Flaming Gorge Kokanee: Has It Collapsed?

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Flaming Gorge is one of the most famous Kokanee fisheries in the United States. Recent reports have suggested the Kokanee fishery is in decline. My experience last year on the Wyoming side suggested the fishery might very well be on the decline. However, Sidra and I still found good numbers of large Kokanee in the lower reaches of the lake on our recent trip. One thing is for certain and that is Flaming Gorge is still one of the best Kokanee fisheries in the country for large Kokanee even when the fishing is "tough".
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[@campingkids]

love fishing that area! one year we thought we heard gun shots but it was the young rams banging heads above us on the point heading out to the main lake area. very fun time just sitting and watching them.

[@michaelmoore2872]

Nice fish and scenery . Happy to see Sidra out and catching a few too.

[@youraveragefishkeeper]

The ultimate duo is out again! It’s good to see you both out the water.

[@returnofsid]

The scenery is beautiful! Seeing Sidra out, with you, even more beautiful!

[@tla1950]

We've gone there the last 2 summers and had a great time, and even caught some nice fish.

[@shelleyszulinszky9732]

Beautiful view + big fat kokanee ❤️✌️👍

[@bruceparker1945]

Glad to see you and yours back at the Gorge. It’s easy to see how Flaming Gorge got its name. Beautiful! And, the fishing wasn’t bad either.

[@hjc07]

finally a video at my home lake😁

[@timwelsh974]

Please show the nicer examples of the off species as well. I was so stoked to see that rainbow!

[@robbysmusic8507]

Boy O Boy, Wish central Oregon had that size of Kokanee, awson!

[@tazeat]

I'd love to make it out there, always wanted to do the burbot bash on the ice. Someday.

[@spiltmilt]

Me too! Sounds like fun.

[@normdeshon665]

The fish managers have been asking people to keep the young 'pup' mackinaw for years because there is so many of the small ones. Hard to manage a 100 mile long lake, especially when so many species spawn in the lake. Also so many species. Carp, channel cats, Utah chub, browns, rainbows, burbot, etc.

[@spiltmilt]

Yeah their options are fairly limited on a body of water that size.

[@tonyparrish2448]

Beautiful location pictures probably don't do it justice. How about the size of those Kokanee!

[@spiltmilt]

Yeah its a special place!

[@Foswatabe]

Glad to see some big Kokanee out of that lake! Do you ever see slow fishing with full moon phases? Is there anything to the moon phases? My buddy swears by it.

[@spiltmilt]

Absolutely! I have local lakes that will go dead in the mornings after a full moon and clear night. The bite usually starts picking up around 10 AM on those day.

[@Foswatabe]

You’re a stud! ❤ all your content!

[@clarkfelt4098]

How far did you go from the boat launch before you caught your closest Kokanee? I’ve only hooked on them on the actual channel.

[@spiltmilt]

Sidra hooked hers about a 1/2 mile south of the main channel.

[@saltywalrusfishingcompany]

Im hearing all the doom and gloom for Anderson, arrowrock, and lucky peak also. This is my first year fishing kokanee as i live in Wisconsin but fishing has been great for me in boise area! Maybe my expectations were low being new but always end up with several 15-18" fish, and thats mostly after work trips. Even pulled a couple 6 fish limits thanks to all the great info you put out. Guess my ? Is are people spoiled from past easy limits of smaller fish? Personally id rather work for a few big ones

[@harryjayne5306]

Is the Buckboard area good place for kokes in late June? Were headed to Fontanelle this Sunday for a couple of days and then Flaming Gorge where we have not been before.

[@spiltmilt]

The fishing has been better as of late on the Utah side. You won't find many fish in the Buckboard area but if you do they will be big.

[@jacobdalecrow564]

That place is on the bucket list

[@zacharypedersen4090]

Nice catches! When you can try out some dodgers from kokabow tackle. They work great.

[@spiltmilt]

I love my Paulina Peak Tackle. Never lets me down and they are a great supporter of this channel and its content.

[@johnnewman8431]

Sweet video. I’m my backyard.

[@tri_nofeet]

Best lake in the world!! Way to go!

[@micbarca9777]

What kind of rod holder extenders do you have on your setup?

[@spiltmilt]

Check out this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z3vMmaWubL10kLs

[@reapergrim76]

Awesome stuff! 👌

[@fishroper]

What happens to fish that outflow? Do they eventually take up residence in downstream bodies if the depths are deep enough or do they not do well in those rivers?

[@spiltmilt]

I think they mostly perish unless suitable reservoirs exists downstream and they survive passage thru the dam

[@micbarca9777]

We're still on the Wyoming side or did this video happen o. The Utah side?

[@spiltmilt]

Utah

[@adamwarrick2970]

What weight were you using for dropper rig?

[@spiltmilt]

3 oz

[@antoniohumphreys939]

I am going to a lake that has both kokanee and sockeye, how would I know the difference just size? The regulations on each are different and wouldn't want keep something I'm unable to. I would be able to keep the kokanee now but not the sockeye yet. Thanks for any tips!

[@spiltmilt]

Yes size difference will be substantial. Most states have specific regulation on length

[@jerillarhen]

Here in Oregon at Lake Billy Chinook the regulations state that any Kokanee/sockeye larger than 17" is treated as a sockeye. 20 years ago that could have been an issue as it was pretty common to catch 17" but since they dropped the limit from 25 to 5 the kokes are pretty much never over 12.5.

[@doublereefed]

You said "headed to the Kokanee grounds"... what location are you referring to? Haven't been to Flaming Gorge yet.

[@spiltmilt]

The large deep area to the north of Sheep Creek launch.

[@doublereefed]

@@spiltmilt would this be a good place for a novice to start?

[@spiltmilt]

@@doublereefed there are better Kokanee lakes in the area for beginners

[@mountianbluebear]

How are you clipping the weight on so that it stays?

[@spiltmilt]

The snap clips onto the line and holds as it is designed to do.

[@chubbrock659]

Looks like you’re near Lucerne and Linwood bay when you first started out?

[@spiltmilt]

Nope Sheep Creek

[@chubbrock659]

@@spiltmiltcool, I fished all around kingfisher and hideout islands a few weeks ago and destroyed the trout. Love it out there.

[@TwoStageTrigger]

I camp near there. About an hour away. An area called spirit lake The utah DNR is going to kill off the whole sheep creek drainage with rotenone so they can stick native cutthroat in a couple years. They did that 7 or 8 years ago and it killed the fishing. And they didnt check what they were stocking so all the brook trout and rainbow have taken over again. And the tiger trout eat all of the 4 inch cutthroat they stock.

[@spiltmilt]

Yeah I fly fished the creek and only caught Rainbows.

[@anonymouse7074]

Kokanee drought in eastern WA & ID, anyone else experience this?

[@adamwarrick2970]

First! Great Scenery!

[@verdeanpetersen8350]

What speed do you usually maintain.

[@spiltmilt]

1.3 to 1.5 mph

[@AlexRamos-yr8xw]

What kind of hooks and what size is good for Sockeye?

[@spiltmilt]

Size 2 or 1

[@spiltmilt]

Gamakatsu Split shot drop shot

[@AlexRamos-yr8xw]

And what lb test you use for the leader? Awesome thanks! 😊

[@spiltmilt]

10 lb

[@scottrouwhorst881]

Nice

[@ryanbarton6739]

Seagull almost took your fish

[@ronlee597]

Did you swing by Fontenelle while you were out that way?

[@spiltmilt]

yup

[@ronlee597]

@@spiltmilt As good as last year? We fished the Font last weekend and Friday was decent but Saturday stunk.

[@spiltmilt]

Yes we did awesome.

[@adamwarrick2970]

I wonder if Kokanee sushi would be any good...

[@spiltmilt]

Its very good! kzbin.info/www/bejne/foW9Xp17hd6lrNU

[@Honks34]

Yeah things are not in good shape there.

[@spiltmilt]

Its still a great fishery but a difficult one to manage. Lake Trout are such a pest species the world over.