Excellent information! Curious, do you use smaller dodgers when near the surface, or just run the same ? I’ve also noticed some dodgers don’t work at low speeds…a guy almost needs to mark them with a sharpie…I can’t remember all the tricks! 😅 Thanks for taking the time for making the videos, all while catching fish! 😁
This might sound silly, but I’ve noticed in a lot of videos you seem to be circling the same area. Once you find the fish, do you just make multiple passes with different types of gear? And how many passes would you recommend before switching gear or moving on? Thank you!
@@spiltmilt Everyone of your videos, I have watched dozens, are both very useful and entertaining. The hooks one helped me because I also noticed an uptick in catch and keep vs losses after i switched to the lazer sharp needlepoint. I have thought for the last couple years I lost to many using the gami octopui hooks
I have watched a number of your videos and held my breath watching you put Kokanee in the cooler! They are such slippery little buggers. Glad you were able to get that trophy back!
I’ll often “vary speed” even while trolling a straight line by letting the rod tip go to the back of the boat pull it forward then let it back crazy how often that’s when they hit makes me wonder how long a fish was following before that provoked them
What is the distance between the dodger and hook set ups? Do you vary the distance depending on the time of year and temp of the water? Thanks for the great videos!!!!
How to Catch Rainbows on that trophy lake? Lets say I was lucky enough to limit on kokes and want to target the Rainbows. Can you do a video on that lake for Rainbows? Or a link on a technique that should work there. Thanks, and you are a Trout Savant
Water temperature influences Kokanee in many ways. They prefer mid-50's so when those water temps are available near the surface they will feed there unless some alternate food source is available at depth (e.g. mysis shrimp). In water temps below 40 F they are more sluggish and I often do better trolling close to 1 mph. Once temps hit the mid 60's or higher the stress can actually kill them and I've had lakes in the Okanogan where I am fishing at 30' and if I pull a fish up above the thermocline they go into shock and die even if they don't make it to the net.
Another idea instead of turning frequently to speed up or slow down the gear, I had a guy tell me to bump the speed of the boat up or down to get all the rods the right speed instead of just 1 or 2🤷🏽♂️
The thermocline will show up on most modern fish finders as a thin line typically between 20-60' on Pacific Northwest Lakes. It's very easy to identify.
The RAM Rod HD www.rammount.com/part/RAP-433-421 with this extension arm www.rammount.com/part/RAP-114-APB2U. You can save 10% on the RAM website by using the code "THICKS20"
Great video. I live in Oregon and would love to see you visit and video Odell, Crescent, and Green Peter reservoir for kokanee. (p.s. I'm taking lots of notes on all your videos).
Too funny. I just finished filming a video on Kokanee hooks. I use Gamakatsu split shot drop shot hooks size 4 for Chelan size 2 for Roosie but I also use other hooks on occasiona
I have mainly been fishing chelan this year and switched to Gamakatsu finesse wide gap size 2. I have had a much better land rate with these hooks. I had been using the octopus hooks. Excited to try the wide gap on sockeye!!
Cant wait for December, we shore fish near the dam, start with targeting kokanee, then switch to rainbow once we are limited on the kokes, not sure why more goes dont taget kokanee from shore.
On your port side, why don't you switch rod hands, hold the rod in your right hand and net with your left?! Thanks for sharing your knowledge, I can hardly wait to catch Kokanee...
Super helpful tips! Just stumbled upon your channel. I’m going fishing next weekend and will be using a dodger for the first time. I’m feeling confident after having watched a bunch of your videos 👍🏼
Love your videos! I’m just starting out Kokanee fishing and I’ve learned a lot from you. What rods are you using? Did you get rid of the swate bluebacks?
I am using the Santiam Fishing Rods bit.ly/30xH6r5. I did get rid of the Bluebacks. They are a great rod for smaller Kokes but would be out-gunned by these fish. However, I decided to stop fishing Swate rods due to some of the policies of that company towards its employees.
Those hard strikes where you never see the fish and it bends your hook are so frustrating! I fish Merwin and I've had hits that took the rod tip straight down into the water in one shot and break off...I know there are tiger muskie in there but would be nice to know if those are just giant kokes. Before Mt. St. Helens blew they were much bigger on average.
Love watching your videos, they are highly educational. I’ve been fishing for Kokanee for years but I find myself picking up something new with your videos. Keep up the great work. Tight lines.