Kokanee 2024 Watch the Finder -- Flaming Gorge

[@rickycook1289]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us!

[@doafish]

my pleasure

[@doafish]

it will only get better when the water warms up a bit. 36 degrees now. We are looking for 45 to get really hot.

[@rickycook1289]

Hopefully, I can get out on the water at that time.

[@DavidBeckenholdt-vu2lu]

Cool! Love getting the 411 on kokes. We come from Wy

[@doafish]

I don’t have any problem with not chasing technology. In fact, I respect that. However, the Garmin LiveScope is in fact, a game changer. Yes, it has its challenges, but seeing real-time fish or NOT seeing fish when your finder shows fish under the boat is tough to swallow. Now when I see fish on the Garmin, I 100 % know they are there.

[@Sandz_]

Thanks for sharing your insight and adventures on Flaming Gorge. Like many others, I struggled finding Kokanee last year. In hindsight, I was doing exactly what you said - using the same baits, in the same colors, in the same areas that I did 20 years ago and expecting success. I should have spent more time educating myself and locating fish. I have a lot of learning to do still, but I'm looking forward to it!

[@tri_nofeet]

Way to go Don! I agree with you 1000 % about the Kokannee patterns have changed due the water let off to Powell. On a side note, people can believe the reports and go fish Jordanelle or strawberry. Less traffic for us :)

[@doafish]

I get it.

[@leshamilton6657]

Nice work Don! Your are the master!

[@doafish]

I actually found quite good numbers of kokanees which is pleasing to be sure.

[@leshamilton6657]

Good to hear. We moved to Vernal last year and my expeditions have been marginal at best :). Great info...thanks!

[@doafish]

@@leshamilton6657 I hope you will be able to spend more time over the mountain.

[@FishSteelerChronicles]

Nice episode Don. Thanks for sharing your tips.

[@doafish]

I am happy to do so. Thanks for watching!

[@edwardmoller199]

Don, thanks for your detailed info, I fish Kokanee in the state of Idaho, I have a lowrance HDS sonar and chose not to purchase the newer forward looking models currently on the market, it is just a personal thing with me , I feel my catch rate has not suffered as a result of my decision I still put all the fish I want in the boat. I have a fairly good grasp of Kokanee fishing and don’t feel I need to upgrade. Besides that I still feel I’m giving the fish a sporting chance😂 perhaps I’m only fooling myself? I also pass on to other fishermen what ever knowledge I have to those who want it, I have learned over the years that I can’t catch all the fish in any given lake so I’m certain they won’t either ,so any secrets I divulge won’t effect me or the fishery. Thanks for being there with your teachings that’s how we all have learned to be better sportsmen.

[@czeigler2438]

looks like a great time of year to be there

[@adamm4104]

Great to know! I’ll go order some. Thanks for the information!

[@DaveM-li3fv]

Great show! Thank’s

[@daveanddenisereynolds6791]

Great video. Thanks Don

[@doafish]

Thanks Dave. I thought you may have winter killed, Nice to hear from you!

[@toddsinks611]

Sounds good. Thanks!

[@ryaneakin7181]

It was a pleasure to meet you this morning. Will you do a video on how you target Lake trout with Live bait?

[@doafish]

No I won't do that type of video. Unless i am mistaken, you cannot use live bait in Utah. I can't be sure about Wyoming but in my experience, when we are releasing "unharmed" 99 percent of the larger (over 25 inches) lake trout that we catch, I shutter to think how much mortality there would be if we were allowed to use live bait. i have used live bait for pan fish in states that allow it and certainly in the ocean, but not here and never for lake trout.

[@ryaneakin7181]

@@doafish sorry autocorrect got me on that one…. I meant Glide bait.

[@Steelhead-p6c]

Great video do you do charters I’d like to bring my two sons out there we’re from Connecticut and Fish for Lake Trout and Kokanee over here but nothing like you have out there

[@doafish]

I am not a guide but would be happy to assist you depending on when you will be here. Email me at [e-mail] to see if something might work out. Thanks for the comment.

[@Steelhead-p6c]

Thanks so much kind of a dream fishing trip for me. Not sure when yeah but we’ll plan out something looked at strawberry reservoir campground, which looks pretty good for Kokanee fishing not sure if they have the jumbo lake trout like they do at the gorge. Have a great season !! Looking forward to more videos

[@erichunter14]

Nice! How deep were you finding the kokes? I seem to hear they are pretty shallow in the spring like in the top 20’??

[@doafish]

I found them in 30 to 50 feet.

[@micbarca9777]

Don love your videos. They've really helped me in general since we moved to Utah 3 years ago. I work as a middle school teacher in Kanab and our spring break is next week. Thinking about finally heading to Flamming Gorge. Any recommendations on where I should launch? I have a kayak with a trolling motor that I use on lake Powell mostly so I'm equipped to cover some water trolling and I have a graph so I can find fish. Just looking for the best place to launch and camp for a few days. Hoping to troll up some lake trout and maybe get into some Kokanee. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

[@doafish]

I would launch at Sheep Creek. You should be able to camp on King Fisher Island or Hideout campground both are on the water. I am in Idaho most of this week so I don’t know about all the conditions but will be returning by Thursday.

[@micbarca9777]

@doafish thank you Don this is extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. I'll let you know how it goes. Will be keeping an eye on weather, winter won't let go here in Kanab (had a little snow yesterday) and our ranch south of Dixie and Bryce is still snowed in.

[@charlierahner2141]

trolling with the electric and not the kicker???

[@doafish]

I have a112-pound thrust on my ulterra with 2 36 volt lithium batteries wired in parallel so I get 15 hours on the water without using the kicker. much quieter all around.

[@burkebuckalew1772]

Have you noticed a difference in your catch rate using your electric vs gas trolling motor? Speaking in terms of noise the fish can feel.

[@adamm4104]

Great Kokanee! Looks like a lot of fun! Just curious what size your skateboard flashers are? Who makes them?

[@doafish]

Adam, I use Dakota dodgers 4.5 inches long. They are sold by Lakeshore Tackle Co. If you don't know them, you can find them on Facebook. Christenson's Tackle, Ned's Bait Box or Lakeshore Tackle

[@toddsinks611]

Hi Don. I just subscribed to your channel. I have a similar Lund boat and it appeared like you were using a Brew City Pole Mount for your livescope. I have the same sporttrack on my Lund and was wondering where you purchased the bracket to then mount the pole? Thanks for sharing!

[@doafish]

The mount is a 90 degree Bro Craft. They sell 45 and 90 depending on your boat. I hope that helps.

[@toddsinks611]

Does it work good?

[@doafish]

@@toddsinks611 if I had to do it again I would have purchased the bro craft model that has a larger aluminum pad like the one you can see on any one of my downriggers. It is larger and therefore much more stable. But, the one that came with my Brew City still works fine.

[@rossnielsen2033]

Thanks Don! Nice Lund! Didn’t realize that you were not fishing in your bass boat. What speed do you troll those larger dodgers?

[@toddsinks611]

Hi Don. I just subscribed to your channel. I have a similar Lund boat and it appeared like you were using a Brew City Pole Mount for your livescope. I have the same sporttrack on my Lund and was wondering where you purchased the bracket to then mount the pole? Thanks for sharing!

[@boundlessbryce5970]

I've had problems with line twist trolling spinning rods, how do you mitigate that?

[@doafish]

Great question. line twist of some sort is inevitable when dealing with spinning reels. However, if you choose to use a braided line, line twist is normally not an issue. In my case, I used braid until this year which made it easier for me than others. Having said that, you must use swivels and "NEVER tie directly to the line without them. I actually have swivels upon swivels. Also, you should try to put line on your reels the same direction it comes of the spool. If you put new line on and then cut it so it hangs from the end of your rod, if it twists up instead of laying flat, you know you are messed up BEFORE you even begin to troll. Lastly, the more expensive reels like Quantum, Shimano, Daiwa, and others have anti-twist versions that do in fact help. In the end though, if you line twist up, here is trick to make it straight again. Mind a stretch of water where you can be by yourself, then, put your boat in gear and let out the twisted line behind your boat. Let it go all the way to the backing and once there, drag it behind your boat for up to 1/4 of a mile. The line will straighten and to test it, reel it back in and see. I have had to do it twice a few times but it does work so you don't have to throw away the twisted line. I hope that helps.

[@chubbrock659]

Those spinners seemed kind of gimmicky to me at first but I keep seeing people be successful with them, do you like them so far?

[@doafish]

This was the first time using them They caught fish and stayed right with the "pink lady" as I named it. I did turn a little quick once or twice and it got caught up in the dodger. But, it really did catch fish so I will keep it in my boat.

[@fishinutah3394]

Perfect! So all the reports are of doom for our kokanee. All the poor schlubs out there using traditional 2D sonar can't find or catch anything. Then you put out a Livescope video showing how you can find and stay on the kokes with it. Oh, and you tell everyone that you've had no problem finding and catching them over the last few years. I know you've had Livescope for awhile and I won't argue as to its effectiveness and current legality, your video shows that, but I will contend that it's not a tremendously ethical way to chase fish and with its increased usage will likely bring about a destruction of our fisheries or cause a seismic shift in management. Livecope technology is a totally different animal than 2D sonar whereby you can find fish, track them relentlessly and observe their behavior to presentations until you catch them (don't tell me "they still have to bite" - if you can see them, you can get them to bite 90%+). It's not unlike using spotlights, drones, or trail cameras to track and hunt animals. These practices have all been found to be unfair chase and have been restricted by DWR. The controversy rages on!

[@Liberalsareaplague]

😂 not ethical?? Bro livescope, in absolutely no way, assists you in getting the fish to bite. I had numerous experiences on eleven mile reservoir this ice season where I had hundreds of kokanee swarming my jigging machine for 20 minutes or longer, but they absolutely refused to bite anything. Livescope is just another tool, picking up the areas that your traditional 2d sonar can’t see. It’s just there to aid in finding the fish, getting the finicky fish to bite is the real challenge