How to Catch Kokanee: The Kokanee Formula Part 1

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Kokanee are a popular landlocked salmon fishery in the western United States. Many anglers new to Kokanee fishing experience frustration with these sometimes finicky fish. In this two part series I cover the basic techniques and tackle you'll need to apply to catch these delicious salmon.
In this episode I cover the first and most important components of the Kokanee formula. Be sure to subscribe to keep up to date on my latest fishing adventures and educational videos.
Kokanee dodgers and lures used in this video are made by Paulina Peak Tackle: paulinapeaktackle.com/
The rods in this video are Swate Blueback rods and were designed in part by me: bit.ly/2Jtdd2K
Rod holders are by RAM Mounts RAM-ROD HD: www.rammount.com/part/RAP-433... (you can get a 10% discount by using the coupon code: THICKS19 )

[@brianpacker9302]

Thank you, new to kok fishing. These are inspiring videos. I am 77 and it takes a lot to get me going. Went fishing the day after watching the videos. We caught one 22" kok. Not bad for an old man. I need trips to learn

[@emmaochoa1380]

Rod/reel combo with fishing kit as an emergency setup kzbin.infoUgkxntWMOZsO1Zfv-pdn_XuffEtNkTYAYu4Z recommend but started to use this every day. The rod is thick and seems durable. I keep it neatly tucked into a regular backpack all the time with my fishing gear, and can grab it anytime, put it on my back and go anywhere. I just read in another review that the rod length below the reel is adjustable as well, so I will try that too for even more portability. Probably the best setup I've ever owned. I lost the cap for the eyelets, but no big deal since I still have the black cloth sheath that came for the pole and I use that. Very portable and high quality.

[@FougereFamilyAdventures]

Good job making this video. Every kokanee angler should watch this video at least once, if not a few times. Thanks for taking the time to make this video!

[@keving5120]

Great video! I’ve never thought about color spectrum when choosing lures. That makes a lot of sense! I’ll be using these tips on my next Kokanee trip!

[@richdagsher2931]

Your rods look fantastic. Nice work! I cant wait to test one out.

[@zachariahclift3553]

Awesome Video, very informative. Thank you

[@stevenderusha6421]

Another great video. Thanks for sharing.

[@cowboy-quill]

Love all these videos man!!! Not enough time in the day to watch them all haha

[@fishingthe509]

Going to give this a try on Sunday in Chelan! Might do some vertical jigging for them too. Sweet vids, always extremely informative.

[@SethBricel]

Thanks for sharing your know how!

[@sledgendaryadventures5845]

Excellent content… i’ve been scouring all your Kokanee vids-because I’ll be hitting Buck’s lake for three or four days NorCal… Never fished the “Kokanee Fishery” before!!! So I’ll put your instruction to work… been Kayak Ocean only since 2009 kinda Jonesing for some high elevation action!!! Once again Great stuff!!!

[@metapatterns]

Great video!

[@yourplayin]

We went to Yale this weekend. I used your recommendation of using a topographical map to pick points out for fishing. There was a lot of pressure on the lake but we were one of the view boats putting Kokanee in our boat. Thank you!

[@spiltmilt]

Good to hear!

[@SOGGadget]

Great video

[@spencerb891]

Got my first ever Kokanee in my kayak today! A nice 14 incher. Your videos helped me tremendously. I’ll try and get more than 1 next outing. Tight lines

[@spiltmilt]

Congratulations! Hopefully the first of many.

[@martinvaneeden280]

great video

[@MrLkelso]

Just bought a boat! Going to be trying out your tips & tricks!

[@ryanbdykes]

That's my lake! It looks great! glad you are catching!

[@grzegorzcooper1245]

Nice video...beautiful scenery...nice fishing rods.Can I ask you what kind of they are? Thank you.

[@stevenderusha6421]

Would bottom bouncers be a good option during the warmer summer months.

[@peterhessels2903]

The colours that the eye can see at depth are very obvious and are exactly as this video producer explains. Any scuba diver has experienced natural light loses the 'reds' fairly quickly as you descend. As a novice scuba diver this became very obvious when my dive-master lit up an underwater torch and all-of-a-sudden- boom! Lots of colour

[@orviskid]

I’m amazed you guys catch koke like that. Our bite is like an hour in the morning and then thats it. Your lucky to get one or two kokes during the bite. We stock the small fry in two lakes here so limit is five. You’re lucky to catch one a day. They cycle thru, one lake now has 20” fish but you’re lucky to catch any all year and the other lake you catch twenty fish but they are 6”. We are lucky to have them, but it is very much hit or miss

[@Lasurge1982]

Caught three Kokanee today using a 1/16 oz tube jig green and orange. My son caught one as well.

[@thomaswalsh1082]

Good job!

[@spiltmilt]

Thanks!

[@scottrouwhorst881]

Nice

[@chadglover3455]

I would think night fishing anchored with a light would create a bloom of food while jigging for Kokanee would work well?

[@spiltmilt]

Yes it does work! A lot of Kokanee anglers jig under lights at night

[@tgutier214]

what rods are you using there? Or what rods are you using now?

[@jakewhite8622]

where is the link to the poles u use

[@TigerShark2700]

What lake is it?

[@davidk2137]

Nice video. Very instructional. I love it. I wish I had a boat just like yours to do what you did. Are you left-handed? I am right-handed and am just learning I need left-handed reels so I can handle the pole with my dominant right hand and reel with my weaker left hand. Thus I need a left-hand crank reel.

[@nwinter2752]

Left hand reels go on sale more often because no one buys them.

[@j.r.montgomery6843]

Enjoying your channel good info I was wondering what rods are you using?

[@spiltmilt]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/kHLCc6KbrdiVh7s

[@swatefishing]

🔥

[@brianpiegsa8165]

Hey I have problems catching Kokanee, but I have a paddle kayak. I’m thinking it could be a speed factor. Wondering if you have caught Kokanee paddling instead of peddling before. Thanks for all the info, love seeing kayaks catching Kokanee .

[@spiltmilt]

Yes I caught them paddling in the past. Make sure you have a gps and watch your speed.

[@basstard4639]

@@spiltmilt hello. I really appreciate the videos and info. Have you ever fished at alder lake for kokanee?

[@travisfoster242]

How do you determine up lake vs down lake? At Merwin would up lake be at the end next to Yale?

[@spiltmilt]

Yes up lake would be towards Yale

[@tom-ul6gz]

Would it work with bell sinkers or do they have to be round

[@spiltmilt]

U can use any shape?

[@wanderingaquatics5888]

Do you know if buffalo lake on the coville tribe has Kokanee

[@spiltmilt]

Yes it does

[@mst34446]

How does water temperature play into how you fish ? If the ice just came off the reservoir is there a certain water temperature it needs to be before you can catch them trolling ?

[@spiltmilt]

I catch them right after ice out. I might troll a little slower 1.2 to 1.3 mph.

[@outdoorswithclem6671]

Hey what is the brand of the rod holders and system you have on your kayak?

[@spiltmilt]

RAM Mounts. This video goes over the mounts and has links to the products on the bottom. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bonVomakYrufors

[@bhoyt4530]

Is it possible to catch them from shore? I'm from Hawaii and moving to Lake whatcom and want to catch some kokanee.

[@spiltmilt]

No generally not possible.

[@milomarcille2488]

A 17” lower lake lunker!

[@wcbscout]

Just went out to Green Peter Reservoir in Oregon on 5/3/2019, the Kokanee were being caught by Jigging at 350' or more near the dam. I would never have thought they went that deep, and I didn't have that much line on my basic rods. Was trolling middle of the reservoir and fingers in a Hobie Outback with no luck, do you suspect they could have been in the shallows as well on Green Peter Reservoir at this time even though they were being caught at 350' plus near the dam?

[@spiltmilt]

Its very common for me to be fishing in less than 15' of water near the bottom for spring kokanee. It does vary by reservoir.

[@wcbscout]

​@@spiltmilt​thanks for the reply, I am grateful for the information; I enjoy your content as well as all the insight you provide, I appreciate the effort you make to publish such content. Keep up the great work.

[@wcbscout]

@@DoodleKaboodle , That's great, hope your next fishing trip is an epic one.

[@scottpayton6691]

I see the Santiam rods and Swate rods often in your videos. Do you prefer one over the other? I have not found either locally. Thanks

[@spiltmilt]

I prefer the Santiam. They are available online bit.ly/3e8ItAK

[@scottpayton6691]

@@spiltmilt Awesome, I was leaning towards Santiam because of the 4 piece rod option. Thanks

[@kevinwest4488]

swate blueback rods? how they perform on larger fish?

[@spiltmilt]

Never used them on larger fish. They went of business anyway.

[@bluegill2030]

What lake are you at?

[@daleleavitt]

I live in Japan but am heading to Central WA soon for 3 months to chase kokanee. Has anyone ever tried kokanee sushi or sashimi?

[@spiltmilt]

Yup it's delicious kzbin.info/www/bejne/foW9Xp17hd6lrNU

[@tomc.6073]

and... NO FREEKING WIND!!!!!! Cheers,

[@oleksandrobzhylov8445]

When is the best time of year to catch kokanee? I live in Idaho.

[@spiltmilt]

May thru early August

[@thangquanteecom]

wow dude. you got some just making the video

[@briggs13a]

What kind on kayak is that?

[@spiltmilt]

Hobie Revolution

[@TheProvertskater]

motor shy? you know how many jump inches from our boat could of sworn one about landed in our boat it was so close. we usually pull out 15-20 pulls of line out and troll 3-4 oz weight silver and white dodgers does the best

[@davidk2137]

Here is an idea. You have fished Kokanee in many lakes making your videos. How about going to each of those many videos and add (Paulina, Odell, or whatever) in the video title? We would all be very grateful and you wouldn't be giving away your secrets ..... if they were all disclosed. Thanks, I hope you are agreeable.

[@Practice_makes_real]

It's SCIENCE!!

[@fedup7416]

What is your daily limit? Looks like a lot.

[@spiltmilt]

10

[@fedup7416]

@@spiltmilt. Ares here in BC. Canada are only 5. We have pretty strict restrictions on most fish.

[@knurri]

@@fedup7416 It depends what waterbody you are on.

[@timmoore6055]

@@fedup7416 In Oregon we have some lakes with a 5 fish limit, and some with a 25 fish limit for kokanee. High limit lakes = smaller fish. But they all eat just fine.

[@mrselfdestruct1180]

I’m confused man, why the heavy gear, and why don’t you set the hook?

[@spiltmilt]

Nothing heavy featured here. The boat sets the hook for you.

[@mrselfdestruct1180]

@@spiltmilt I understand now that they have soft mouths. Makes sense

[@davidgriffin2310]

V

[@facelessfishermen9249]

Fishing with two poles ? Not where I live

[@josezepeda5087]

If its california you can run two rods . And 1 in the ocean .all you want on the beach

[@heazy87]

save some of thos kokanee for everyone else...

[@mrselfdestruct1180]

Those are three pretty big and vague categories buddy. That’s fishing any fish 😂😂😂 that’s like saying “ Rocket Science is simple, it comes down to three principles, thrust, aerodynamics, and materials.” Just dumb man. But….. you did a good job explaining nuances and still had good information. Kudos for that.

[@gordonmcds]

What lake is this?

[@spiltmilt]

Conconully Reservoir