Giant Winter Kokanee on the Old Town AutoPilot 120 Kayak

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Finding giant Kokanee in the winter can be very challenging. With no current or runoff fish tend to spread throughout the lake. I decided to try the odds and take my ‪@OldTownCanoeKayak‬ AutoPilot 120 out in search of my first trophy Kokanee of the year. The bite just like the morning temps was cold but heated up as the day went on.
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- Arrow Flash Dodgers bit.ly/2yw8F8T
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- Micro squids bit.ly/2JRjJ2c

[@TheBassinBully]

"...Stick to the rivers and streams your used too" 🤣 and don't forget the weird al version.

[@mhawker]

Tyler, Thank You for taking us along for the ride, I always look forward to your Kokanee vids. Time to order a Autopilot 120 for this season.

[@jonessaddle]

Thanks for taking us along with you!

[@patriciaward3207]

Awesome Tyler, thanks for the ride

[@yakhusker5914]

Hit Spring Canyon on MLK weekend. Did well on the kokanee and trout. Beautiful weather for this time of year! Hoping the trend continues. Love to see these fish hit the light action rods!! Thanks for the video

[@alsellers5657]

Amped Outdoors products are the dope !!! Awesome service and fast shipping. Another solid video. Thank you !!!

[@pancakeface5717]

Thanks for the great information you share in your videos. Getting ready for spring chinook here on the west side.

[@seansimpson705]

This episode reminds me of my first trip trolling for them with too stiff of a rod. "OH MAN another one popped off" Good to see its just part of the game, and not that my game is that far off. LOL

[@spiltmilt]

A lot of it has to do with how they are feeding too. Some days they are just nibbling and you lose quite a few. Other times they just smash it.

[@jaykendrick692]

So great to see you putting the hurt to those rods

[@figueroa2191]

Sweet setups you have going for the rods

[@peterconsulter9903]

Great fish and great video!

[@dustinrhodes1091]

All fish “feel like a good 1”!👌🏽

[@freddieboss3175]

Awesome stuff man 👏👏🙌🎣

[@Betteroffwet]

so cool -- you have your own style and methods and it is even nicer when using an electric troller -- silent but deadly!

[@macsmith2092]

At least you got bit. I have had many early season kokanee trips were I get skunked.

[@robrob7957]

Man I wanted and almost did yell at you about a fish on the left when you were looking to your right. Ghank you for the videos.

[@likemiketv2982]

Nice catch. Biggest koke I’ve seen

[@bradfordevans658]

Thanks!

[@spiltmilt]

Thank you!

[@landonf4066]

Hello, love the vids

[@tolgakaya2825]

Nice to see you back on kayak and chasing kokanee again! Missing these videos. Are you planning to fish in Lake Merwin in this season?

[@spiltmilt]

Yes likely in April or May.

[@goldsharkmark7808]

I was in that spot last year and got my first trophy Kokanee there.

[@milomarcille2488]

What a great video. I would of been so upset for you if you lost that monster at the boat! Appreciate your videos. Smash that like button people

[@jonlobello7151]

Basically, I'm watching you to pic your brain about this stuff (along with Cameron Black). Kokanees peak my interest because they are similar to the cohos we have here in Lake Superior. You had mentioned in one of your earlier videos that kokanees were planted in New York, Connecticut and N. Carolina. New York discontinued stocking a few year back, Connecticut still stocks them but they run small in that state. North Caroline only stocked them once in the 1960's (in Lake Nantahala), but they adapted to the natural conditions there and average 18 to 20 inches long. They spawn in the upstream reaches of the Nantahala river in the fall. So, these are the closest large kokanee to me. But, there is one place closer to me with naturally reproducing kokanee and that is Wisconsin's Florence Lake (about 3 to 4 hours from me here in Marquette). But it is a very small lake and the kokes don't get very big in it, and fishing access is hard because it's pretty much surround by private land.

[@spiltmilt]

I believe there is a small self sustaining run of Kokanee in New York but recent reports from the Connecticut population have document fish up to 18" which is impressive. The North Carolina population has crashed and gone extinct. I had no idea about the Wisconsin population.

[@jonlobello7151]

@@spiltmilt That's what I get for not checking publication dates on articles. So they crashed and went extinct since 2013/14. That's a shame. For all I know they could be extinct in Florence Lake, because it is very small (57 acres), and is only 29 feet deep, but it is spring fed. There's a story behind it being stocked with kokes in the 60's. It seems some fellow wanted to start up an aquaculture business. You can google it as easily as I can. It's the one in Menominee county, WI.

[@kathyg4906]

Would you consider making a video of you AP setup? I hope to get one in next few months. Do you stand to fish or mostly troll? Informative video.

[@BC-ue3ku]

Nice video Tyler! You ever think of putting a Mr. Buddy heater in front of you in the kayak? I use the little buddy in my 12 foot tinny and keeps the hands and shins nice and toasty.

[@spiltmilt]

I've thought about it

[@allanclose9684]

I use Wedding Rings [nickle or bress depending on sunny or overcant day] with nite crawler or white corn no flasher, just one splitshot lead. Adjust your speed to the bite.

[@billyharville7721]

Great video, spectacular Kokanee. I am heading to Fort Spokane for a few days of Kokanee and trout fishing. Do you think the Kokanee are that far up the lake. I will check out your corn recipe.

[@spiltmilt]

No. They are not that high.

[@davidk2137]

Can't help myself. I get a big smile when you are looking the other way and we are watching the big bite. While you take a while to notice. That is what happened with your first caught giant. After watching your reel in slow vs real fast test that you don't always reel in quicker now. Interesting.

[@spiltmilt]

I really the little ones in slow but these rods don't have the backbone for aggressive fighting. I have some on the way though

[@scottrouwhorst881]

Nice

[@brian1204]

I had no idea there were kokanee in AZ! With how you’ve fitted your kayak, it makes me wonder why you didn’t just get a small fishing boat? Would be drier and more comfortable, I think... But it is a sweet setup!

[@spiltmilt]

Boats require trailers I can cartop my kayak. Boats can sink, SOT kayaks generally can't. Outboards are noisy and take upkeep. I like the quietness of AutoPilot (it's a Kokanee ninja) and the minimal upkeep.

[@heathhilton884]

I was there when you where if we went Down farther we could have saw you

[@Adventures101.]

Hello great video was wondering if you could tell me besides it being a ram mount clamp I can't find on the website to park that screws into the back of the remote for the Minn kota can you send me a link to that part please I already have a track mount I just need the top piece that screws into the back of the mount and I can't seem to find it Thank you

[@tla1950]

Thanks for the great videos, are you using the standard Arrow Flash or the Arrow Flash Jr.

[@spiltmilt]

Standard arrow flash

[@backtobasics1986]

looks like you went with the level six emperor. How are you liking it. Did you find a good way to self-zip?

[@ncalais09]

Awesome video! Just picked up my sportsman salty PDL 120 per your recommendation! Took it out Sunday and it was an absolute blast! I think you said you got your start with Kokanee on lake merwin, that's my home lake, and I've done pretty well so far. Mainly fishing in my buddy's boat. I've only ever launched out of speelyai (spelling?) But that was with a powerboat. Now that I have the kayak, is there anywhere else that you would suggest I start from? I don't even know if I'm allowed to, but I know there's a swimming hole down by the dam on the west side. I'm just super excited to go exploring with the new yak!!! You are a rockstar, thanks for the inspiration to get after Kokanee!

[@spiltmilt]

I've tried launching at the swim beach on the north side of the dam before and got a visit from security. There is purportedly another cart in access on the south side of the dam that I've never used. I always just launched from Speelyai and did very well there.

[@ncalais09]

@@spiltmilt thanks so much. I've done alright so far, no full limit yet but only like 5 trips in! Thanks again for the information!

[@jonchristinegardner2126]

Tyler do you change tactics in the fall for Kokanee? The fish seem to be way less aggressive no matter what rigs we’re running. Learned and still learning a ton from your channel thanks for producing such quality content.

[@spiltmilt]

No I don't really change my tactics.

[@wrwarnerhall]

Have you ever tried to fish CDA lake for kokanee? If so, any specific advice for that lake?

[@allanclose9684]

I also change hook to a red trebble hook . Remember they have SOFT mouths so set hook lightly

[@spiltmilt]

I get better landing ratios with single point hooks and don't really believe that Kokanee have soft mouths. kzbin.info/www/bejne/naiXaKKBebeKeJo

[@ocrun6765]

That Kokanee was amazing. Great Rainbow too. You not allowed to keep Rainbow there?

[@spiltmilt]

You can keep up to 5 fin clipped trout. However, I have an abundance of food in the freezer so I limit my harvest

[@jacobbrown8905]

Right on! I'll be heading that way for my Bday next weekend if the boat launches aren't a sheet of ice. I do a lot of land locked silver fishing, and I've found those rubber snubbers are life savers for keeping them hooked. Have you tried those?

[@spiltmilt]

Yes. They make no difference when using highly flexible rods like I am..

[@jacobbrown8905]

I'd like to respectfully disagree. If you were straight lining out to the hoochie, it wouldn't matter. Once you put that flasher on, it's a different story.

[@spiltmilt]

How does a snubber negate the drag effects of a dodger?

[@jacobbrown8905]

It absorbs some of the energy when the fish is fighting? The fish creates pressure diverting from a straight retrieve. The snubber placed between the dodger and the hoochie acts like a break helping slow them down and keep them on. Do a side by side and if it doesnt improves your landing success, feel free to make a video blasting me about it.

[@robinslee1]

I’m trying to get into Kokanee but it seems so complicated. You seem to be making it far more simple. I notice you’re not using downriggers or lead core, just a 100 yards of mono and a dodger? No weight or anything needed? How do you measure depth? Thanks for the great videos!

[@spiltmilt]

I don't ever use downriggers. Early in the season the fish are feeding on the top so I don't need weight. I just long line it 100' back which gets me 5-10' deep. As the season progresses they get deeper and I use sliding cannonball weights to get down deeper. I have several videos covering this topic. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z2rbk2l4d9d5h5I

[@EmilyFirefly235]

What launch did you launch from I would love to see that waterfall 😊

[@EmilyFirefly235]

Nerver mind I found it in another post. Tight lines 😀

[@timmoore6055]

It is good to see you miss on the netting - it makes me feel a bit less incompetent. Really nice fish!

[@spiltmilt]

😂 anything I can do to lift your spirits

[@timmoore6055]

@@spiltmilt I just need to get out and catch more - practice makes for accuracy. :)

[@yakhusker5914]

Showed my dad that part since he was giving me crap over my netting skills this weekend. Fish always cooperate with the net 🙄

[@jesparza602]

That battery costs more than my entire fishing setup.

[@spiltmilt]

Spendy but worth it!

[@jesparza602]

@@spiltmilt Can't put a price on reliable power. Nice setup.

[@anglersnw]

Looks like it was an enjoyable day on the water. I live in SW Montana but fish Idaho and Washington although I've never been on Roosevelt reservoir. It's on my radar tho for this Spring. I'll be fishing Lake Coeur D'Alene the end of March for the Spring Salmon derby but after that weekend, I'm planning on heading to Roosevelt. I have a brother in Vancouver who may be joining me hopefully. In your vid you offered to answer questions regarding fishing Roosevelt. I've got plenty of questions since I have never fished it. But mainly, where would be a good bet in the Spring to fish specifically for the Kokanee. (with a good boat launch) I troll with my 18' Hewescraft and have downriggers and planer boards. You mention in your vid that you are close to a dam. Would that be Grand Coulee? I see there is a National Recreation site near the dam on Google Maps. My next question is where would a good place to camp be that has close access to a boat launch? I have a pickup camper and will be pulling my boat. Fully self contained but it would be nice to have full hookup. I appreciate any constructive help/suggestions. Thank you

[@spiltmilt]

You can camp at Spring Canyon campground and fish from there. I would target Swawilla Basin to the east or between the campground and the dam. You won't be alone. Follow the fleet.

[@nerakus6020]

Headed up Jan 30th, planning Keller area, any tips? First time Kokanee fishing Roosevelt with my uncle

[@spiltmilt]

They should be shallow. Orange and pink and the dodgers with moon jelly always do best for. Trolling shallow water can be productive.

[@nerakus6020]

@@spiltmilt well we got skunked on our trip... one big bite of something that broke the 12lb leader. Want to go again so, but still trying to learn what places to go

[@SalmonKing52]

I tend to stay in the West side of the state and I’m VERY new to Kokanee fishing. What lakes would you consider to be a premium Kokanee lakes on this side of the hills?

[@spiltmilt]

Merwin stands out above most and American Lake can produce larger fish but none will come close to Lake Roosevelt.

[@SalmonKing52]

@@spiltmilt Merwin would be like a weekend camping trip for me (I live on Whidbey Island). Now if I just had a camper I’d be in business! 😄😄 I’ve always been a saltwater fisher so freshwater is new to me. For freshwater I have a HIGHLY modified 10’ pontoon I want to use for Kokanee and Crappie fishing. You can see it here in this video…kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y3WyopWhn6-HedE

[@propwashproductionsuavserv8434]

What is the mount you are using for the motor remote? That is a nice setup. Thanks.

[@spiltmilt]

RAM mounts tough claw with threaded ball mount use the code HICKS21 for a 10% discount www.rammount.com/part/RAM-B-400-A-366U

[@propwashproductionsuavserv8434]

Perfect, thank you sir.

[@GemMorrisMV]

I'd like to know about your camera setup. What camera? What Ram mount? External microphone? Wind screen? Power source? Thanks, love your videos!

[@spiltmilt]

DJI Osmo Action amzn.to/2LOyHuE Mic adapter amzn.to/3acRcCn Cage with mic stand amzn.to/3qcFJbm Bluetooth Mic amzn.to/3tKoQHn Anker USB battery bank amzn.to/2N1unbP RAM Mounts Tough-Pole www.rammount.com/part/RAP-411-18-18-A-GOP1 10% discount on RamMounts using the codes "HICKS21"

[@GemMorrisMV]

@@spiltmilt Thank you!!

[@KretzOAR]

Do you trailer the Autopilot kayak?

[@spiltmilt]

I cartop it kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z6vamIClgdehedk

[@walt3774]

looks like different reels then you have in alot of your other videos, are they newer, what make, size? Dedicated for sure to stay out that long.

[@spiltmilt]

Diawa Lexa 100 LCamzn.to/3o2uArL

[@walt3774]

@@spiltmilt look like you are using both a right and left handed reel, is there a reason for this?

[@spiltmilt]

Yes so I reel up with removing them from the rod holders

[@montanaoutdoors6217]

Just curious why you dont ever keep the rainbows? They smoke up pretty good! Do you just not like to eat em? Thanks for the videos, awesome stuff as always

[@spiltmilt]

I take only what I need and with the abundance of salmon in the freezer I don't need trout.

[@montanaoutdoors6217]

I hear ya...was just curious...great videos...i love em all

[@upperleftoutdoors3850]

What size rods are you using? I'm trying to find another good size rod to use not using downriggers.

[@spiltmilt]

I'm using 7'6" glass rods.

[@upperleftoutdoors3850]

@@spiltmilt ok thanks a ton. Love your videos. Very informative!!

[@milomarcille2488]

Lincoln launch?

[@spiltmilt]

Hanson

[@lawrenceblue8207]

How many kayaks do you own and your reason for that? I would think all you need is one Kayak for every type of species.

[@spiltmilt]

I own 4 kayaks. As an ambassador for Old Town I try to fish from a diversity of their kayaks so I can speak honestly about their fit for Northwest fisheries

[@hectorhinojosa5168]

Just wanna give my 2 cents I'm not a pro on fishing for kokanne I've only been fishing for them for 5 years but I've have great success. But who hasn't have had kokanne come off while bringing them in. But I just wanna ask why don't you use a snubber behind your dogger? I have loss less Kokanee with a snubber.

[@spiltmilt]

I don't run snubbers for several reason. First I don't think they confer any benefit when running limber rods and long lining 100' of monofilament like I am. Secondly, snubbers whether run in front or behind dodgers subdue the action of the dodger resulting in fewer strikes. I think hooks, the rod, and fighting technique have far greater impacts of land success than the presence or absence of a snubber. I tend to lose more of these big Roosie Kokes than I do with smaller fish and I believe a big part of that is my rods are underpowered. I have some longer 8' long lining rods from Santiam on the way and I think those will help improve my success.

[@hectorhinojosa5168]

Cool I have several different kokanne rods none of them really true high end rods but I also run 100 yards behind my boat because I do not have downriggers. I'm just saying snubbers have worked for me especially with my larger Kokanne that go airborne. But truly love fishing for them. Here in the central Valley of California we are limited options where to go but think I've done better than most just by dock talk on my way off the lake 😆 😆. I have learned some great info from your videos. Thank you!

[@Newtrous]

I’m just looking into Kokanee fishing and I’m noticing that you and others don’t set the hook. Is this due to their “soft lips”?

[@spiltmilt]

There is no need to set the hook. It usually results in lost fish

[@TheFishingDoctorsAdventures]

So are you just Fly Lining those rigs with no weight?

[@spiltmilt]

No weight

[@tylerfish6206]

What exactly is a Kokanee

[@spiltmilt]

A landlocked Sockeye Salmon

[@augustmathews650]

We’re you wearing a float suit?

[@spiltmilt]

@Levelsix Emperor Drysuit. In these air and water temps I wouldn't last a minute without it if I fell in.

[@JJRiggsEquipment]

Is it too late in the season (mid may) to go after kokes on Roosevelt?

[@spiltmilt]

Nope they are just deeper