Lake Chelan Lower Basin Kokanee Chaos

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Lake Chelan is one of the most popular Kokanee in central Washington. In early summer large numbers of Kokanee migrate down lake and feed in the lower basin directly in front of the town of Chelan. Targeting fish in this relatively shallow water is much easier than elsewhere in the lake where fish will often spread throughout the water column.
First Light Tackle Line-up:
- PPT Peak Performer Dodger Wonderbread: paulinapeaktackle.com/shop/ol...
- PPT Pink Glow Micro-minnow Spinner: paulinapeaktackle.com/shop/ol...
- PPT Peak Performer Dodger Chelan Sunrise: paulinapeaktackle.com/shop/ol...
- PPT Orange UV Glow Microhoochie: paulinapeaktackle.com/shop/ol...
Full Sun Tackle Line-up:
- PPT Peak Performance Lite Purple Haze: paulinapeaktackle.com/shop/ol...
- PPT Pink Pink/Purple Micro-hoochie: paulinapeaktackle.com/shop/ol...
- PPT Big Hammered 5.5" Gold Pink Stripe Big I Dodger: paulinapeaktackle.com/shop/ol...
- PPT Platinum Flutterbug Moon/Gold: paulinapeaktackle.com/shop/ol...
Other Tackle Featured:
- Snaps: amzn.to/38c2tEz
- Assortment of Lead Free Weights are Great!: amzn.to/3MXmH3L
- Cannon Uni-troll 5 Downrigger: amzn.to/3oYX4Jp
- Mack's Shuttlehawk: amzn.to/3P0SwwK
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[@nw_angler]

The way you called that bite when eating. 😂

[@jerryberg6244]

That was a humorous episode. Thanks for sharing your passion.

[@returnofsid]

I've watched this video a few times, and have learned something new each time. I've been aware of your occasional disdain for Cutthroat, when they aren't your target species. I remember that really, in a lot of your older videos. But I never understood. I never questioned it, or understood it. This time around, it really hit me! Hahaha! That darned trout cost you your 8am limit

[@lunchbox5825]

Eat something, tie a leader gets fish, but threatening to change a lure out is magic.

[@macsmith2092]

"They're communal eaters." LMAO!!

[@faaustin]

Fun video Brother I was wondering if you’ve done a video on how you deploy your downrigger and how you deploy the Shuttle Hawk. Do you leave the D R deployed all the time and send the S H down to the D R weight? I have a mini lake troll and yes it is a pain to deploy and raise. Especially for a 72 year old fart. The Cannon 5 looks nice. Thank again bury the steel!

[@spiltmilt]

For the first deployment I clip into the downrigger direct. After that I use the shuttle hawk or stacker weights. I'll do a short video next time I'm out.

[@paulbuckles1235]

So dailed in!! Impressive to watch!!

[@3nails337]

"Kokanee hate it when you try and eat." Ain't that the truth. Or pee.

[@Northwestfishingfanatics]

Nice work. Always think about heading that way but man... It is a 3 and half hour drive.

[@kayinrolland]

That was a fun episode. Can’t wait to get up to a Chelan this week and try it out. I got all the stuff you recommended in one of your other videos but didn’t know about the flutter bug. Is there anywhere locally I could get some?

[@jamesblakely6279]

Working towards getting my first kayak going to get the old town big water pdl

[@returnofsid]

Who's Richy?? Best tip I've ever learned from you, and I've learned so so much... bring snack, because Kokanee are communal feeders!! 😂

[@spiltmilt]

Richie is the owner of Paulina Peak.

[@returnofsid]

Ahhh ok. Well, he seems to know what he's talking about! Just think, if you'd switched up to it, 6 minutes earlier, you probably would've made your limit by 8! Dang Trout! Haha

[@blakeboling8099]

Congrats on 30k! Hey do you have any preference for downrigger line as in, is stainless steel wire better or worse than braided line? Other than cost what are the pros and cons?

[@spiltmilt]

I run 80 or 100 lb braid. I prefer it for its reduced vibration and noise, less blowback, and of course in a kayak its much easier to cut in an emergency situation.

[@ronnerviani426]

Hi Tyler, thanks for all the great kokanee fishing information. Can you suggest a good fishfinder for my 17' heavy gauge aluminum boat. I will be using it mostly for Kokanee #1and trout #2. Looking for one that is easy to use but show fish marks clearly. Thank you.

[@spiltmilt]

I'd recommend the Humminbird Helix 7 Chirp GPS as it sounds like you won't be needing imaging amzn.to/42CYYgT

[@catfishman9516]

OTW

[@davidwilliams3643]

Apologize if you mentioned this, but what was your launching point?

[@spiltmilt]

Lakeside park

[@boattothebelly]

Kokanee wait until you pour coffee or eat food before they strike! It is a proven tactic 😂

[@ClintFredenberg]

Great video, so sad that that the fishing was so slow. How is your tongue by the way with it being so much in your cheek? Hehe. Are you still updating your lures with Gamakatsu Split shot drop shot? Was on Shaver Lake Ca last week and had some Kokanee success. Anyways keep them coming. and thanks.

[@spiltmilt]

Yes still upgrading to split shot drop shot. How big are the fish on Shaver this year?

[@ClintFredenberg]

@spiltmilt they were 12 to 13. Nice full bodies. One day the bite was good, but clouds created a blinding fog on the lake. The second day got just one. On the finder you could see them school in clusters at the bottom. But the rainbows loved the flutter bug.

[@fallofthe]

At 1:18 you removed some kind of weight from the line, can you please explain what it was and how it was attached... I was surprised when it came off so easily... thanks in advance for the info... Great video!

[@spiltmilt]

It’s a snap weight. I explain more in this video Why I Love Snap Weights for Kokanee Fishing kzbin.info/www/bejne/p3-0nGCKZcaJpsk

[@fallofthe]

@@spiltmilt Thanks much!

[@user-fl6et9qi1q]

is it fairly easy to replace the steel cable with braid on this down rigger?

[@spiltmilt]

It’s very easy

[@joshbenson2384]

Horrible fishing day😂. Hey looks like you're running longer leaders than usual?

[@spiltmilt]

I run long leaders on the flutter bugs so they can move on their own more. Still 6-8" for hoochies and spinners.

[@vitpav777]

I noticed you got pretty long leaders behind the flasher. How do you go by choosing leader length?

[@spiltmilt]

I run long leaders on the flutterbugs because you get better action otherwise the hoochies were all 6-8"

[@Carlb328]

Supposedly mackinaw can reach 30 pounds in Chelan.

[@dougmccoy1260]

Does it always look like kayakers need a net a foot longer?

[@spiltmilt]

Anyone who nets solo wants a longer a net, until they don't. I cut this one down because I found a longer net too unwieldy.

[@AlexRamos-yr8xw]

What oz size you using in this video?

[@spiltmilt]

4 oz

[@kylechristiansen7358]

How do you determine how much weight to use on the snap rigs?

[@spiltmilt]

I determine by the depth I am targeting

[@kylechristiansen7358]

Ok so yesterday I was marking fish at 50' is there a formula you do to figure out how much weight it takes to get to certain depths. I was just guessing and hoping to get to the right spot. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Love your content! Thanks.

[@loganfishbeard]

Do you ever loose any of those snap weights from fish shaking them off?

[@spiltmilt]

Never. There is a little nipple inside that locks the line in.

[@loganfishbeard]

@@spiltmilt Ahh, that makes sense.

[@SequimFishBros]

I wanna see you get your new camera but I don’t need a hat. Hope to see you fish the Olympic peninsula some day! Cheers!

[@spiltmilt]

Thank you! Next year I am hoping to make it over there to Seal and Sail again.

[@richpleiss1864]

Changed your mind on the shutt.ehawk ? Fine tuned it ehh?

[@spiltmilt]

Needs some improvement. Twice snagged up on this trip and lost one a few weeks ago as it spun off. Has its advantages and disadvantages.

[@BennettBuilt-yu2gw]

Agreed… I noticed with braid as well they cut into the shuttle hawk and bind up.