Kokanee Fishing: Does Leader Length Matter? 

It seems kokanee fishing is a game of small variable changes. I surmise that if you repeated this experiment 10x or 20x, the results would vary, even day to day. I can't count the number of times that a specific lure or color worked amazingly well one day, but then barely produced results the next. I think this speaks to the idea of running different setups (leader length, lure, colors, bait, dodger, depth, etc) until you find out what the fish prefer for that specific day. Beautiful lake! Hope to make it back there one day. The Topwater 120 looks like a great kayak.

Your test went one way, but I went from 24 inch leaders down to 9-10 inch leaders and my results went right through the roof. I will only run 9-10 inch leaders behind my dodgers now. I think the action really helped my fishing especially when combined with all your other rules for not sucking.

I would like to see an extension of this experiment by trying it at different times of the year in different water temps.

Great video. I usually go about 12" on a hootchie rig, just always feels like a happy medium.

I have found that 8-11" works pretty good in most oregon lakes Speed is important as well as water temp. 54.6°f seems to bring out the bigger biters in the school...

So good you can prove yourself wrong and admit it.....another great informative video! Thank You!

Thanks for the test, very interesting. I usually use longer leaders, 18-24”. A friend of mine who is into the fly industry uses short leaders and doesn’t do any better than we do. I’m sure each Lake and each day is different when you target these fish who can be finicky at times

On the lake that I troll the most, I'm running wedding rings of a certain color and configuration, primarily using leadcore line, (18 in. test ).My absolute shortest leader length I use is one foot, and the maximum length is 18 inches behind Shasta sling blades. Results vary. Some days the short leader works, others, a longer setback works. But I'm not fishing from a kayak, and my boat is much more roomy and stable than my kayak. More convenient in a kayak to go with a shorter leader, I think.

I have pretty good success with a total distance of 10- 12" from base of flasher to first part of hoochie. Thanks for the videos!

these are my favorite videos when you compare a certain factor, everything the same except x factor.. ie same rod reel dodger except leader length, or another one you did, drop shot hooks vs octopus hooks.

I do a lot of fishing in Puget Sound trolling for small resident coho. I am using a size 1 gold star dodger and a 22" leader. I cannot speak to the types of dodgers you are using. With the type I am using it is my firm belief that not all dodgers are created equal, even with the exact same size color and manufacturer. When I buy a dozen I will usually find 6 to 8 that catch fish, a couple that are complete duds, and one or two exceptional fish catchers. I see the same thing in salmon trolling plugs. Once identified I mark them and sometimes even give them a name. I am very protective of my favorites. Each time I use one I take a chance that it will be lost. When fishing is good I don't need to take that risk to get a limit. When fishing is very tough one single setup may get 80% of the catch, or more, even against identical setups.

I think this is awesome! leaning from your own very well ran experiment. GREAT JOB!

I would like to thank you for making such great videos. You are by far my favorite fishing guy on RU-vid. All your video are so easy to follow and man can you catch fish 🐟. Some people just have a way of explaining things so well and that's you for sure. I live near Hunter's Washington and your lake Roosevelt videos are the best. I would be honored to fish with you anytime.

Hey Tyler, yup, surprised. I like 8-9 inch. Watching, I wondered if a stiffer leader material wouldn't transfer a bit more action to your long leader and at least satisfy your inner struggle :^) Thanks for another great video.

Awesome stuff. I try to run the same type of tests trolling and bank fishing. Thanks for your video. I alway learn something to try down in SoCal and eastern Sierras

HOLY SMOKES! what an awesome service you provide to your fellow nerdy fishermen who find this exact type of thing fascinating! And good on you for being so even handed with letting the results be what they were. You must have a science background?

I'm surprised as well! I was under the same impression as you where I prefer short leaders especially on squid set ups. 18" is probably my average on spinner set ups. Thanks for sharing!

I think it depends on the day. I find some days they want a lot of action, and some days a little more subtle. Thanks for the videos, really enjoy them. If you ever get to Colorado try out Blue Mesa, its got some monsters.

Love the videos. Hope to be able to fish with you one day.

I like to keep my leader length for kokanee about 2.5 X the dodger length. So for a 4 inch dodger, about 10 in leader.

Nice test. Definitely counter to what I thought.

You sir are a scientist.

Great experiment. Results do seem conclusive but it still a pretty small sample size. You could run this same test a few more times just to make sure.

You do a great job here and I learned a little. But, I am 70 years old and I could not fish in that kayak with everything behind me like you do. I can't turn around like that any more.

Interesting. I went out once and lost 4 Kokanee. Can’t wait to go back out again. New to koke fishing

LMAO!!! I hadn't seen this video. That being said since I started fishing for kokes 6 years ago I started with a 16 inch leader & when i discovered your channel 4 years ago I've been paying attention to your teachings. So my leaders with a dodger have been shrinking considerably. I fish a small high mountain lake named Shaver Lake here in California & it receives considerable amount of pressure during the summer months. And 5 fish limits of 16 to 21 inch kokes are the norm. But I love your channel. I've become a better kokanne angler from you videos!

When I lived in WA fishing for salmon in sekiu I would make my leader length about 1.5 -2 length of My flashers

Awesome videos! You are doing great work explaining your experiences and techniques! Thank you!

Great video. I love these comparison videos that you do. My only criticism would be that the (so called) music you play is too loud, which causes me to turn down the volume, and then when you do say something, I cannot hear what you say. Please use your music as a background, and your vocal mike, as forefront, so we can hear your input while the, (IMHO fake music, created by computer), is playing... lol. 😀👍

You had em dialed in out there!

I’m still learning. But if the lure has its own action I go 2 ft. If not I go 2 dodger lengths. But nothing is measured and sometimes my 2 ft is shorter than other times. 🤪

Awesome test. So many variables to catching kokanee. Do you ever measure temp at certain depths? And if so, what do you use to get that temperature? Thanks . Love your videos. I just started kokanee fishing. Love learning along the way watching your videos.

I was taught that if your lure had no action, you wanted the leader at 2x the length of your Dodger. If the lure had action, then it was 4x the length of the dodger

12 to 14 depending on the lure.

Another great test. What mainline are you using? Is the Maxima 10 lb. Ultragreen your leader line?

I know I'm late here..but have you continued this test? Where I fish we run about 18" leaders with spin glows.. tipped with corn on one hook and maggots on the other.. we usually get 15-20 fish with 2 rods in 3 hours....2 man limits basically...I'd like to experiment but I should experiment some day

Another great video! I tend to run longer leaders here in Canada most of the year. I love how you compared leader lengths using the same gear. What time of the year did you film this? I generally use longer leaders early in the season. I use 20-24" leaders on average.

I use 10-12 inches but my effort is split between lakes with landlocked coho and kokanee.

here in Southern Utah the three lake it mostly rainbows and cut throuts and some tiger trout, i use a 18" leader, is that about right. Love your video's

Great Vid as usual. Have you ever tried even longer leaders? I have always used pretty long leaders for Kokes and Rainbows, usually 3 1/2-4 ft long, no weight, and a 0000 chrome dodger. And I have always hit more fish than the people I see fishing around me with heavy tackle or downriggers. I will have to try an 18-24" leader and see how that works. Will be hitting Rufus Woods in a week, so hopefully I will be able to see just how long a leader can be and still hit fish. Keep up the great work!

Hi I just want to say that I enjoy watching your productions. Can you also tell us again how far back do you leave your lure. Having a trolling motor might require longer distances. Your thoughts please. Thanks in advance.

So what is your recommendation for leader length for spinners/ micro hoochies etc.? Great video I run my leaders a little longer and am thinking about shortening them a bit. I run my hoochies at like 16 and spinners at approx 20 inches

if you compare the proportions, i do not think it would be significantly different. You almost have to repeat this over different attempts under different conditions.

First off, love the channel. Question: in a previous video you talk about the migration of Kokanee. Would you expect Kokanee would be further towards the dam on a reservoir like Yale during the winter months and early spring before moving up the reservoir ?

Maybe this is a testament to location, depth and speed. When you get those things right, what else matters? Does a dodger even matter at that point?

What about early season vs late season? Would there be a difference in leader preference? Water clarity a factor? Additional testing required. Hopefully you'll get out more and film more. Win/Win :D

Wondering if you have any videos fishing the Dworshak for Kokanee?

Try it again one rod with 3x dodger length and the other with 3-4 foot length. iv noticed iv landed more of larger fish with a longer leader and less with shorter

Since I use wedding rings the most, I prefer a longer leader.

I also wonder which length is more consistent? Like over multiple trips.

Tyler have you done the same comparison with Rainbows?

On your hoochie for the 6-8 inch leaders do you have smile blade or spinning blades on them?

How much would you shorten a leader on an apex kokanee killer? I do OK with them right out of the package but with their erratic action I'm not sure how short to go

Nice

What line do you recommend for Kokanee? Thanks for the videos by the way, great info.

What kind of rod holders where you using on your kayak?

Can you explain the weight system you where using ?

Which rods are you using? Looks like Tica 8'0 ...

A real scientist would fudge their results.

how do you attach the weight to the line? is it sliding?

Do you use lead core line at all when setting up your trolling rig?

Did you try conconully in 2020? Didn't see any reports from you there this year.

what lake you on

Not gonna lie I just eyeball it I’d say around 8-10”

What state are you in or does that not matter when Kokanee fishing

How do i get the weight down to 70 feet?

What lake is that?

What about a lure with its own action??? Say a wiggle hoochie

I love using wobblers and spinners do you still use a short leader for thos too?