020, 05:47:56 AM
What would you use?

We actually had the most success on the hook-ups among all the boats during both days.

Well sir I stand corrected.

Personally I like to pull around custom tube flies with a blade behind a Paulina peak dodger. The dodgers are a bit irrelevant but I'm a firm believer in pulling flies ( or spinner flies if you will ) behind a dodger.
Title: Re: Cariboo's Fishing Highway Kokanee Fisheries
Post by: JustPuttsin on July 19, 2020, 08:28:43 AM
Nice to see someone can catch them elusive rascals first time out trolling for them! :) 
Title: Re: Cariboo's Fishing Highway Kokanee Fisheries
Post by: RalphH on July 19, 2020, 08:35:25 AM
one or two hookups per hour is pretty decent. Were you using down riggers?
Title: Re: Cariboo's Fishing Highway Kokanee Fisheries
Post by: randya on July 19, 2020, 09:25:26 AM
Just got home from lake next door to Deka last Wed. Caught a couple of nice fish like those, but only averaged 2 per day and a couple lakers. Spoke with fisherman from Bridge and Deka and they were not catching any. Very difficult fishing. Now that the Weather has got a bit nicer things may improve.
Majority of fish caught with hootchies tipped with corn or worm.
All with lead line 30-40 feet.
Title: Re: Cariboo's Fishing Highway Kokanee Fisheries
Post by: poper on July 19, 2020, 01:44:57 PM
I find this time of year on Deka, Mack’s sling blades and a bunch of different coloured hootchies are working, wiggle hootchies as well, plus making your corn up a day or 2 be for you head out,I use a can of tuna, drain the water from the can into the corn, plus use Pink corn dye,and add bloody tuna scent in there as well.
Title: Re: Cariboo's Fishing Highway Kokanee Fisheries
Post by: Rodney on July 19, 2020, 01:59:51 PM
Just got home from lake next door to Deka last Wed. Caught a couple of nice fish like those, but only averaged 2 per day and a couple lakers. Spoke with fisherman from Bridge and Deka and they were not catching any. Very difficult fishing. Now that the Weather has got a bit nicer things may improve.
Majority of fish caught with hootchies tipped with corn or worm.
All with lead line 30-40 feet.

The first day at Big Deka was tough. It was sunny, hot, and no one else was really catching anything. I had a few big ones on, one popped off after we couldn't net it near the boat. The second morning, because I had to get the filming done and I wanted to get some big ones for sure, we went out at 6am and it was overcast. We were the only ones out there and the fishing was a lot better. We had six hook-ups and managed to land those three.
Title: Re: Cariboo's Fishing Highway Kokanee Fisheries
Post by: Hike_and_fish on July 19, 2020, 08:53:41 PM
I find this time of year on Deka, Mack’s sling blades and a bunch of different coloured hootchies are working, wiggle hootchies as well, plus making your corn up a day or 2 be for you head out,I use a can of tuna, drain the water from the can into the corn, plus use Pink corn dye,and add bloody tuna scent in there as well.

That sounds complicated.

I used to do many different factors ways to treat corn till I tried Nates Bait corn cure. Its all I use now. Easy peezy
Title: Re: Cariboo's Fishing Highway Kokanee Fisheries
Post by: poper on July 19, 2020, 09:48:45 PM
Is that a cure you add to corn?Never tried that. I guess mines complicated, works for me.
Title: Re: Cariboo's Fishing Highway Kokanee Fisheries
Post by: Rodney on July 20, 2020, 12:30:53 AM
(https://i.imgur.com/Xy7DJeL.jpg)

Another pic to show the size of these fish.
Title: Re: Cariboo's Fishing Highway Kokanee Fisheries
Post by: Hike_and_fish on July 20, 2020, 08:43:58 AM
(https://i.imgur.com/Xy7DJeL.jpg)

Another pic to show the size of these fish.

Solid Kokanee
Title: Re: Cariboo's Fishing Highway Kokanee Fisheries
Post by: Hike_and_fish on July 20, 2020, 08:45:09 AM
Is that a cure you add to corn?Never tried that. I guess mines complicated, works for me.

The best cure/scent ive ever used for Kokanee http://natesbait.net
Title: Re: Cariboo's Fishing Highway Kokanee Fisheries
Post by: psd1179 on July 20, 2020, 04:51:02 PM
it is really one of the best looking fresh water fish
Title: Re: Cariboo's Fishing Highway Kokanee Fisheries
Post by: Hike_and_fish on July 20, 2020, 08:51:05 PM
it is really one of the best looking fresh water fish

Oh i wouldn't say that. Arctic Grayling and Brooktrout and pretty damn sexy
Title: Re: Cariboo's Fishing Highway Kokanee Fisheries
Post by: psd1179 on July 20, 2020, 10:14:16 PM
Oh i wouldn't say that. Arctic Grayling and Brooktrout and pretty damn sexy

Brooktrout has a dirty looking