Do Kokanee Suck or Is It Just Me? A Hard Earned Limit

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Most days when fishing a lake for the first time or the first time that year it is just a matter of dialing in on depth, speed, color, and so on. However, there are times when there is no strong pattern. This happens quite commonly in spring when reservoirs are filling, there is no strong stratification, and the weather changes by the minute. I met up with and fished alongside my patrons and community members at Detroit Lake. Despite the tough fishing we had a great time. Everyone caught fish and I scratched out a tough limit.
Tackle Featured In This Video:
PPT Peak Performer Purple Have Lite: paulinapeaktac...
PPT Peak Performer Arnold Palmer Lite: paulinapeaktac...
PPT Golden Ticket Microhoochie: paulinapeaktac...
PPT Purple Haze Platinum Flutter Bug: paulinapeaktac...
PPT MicroMinnow Spinner Pink/Chartreuse: paulinapeaktac...
Snaps for release weights: amzn.to/3B2z0I6
5 oz cannonball: amzn.to/3LLXnPa
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[@sleonard2649]

I've never caught 10 fish in my life, so a bad day for you would be a record for me!

[@AnglingAddictsPNW]

My buddy and i were out there that day. Definitely a day of trying everything! There didn't seem to be a whole lot of consistency. Glad to see you were able to get a limit. Plenty of guys out there struggling to get one in the boat. Keep up the amazing work.

[@tribunis_gaming6760]

I would love to kayak fish with you out on Detroit lake one of these days. Been trying to put your methods to use for Kokanee. Haven't had luck yet though.

[@fishroper]

Looks like you have a new rod on your DR. Pretty red speckled wrapping.

[@fishroper]

And literally just as I post this comment you answer my question 😂

[@spiltmilt]

Last trip I’m using it switching back to my PPT rod

[@letsgonow5641]

I think i rather fish for Sunnies they seem to put up a better fight and its less complicated....Good stuff i would do this style of fishing more so for the experience.

[@mcdaib]

I haven't seen you fish Odell Lake yet...would like to see how you do that one...

[@spiltmilt]

Not for lack of trying. I've tried a few times and I've either been blown off by 8 AM or the bite has just really sucked and no one is catching.

[@loganellis-chickenlittlesg2098]

It’s been a weird start to the season. A lot of people have been struggling hard, but paying attention to detail and changing things up other than the usual, like you mentioned has been working. Didn’t realize that was you out there! Good to see ya. Nice work!

[@coyakbrian3411]

I have days where I just can't keep a fish on. Glad to see it's not just me. Thanks for sharing!

[@stephenjensen93]

Living in the Santiam Canyon makes Detroit Lake my home lake. Kokanee are finicky here and to get a limit is next level

[@Newtrous]

I think there needs to be stats for all participants. Some lite competition, maybe a best fish award? Small fish buys beer…

[@jbkokanee1796]

Detroit is my home lake. It's been a rough year. Exceptionally small this year, and scattered.

[@AlpineForge9600]

I can most generally put at least 2 in the bag for a few hours trolling or jigging in the summer months, the spring and fall are the stuff dreams are made of generally catching the limit in an hour and a half, still waiting for the ice to clear and enjoying your videos

[@fishroper]

You mentioned the best fishing is on the south shore. This makes me ask, what is it about the bathymetry of lakes in combination with shore structure that influences where fish like Kokanee like to hold? Are there other factors? I’ve personally noted that most of my hook ups occur within 200-300 yards of the put in that CPW uses to stock the lake.

[@spiltmilt]

For Kokanee its complex and dependent on the lake. I cover a lot of the details here kzbin.infoz8wAY1i44vY

[@grantthomas883]

For those who have fished Detroit, does using corn or the Berkeley maggots seem to help or do you run the hoochie or spinner by themselves?

[@spiltmilt]

Bait is a big help

[@chubbrock659]

7:50 getting a little crowded eh?

[@sprmario123]

I used to work for ODFW on that lake doing Salmonid passage. Nice to see it still being fished.

[@rikan77]

Fished the creek leading into Detroit lake caught nice Rainbows on every cast, but that was a few years ago.

[@fungionthefly]

Nice video!

[@mattpurvis1777]

I would love to purchase the Paulson Tackle slider kit you shared but there website images won't load and the contact us feature--email only!--doesn't work either. Can you let them know that they are losing sales!

[@spiltmilt]

I stopped working with them precisely due to their poor website and communication

[@reapergrim76]

Great stuff! 👍

[@tuanmyles8381]

You may have answered this already, but can you tell me what kind of life vest you're wearing? Thank you

[@spiltmilt]

Old Town Lure Angler amzn.to/3WMNcz0

[@ShenpaiWasTaken]

Sometimes the Kokanee are just tricky! Yesterday I somehow went 1/6 on 3 doubles. 😢 I don't know what it is but I am having the worst landing ratio this year.

[@scottulbrich5376]

its you hooks

[@dabirds413]

Detroits been super slow this season, we’re crushing 16” Koks in Central Oregon lately!

[@kennyjones4739]

Im glad to see you enjoying the pedal kayak! Its nice to see you so happy! Stay fishy my friend.

[@cookDMR]

How do you go about dispatching your catch? I prefer to bonk because it's quick and humane. However, I find this tricky in a kayak with the limited space.

[@kyleoden3015]

I bonk and bleed my kokanee

[@spiltmilt]

Bonk and bleed

[@thehonfleur]

Another great vid. Have you ever thought about creating a podcast about kayak fishing etc...?

[@spiltmilt]

No I am busy enough already!

[@codytuers2776]

Hey that ls me talking

[@longbowken]

What is the preferred method of hauling these wider fishing pdl kayaks? Looking to purchase one or two. Rooftop? Trailer? Make and model??? Love the content! Great tips and insight for fishing PNW waters.

[@spiltmilt]

Depends on the person and the kayak. I cartop, others use trailers or put them in the bed of a truck

[@DeanKreger-xc9hf]

Your videos have always had good information. Today I learned the term set back, I assume that is the distance between the downrigger weight and the end of the line. I have always heard this term stated let out distance. The short 15' distance is there cable in your downrigger or has it been changed to braided line?

[@spiltmilt]

I changed mine to braid for safety reasons primarily

[@dougsparks66]

Have you tried the PPT Flutter Bug? I started slow on Merwin Sunday and had just bought 3, so I put the Wonderbread pattern flutter bug on and I didn't get much sit down time the rest of the trip! related question...Has anyone had better hook to land ratio changing up the factory #4 hooks to a wide gap #2? we were about 50/50 so it took us 4 hours to get 40, and some hammered HARD and were fighting for several seconds before the infamous helicopter "escape"

[@spiltmilt]

I change all my hooks first thing and normally don't lose many fish. I did get several on the platinum flutterbug Purple Haze at Detroit.

[@yourplayin]

When I use a small set back with my down rigger, the fishing line always wraps around the ball and wire during a quick drop. Does any one know how this can be avoided?

[@chubbrock659]

Drop slower?

[@spiltmilt]

Use a longer leader off you release clip

[@yourplayin]

@@spiltmilt you’re talking about increasing the line length from the down rigger line to the clip that attaches to the fishing line, correct?

[@chubbrock659]

Do lake trolls work on kokes? It’s always seemed to get less interest for me compared to a dodger.

[@spiltmilt]

They work just not as well as dodgers

[@ryanbarton6739]

Have you used bling blades before?

[@spiltmilt]

Yes a long time ago. I prefer the Paulina Peak dodgers now. Better action and colors.

[@ryanbarton6739]

@@spiltmilt is a dule hook dule blade spinner with moon jelly on the blades

[@Pfenzer]

Whats the new Kokanee rod your using?

[@spiltmilt]

Its from Oregon Kokanee Kings, built on a Rainshadow blank.

[@Pfenzer]

@@spiltmilt Do they have a website or a facebook group? Can't find how to purchase one. Need a new rod anyway as I just broke mine at detroit last week.

[@scottulbrich5376]

I haven't fished Detroit in many many years

[@Carlb328]

Maybe you need a snubber? Lol.

[@Carlb328]

I'm hitting up 2-3 lakes this weekend, hopefully the warming trend will bring on the bite.

[@rw7495]

I was also out there with a few buddies on kayaks. Threw my whole tackle box at them and only got two. Early AM bite then nothing. Congrats on grinding your 10 out!

[@nw_angler]

The downrigger attracting fish has always perplexed me. I've only tried a short set back once with your same logic. Didn't help on one of my local lakes. I'll have to try it on other lakes. Can't tell you how many times I've seen multiple fish scatter when I pull my ball up.

[@sov19871987]

Am I the only one finding Kokanee fishing the most boring of them all? Glad you are enjoying it, maybe one day I'll enjoy it as well, just not there yet.

[@chubbrock659]

I find it peaceful and relaxing, but I can see what you mean about possibly being boring if the bite is slow.

[@spencerb891]

Yeah but they taste so good it’s worth it