Best Jigging Technique For Kokanee Salmon at Flaming Gorge 2020

[@daveengstrom9250]

If you grab those fish by the narrow part of the tail and squeeze hard that will stop flopping. It makes them easier to handle. I think there must be some nerve down there or something.

[@doafish]

Thanks. I will give that a try.

[@nelstheilgard7983]

The method of drawing a bite that you describe around 5:10 is also employed on returning ocean Chinook in Puget Sound. Thanks for posting this video, it's a great combination of fun and informative!

[@doafish]

Nels, I have never jigged for Chinnook but I always thought it work. i would love to try it sometime. Thanks for watching!

[@GNappers]

3 fish only? Must be big Kokanee. Definitely the best eating fresh water fish. Now back to the video.

[@GNappers]

Yep they are big.

[@yourfishwish2991]

Another great video. Thanks for the tips

[@doafish]

Thanks for watching.

[@edwardmoller199]

Thanks for the great videos Don, very informative and detailed.

[@doafish]

Edward, I enjoy making the videos and am thrilled that you like them. I will hopefully have a new on ready this next week.

[@davidbowen3460]

Great video Don. I appreciate the time you took to make it. Tight lines!!

[@doafish]

Thanks, there are more coming!

[@daveanddenisereynolds6791]

Another great video. Thanks don

[@doafish]

Thanks Dave and Denise. We're looking at SNOW between now and tomorrow. I don't know if I will get out between now and when the season closes on the 9th. Oh, well, it's been a great year for kokanees!

[@ShenpaiWasTaken]

Wow, those kokanee are huge! On my local lakes they stay around 12 inches :(

[@doafish]

We average around 16 inches on the Utah side of the reservoir but we catch quite a few 21 to 24-inchers. A great limit of fish would be three or four (now) 4 pound kokanees. Where do you fish?

[@darensandstrom5219]

Excellent video Don, thanks for the willingness to show your successful techniques. New subscriber!

[@doafish]

Welcome Darren! I'm glad you liked the site. Thanks!

[@dvdadaudits7500]

Went with my brother over labor day weekend. Wish I had seen your channel before. I was able to reel in a lake trout though with a huge grin after.

[@doafish]

I will be switching to lake trout in September and October and will also be going for some huge rainbows as November comes around. Stay tuned for more action.

[@davel6427]

Great video! Love your bass fishing style can’t wait to try and get a few for the smoker here... good luck tight lines. You got my subscription

[@doafish]

Dave L, Thanks for subscribing and I have at least one more kokanee video in the works before the ice shut me down.

[@paulojimenez1437]

Thank you, sir, for sharing your video. What size hook you have on your kokanator jig and size jig (oz)?? Getting skunked is no fun but being out in beautiful surroundings just makes up for it. I’m going to try your method! Thank you

[@doafish]

I use 1/2 and 3/4 ounce spoons and I replace the hooks with size 6 red treble hooks if they don't already come out of the package with the same size.

[@johnholman9313]

Great video, thanks. What is the rod you are using?

[@doafish]

John, I use Gary dobyns rods. They are one piece rods. I use the least expensive rods they sell for kokanee. I think they retail for under $100 dollars and they are great rods. I believe they are a 702 which is a 7' 3" rod.

[@schweppe33]

Great video! what area of the lake does this technique work best?

[@doafish]

Jeff, this technique works from the dam to the confluence of the Green and Black's Fork in Wyoming. The key is to locate schools, patiently drop down on them and wait for them to wake up and bite. just today, I started at 6:00 a.m., immediately found some small schools, got a few hits but had no fish in the boat at 9:00 a.m. Then, between 9 and 10 I hooked six fish brought three (my limit in Wyoming) into my boat, went back to the Utah side and by 10:30 a.m. had caught my fourth fish (the Utah limit). At any point I could have lost patience, cussed the fish for not biting and switched to go after rainbows or pup lake trout. But, thankfully, i have learned that kokannees can be finicky and not all schools have biters inside. Just stay with the technique and you too will be successful in any part of the lake you choose to fish. Thanks for the question!

[@fish2much51]

what rod is it that you have? seems to have a really nice soft tip and strong backbone.

[@misc.browsing4797]

Helpful video! What pound line do you use?

[@doafish]

My line varies from 8,, 10, and 12-pound NanoFil with 6, 8, or 10-pound Sunline Fluorocarbon leader.

[@IREFUSE9]

So you drift? And do you troll until you start marking the schools? By the way, thank you so much for sharing. Wow.

[@doafish]

No, I am using my electric trolling motor. I don't drift. I slowly move in and out of coves on the big motor and then use the trolling motor to stay on top of the fish. I don't "troll" with lures I just use my fish finder to locate schools and then drop down the trolling motor and use "that' transducer to make sure I stay on top of the fish at the front of the boat.

[@IREFUSE9]

@@doafish thanks Don. I’ve never tried your method but really like what I watched. New subscriber to your channel. Thanks again.

[@IREFUSE9]

At this point 29 thumbs up, zero down. Gotta love that!! 😬

[@doafish]

@@IREFUSE9 I went out today and had a little difficulty located schools of kokanees in the areas i could reach. Ice is now forming down to the pipeline on the Wyoming side. I could have forged my way through the ice to Anvil but decided it wasn't worth it. We found some huge schools of kokanees on the cliff walls in 100 feet of water (the kokanees were in 40 to 70 feet). Probably one of last days of boat fishing until March. Thanks for subscribing and I hope you will give my method a try.

[@robertpett5537]

Are you drifting or does your electric motor keep you in position? Fun videos !

[@doafish]

I have a Minn Kota Ultrex with "spot lock". So, once I see a school I can keep the boat right on top of the school. At times, though, I will follow the schools with my trolling motor and some of the time I don't even bother with the spot lock if the fish are biting AND there is no wind. I hope that answers your question.

[@jonmaestri570]

Enjoying your videos. Question! Without a line counter, how do you judge the depth of your lure when using spinning reels?

[@doafish]

I have two fish finders on the bow of my boat. Using both finders, I can easily see my lure as it goes down the water column. So, by looking at my finders I am able to clearly see how deep I am without having a counter on my reels. I hope that helps.

[@holt8888]

Cool video Dan, what is the name of the rod you use and length

[@doafish]

The rod I used is a St. Croix medium/heavy but it is very old so I have replaced the tips several times so it started at a 6-foot-six length but now is most likely 6" 3". I use mostly Gary Dobyns rods for most of my fishing but have one Lamiglass spinning rod that I use in the early spring through May for the kokaness, and then I roll over and use either a 7-foot Gary Dobyns Champion or a Colt for my baitcaster like with the St Croix. I am going to shoot a rod/line/reel video before Christmas.

[@GemMorrisMV]

How are these for eating compared to mid-summer straight silver kokes?

[@doafish]

I learned while in Alaska some years ago that it all depends on what you are used to. No, the quality of the kokanees in August don't compare with mid-summer silver kokes but the average size difference more than makes up for it. We caught chum salmon that the "locals" said to too far gone but we canned them and are still eating them years later and enjoying them just as if they were fresh caught. I have yet to notice any difference beyond the meat is more tender and the scales disappear on the mature kokes. We eat fish several times a week an think they are all incredible.

[@BoykoOutdoors]

awesome video keep it up 👍

[@brilintube]

Well done. Thanks Don.