How to Catch Kokanee: The Kokanee Formula Part 2

For more great instructional Kokanee fishing videos click here: bit.ly/3eADeto
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 those smaller but important details that are key to dialing the in Kokanee formula. Be sure to subscribe to keep up to date on my latest fishing adventures and educational videos.
Links to tackle discussed in the video above.
Recommended Glass Rods:
- Swate Blueback : bit.ly/2Jtdd2K
- Eagle Claw Feather Light Kokanee Rod: amzn.to/2IZFpJU
Recommended Graphite Rods:
- Swate Local 8' ML: bit.ly/323fwR5
- Ugly Stik Elite 7' Med: amzn.to/2Nk1reD
Recommended Line Counter Reels:
- Daiwa Lexa 100 LC: amzn.to/2XfAQUx
- Daiwa Accudepth 17 LC: amzn.to/2XiCjcC
Recommended Line:
- Maxima 10 lb Ultragreen: amzn.to/2ZVYfqY
Recommended Lures and Dodgers:
Kokanee dodgers and lures used in this video are made by Paulina Peak Tackle: paulinapeaktackle.com/
Recommended Scents:
All scents and oils used in this video are my by Pro-cure you can order direct here: bit.ly/2xiGd5R
Thanks for watching and be sure to subscribe!

[@makapa2u]

Cousin just got his kayak and shared your KZbin with him to get started yak fishing- I have been fishing out of mines for 5 years so it’s easier if he just watches your Video !!!

[@jeffreylitishin9035]

Hey Tyler thanks for all your great videos. With your teaching I went from never trolling before to catching my first 3 Kokanee and limiting on trout this past Friday over here in Connecticut. I was trolling out of my pedal kayak with dropper rigs. Thanks again for the quality videos!

[@spiltmilt]

That is awesome! I've always wanted to catch a Connecticut Kokanee

[@mhawker]

This looks like Deep Lake, awesome back drop and great place to cliff dive.

[@TwoStageTrigger]

I've got 2 ugly stick striper rods. For me they are for multi purpose trolling: lake trout, walleye, kokanee. They work great because they are strong but have sensitive tips. I used a 6oz weight attached to a barrel swivel so my line could slide through and set my dodgers 4ft back with pink hoochies. I caught 8 kokanee (+2 that got off at the surface) and 1 rainbow. Watching these videos helped alot for getting my line down to depth. They were at 70ft down in late august.

[@cowboy-quill]

Man oh man!!! Found myself listening at work and then had to find a notepad to make sure to write these tips down lol found if I write them down I remember things alot better haha Another fabulous video sir!! Deff notice myself going to your videos for anything I might be missing!!!!

[@jesparza602]

This 2 part segment is great. Thanks for all the info. I don't think I'm buying the downriggers anymore.

[@stevenderusha6421]

Another great video. Thanks for bringing us fishing on these beautiful lakes a d sharing your knowledge. Great info.

[@timschwarze8209]

Thanks for sharing! Thanks also for explaining why you do what you do. The mark of a good teacher....willing to share and explaining it clearly.

[@donrock9776]

Beautiful backdrop for our video. Thanks for sharing!

[@QuestFishingAdventures]

Great informative video as usual!

[@stuhill2565]

Really enjoy these Kokanee videos you've released. After trial and error I got the 3 circles lined up and caught my first kokanees, bagging 3 and losing 7. Running stiff rods with braid did not help my cause so I've upgraded my gear and should have a better catch ratio. Thanks for the work you put into these videos. It's much appreciated. Stu

[@spiltmilt]

Happy to help!

[@tonyzuniga7484]

Awesome tips! Merci bien! Good for the lakes up here in BC

[@kevinwest4488]

great tip on the steelhead plug rods..

[@BC-ue3ku]

Great content once again and man look at that classic Eastern Washington view! Amazing

[@BC-ue3ku]

snakeriverfisher there is a deep lake in western wa by Enumclaw as well. This is a different deep lake.

[@stevo19911991]

I love the blue glow of your rods

[@magwamagwa45110]

Great video well explained thank you for sharing

[@pops1781]

Thank you for this outstanding series of videos! So helpful.Am wondering about that dodger organizer you showed .Looks like the perfect way to protect and keep organized your gear.Who makes that???Your videos are inspiring and the time you take to share your experiences I can't thank you enough.

[@salmonkiller2545]

The great debate… corn vs Berkeley gulp maggots….. I agree on the 50-50 catch rate….. Now you can buy the gulp in pink, natural and white on Amazon… Just buy all three once a year and call it good. I still mix up some corn and tuna and bring it… but the gulps are much simpler, stay on the hook longer and is not as messy… I have crushed corn all over the floor of my boat from last time I went..lol I noticed you don’t wear gloves when fishing?? I buy boxes of black latex gloves!! Also I’m meticulous about keeping my gear clean….. I clean all my gear with non-ultra lemon joy.. I have a scrubber brush and bottle filled with it on my boat.

[@sanfordswanson4950]

Love all your great tips for fishing.Have you done a video on your top five favorite places to fish for Kokenee in Washington?

[@spiltmilt]

I don't have a top 5 video but I have a top 10 kokanee blog which includes several of my all time favorite Washington lakes. www.oldtowncanoe.com/blog/article/top-ten-kayak-kokanee-fisheries

[@hannibalgrim]

Thats one of my home lakes. Recognized it right away. I live in Portland. Sub'd.

[@jayirvine2693]

Great videos

[@verdeanpetersen8350]

Great video, I also like using scents, have had great success using oil from sardines, give it a try.

[@Youmissedthejoke26]

Hey Love the videos! I have a few Kokanee lakes near me. I’m not real good at locating areas that contain fish. Can you do a video on what you look for in lake topography when chasing Kokanee and would you use the same for all landlocked salmon species?

[@andrewm6666]

'ALL the oils EXPLODE in their mouths and they want to commit.'

[@joncalvo3591]

I think this is Deep Lake way down from Blue Lake. Fished it in 1959 and caught my first trout.

[@spiltmilt]

yup

[@marisolvelazquez1426]

Great video! My husband enjoyed watching thanks for sharing...beautiful lake. What lake it is?

[@zoolmakesmusic4920]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us. Very comprehensive and clear. I was wondering if you apply scents to the maggot bait as well.

[@spiltmilt]

Yes I apply scents to the Berkley maggots too

[@rookiehooksetslt3352]

I want to start Kokanee fishing. Your videos are excellent Thanks.Can you use a barrel swivel instead of bead chain?

[@Excuse_me_do_you_meme_me]

I’ve been waiting for this!! Also...first comment! Yes!

[@jeffreylitishin9035]

Thanks for all the videos. Would you consider doing a video of how to use a fish finder for a beginner that has never used one, including set up on kayak?

[@spiltmilt]

I will put that on my list of to do's. I do have a video on installing a fishfinder here. kzbin.info/www/bejne/h3W7h6CmdsRnhac

[@jeffreylitishin9035]

@@spiltmilt Thank you so much. Very excited to try my luck on Mount Desert Island in September. Just got a Sayer Propel 10.

[@830pc209]

👍🏼 great video, as always. Can’t wait to apply all this info and start catching more kokes. I’m still wanting to know if you ever used the Shuttle Hawk on a downrigger.

[@spiltmilt]

I don't because it doesn't always deploy properly on the braided downrigger line I use.

[@830pc209]

@@spiltmilt Thank you for the reply. Makes sense to me now. A lot more friction with the braided line over the steel cable. I’ll still mine a try and make modifications to the device to see if I can make it work reliably. Love the content. Keep it up.

[@fishgrubblades9835]

Nice 👍

[@markwhitlock2427]

Cool place. Haven't been there in about 40 years.

[@markwhitlock2427]

Our group of juvenile delinquents limited every day for about 3 days there.

[@jimb7710]

Thanks!

[@spiltmilt]

Thanks Jim!

[@kevinwest4488]

of all the gangtrolls..which one do you think worx best for trout and kokanee?

[@chriswerner6155]

Great videos Tyler. I have a Livingston with at trolling motor, its a little noisy. How far back should I let the line out to fish for these fish? Do you have any pointers to know how deep you are when out on the lake?

[@spiltmilt]

I always recommend a 100' setback for loud motors. I have a video that better explains using lead to target deeper fish. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pHuoYXupnqiFes0

[@NexGenExley]

Great video, thank you! What dodger storage case are you using?

[@spiltmilt]

It’s from a company called lure safe

[@albertearl1912]

How do you organize all your dodgers?

[@davidlarson8280]

Any opportunity to get video with closed caption? Lots of valuable information but hard to understand occasionally.

[@djgmix916]

Great video.. was gonna order some of the techni stran bumpers but also see the techni stran leaders. And what lengths do you recommend. I’m fishing out of boat with down rigger and free lining. What advice can you give on Those

[@spiltmilt]

I like the 18" bumpers

[@djgmix916]

Spilt Milt Productions cool thanks.. will order them and other stuff from that site.. also that glass blue rod.. is it still available.. where can I get that? Hope one day u make it up to Nevada or northern Cali we have lots of good lakes with kokes and locally we have the famed Pyramid lake up here 20 Mins from my home.. mondo giant cuttys that get up to 20 pound plus

[@Grumpyoldman60]

It must be tough being a fucking authority!

[@TheHappySmileyFace12]

Is that banks lake?

[@terryd2634]

Great videos. What kind and size hooks are you using ?

[@spiltmilt]

2 or 4 is the most common size

[@timschwarze8209]

Tyler, can you use those same rods when you go for sockeye or do step it up a bit?

[@spiltmilt]

They work fine for Sockeye BUT if there are any Kings around I'll step up to the graphite or heavier glass rods.

[@larryb5201]

Great videos. Thank you, I appreciate it very much. I've always been unsure about how deep I actually am. For example if my counter says 30 feet, I would assume I'm less than that considering trolling speed, weight, etc. Any advise on finding the proper depth?. Thanks again for the videos.

[@spiltmilt]

The rough rule I use for 10 lb monofilament at 1.5 mph is 10' of depth for every ounce of weight with 100' of line out. So 1 oz at 100' of line equals 10', 2 oz 20', 3' oz 30', and so on. On turns the inside rod will drop another 10' or so.

[@white93nsx]

Excellent tutorial. How far back do you let out the line on your counter when you troll?

[@spiltmilt]

It depends on how deep I want to go.

[@white93nsx]

@@spiltmilt how about a rule of thumb on 10, 20, and 30 feet? How much weight do you also use if you go about 1-1.5 mph? Thanks

[@PlunkinPLug]

If using an Eagle Claw feather light rod, how big of a lead can you use? I use from 2-4oz cannonball.

[@spiltmilt]

4 oz would be top end for me on the 8' EC featherlight.

[@cryptocash2529]

Where did you get that nice dodger holder that folds up

[@spiltmilt]

Lure Safe makes them. They are based out of Brewster, WA.

[@seibrav]

Just getting set up for trolling kokanee in a paddle kayak. Are you available as a guide? I'm in southern Oregon.

[@spiltmilt]

I don't guide sorry

[@mattnelson6677]

I notice sometimes you share the lake you are on and other times you don’t. I’m just curious if it’s intentional. If not can you please share? I would just like to visit that last it’s beautiful. We live in Seattle but just purchased a cabin in the Okanogan/Omak area. Thank you, I love your videos

[@spiltmilt]

Deep Lake

[@mattnelson6677]

Thank you!!!

[@chillipphi]

Have you ever used dehydrated corn as a base? Can make it at home in a dehydrator

[@spiltmilt]

I have not.

[@jaredschutz727]

where do you find all those different color hoochies? I have been on paulina peaks website and others and can't find a selection like that

[@spiltmilt]

Check out Deadly Venom Tackle as well deadly-venom-tackle.myshopify.com/collections/bulk-hoochies

[@kayakangler7683]

Those rock walls are incredible. Beautiful lake! When does your new kayak arrive?

[@spiltmilt]

Not sure yet hoping find out soon.

[@kayakangler7683]

The new 2020 Old Town Predator PDL is available starting today (July 1, 2019). Looks amazing and the price dropped. Old Town is going Hobie hunting!

[@RoxnDox]

kayakangler76 Those walls are stacked lava flows , the Columbia River Basalts from 14-17 million years ago. You’re looking at the top of approximately 300 flows, they piled up a depth of around 15,000 feet to create the plateau. Then the Ice Age floods created the scablands channels and coulees including this lake. We have a cool geological history in Washington! Tyler, thanks for a great video.

[@timross7046]

Do you ever use the leo flasher for kokanee

[@spiltmilt]

No it doesn't operate correctly at Kokanee trolling speeds

[@Kephers7]

are you just using shoepeg corn? or did you add some kind of cure to it?

[@Kephers7]

answered at the very end :P

[@MTsubfly]

what kayak do you recommend looking into? I've been using my 10ft costco special (i have to paddle) I struggle getting kokanee, I did outfit with a Garmin Stiker 4 this year, and need to pick up a weight dropper to try out.

[@spiltmilt]

I recommend the Old Town Canoe and Kayak Sportsman PDL 106 or 120. Very stable, easy to maintain troll speeds, some of the most affordable pedal kayaks on the market, and great warranty program.

[@MTsubfly]

Thanks for your reply, I'm going to look into those! I did buy a ball chain and weight dropper today -getting ready to hone in on them kokes.

[@markwilliams4215]

do you have a top 10 or top 5 kokanee lake list for WA state?

[@spiltmilt]

I don't have a Washington state specific list but my favorites would be: 1.) Lake Roosevelt 2.) Lake Merwin 3.) Upper Conconully 4.) Lake Stevens 5.) Deep Lake 6.) Curlew Lake 7.) Wapato Lake 8.) Lake Chelan 9.) Lake Meridian 10.) Spectacle Lake

[@lawrenceblue8207]

Do you have an opinion? Hobie Pro Angler Rigging Series.

[@spiltmilt]

I don't like the Pro Angler. Too heavy, expensive, and slow

[@Badkharma21]

The fish must hit out of reaction? If they are filter feeders, then it makes no sense why they'd hit a minnow imitation otherwise unless they chase bait around...

[@spiltmilt]

They are opportunistic feeders as well and will eat other invertebrates such as freshwater shrimp, insects, and on occasion small fish

[@boba-mg5md]

When ur making ur spring corn do u mix ur krill and shrimp together or separate

[@spiltmilt]

Together

[@marthaparisidirksen2432]

Love the videos! I've been kokanee fishing for more than 25 years and have always used cowbells until recently. But, since I fish Paulina Lake, which is just at the base of Paulina Peak, I have to comment on your pronunciation: it's Paul-EYE-na.😂 That said, I have a question that I hope you can answer. Recently, I was kokanee fishing at Paulina Lake and did not do at all well. I use an inflatable kayak for a variety of reasons, so my trolling is all done with a paddle and I maintain a speed of 1.2 - 1.6 mph with as many slow S-curves as I can manage. On advice from another fisherman, I affixed reflective material to both sides of the paddle blades to aid visibility. This stuff is what would be used if you were making your own dodgers. Is it possible that the addition of this reflective tape is spooking the fish as I paddle? I am trying to blame something, obviously, since changing out the tackle didn't have a marked impact on my results. I didn't add the tape until this year and last year I did much better. Thanks in advance for your feedback and I hope you took no offense to my pronunciation comment.

[@spiltmilt]

Unless the fish are near surface I don't the extra flash would have any affect. No offense on the pronunciation. I like to remind everyone who points this out that only people in central Oregon pronounce it that way and the rest of the world says it correctly, especially anyone with any Latin language training. 😂

[@marthaparisidirksen2432]

Haha, must be an Orygun thing, then. Thanks for responding, I appreciate it.

[@Jonathan-wo6kf]

What landing net are you using?

[@spiltmilt]

Ranger nets rubber coated nylon nets

[@zacharypedersen4090]

What brand of monofilament do you use?

[@spiltmilt]

Maxima Ultragreen

[@philiptrump8472]

I noticed in most if not all of your kokanee videos you use left retrieve reel on your port side and right retrieve reel on your starboard. I'm guessing that's deliberate. Could you speak to the reasonings behind this? I really enjoy your videos! I'm new to kayak kokanee fishing. I just bought my first rig and it's a low profile cold water with right retrieve. I'm thinking about buying a second one and was wondering if I should buy a left retrieve. Thank you, Phil of North Bend

[@spiltmilt]

It makes it easier to reel up while the rod is in the rod holder.

[@philiptrump8472]

@@spiltmilt Okay thank you that's what I was thinking. I'm using Scotty rod holders which are very similar to yours so I might go with a left handed for my second setup.

[@stevebaptiste1284]

Can you give out the name of your blue rods, length & weight

[@spiltmilt]

Swate Blueback, 8', Med-Light, swate.com/product/fiberhammer-blueback-trolling-rods/

[@lickitysplitquick]

Do you have a filllet knife recommendation?

[@spiltmilt]

Yes kzbin.info/www/bejne/fZXKlZWKZ8uckM0

[@jacobdalecrow564]

Is that a non-motor lake?

[@spiltmilt]

No

[@kirkweik4042]

Can you send me the link for those blue kokanee rods?

[@spiltmilt]

No longer in production. Check out these instead. Just as good. bit.ly/3e8ItAK

[@sueschultheis3145]

I just picked up 2 of the swate fiberhammer blueback rods at north 40,,,on sale $75…is this the same rod as you were using here?

[@daosayasingful]

bro.... where did you get those cool rode holder???

[@spiltmilt]

RAM Mounts RAM Rod HD rod holder www.rammount.com/part/RAP-433-421

[@stinkopants]

With Kokanee often being deep and cold, do you find the time of day to not affect the bite as much as shallower fish like trout? Or morning/evening still significantly better?

[@spiltmilt]

I still find the morning and evening bite to best. I do believe Kokanee are inherently crepuscular.

[@jerillarhen]

Good video, you might work on your enunciation of Paulina so us Central Oregonians don't cringe every time you say it. Like I saw in an earlier comment I am not so sure about kokes being all that boat shy, there have been many days that my most productive rod is long lined with 1 or 2 ounces of lead 30' out straight down the propwash off my 22' aluminium boat.

[@IREFUSE9]

Are Kokanee put off by kayak paddling?

[@spiltmilt]

I don't think so.

[@TheRyan12576]

I have to disagree with the motor noise, I fish Lake Billy Chinook and i see kokanee jumping right next to the boat and also see fish on my fish finder 5 feet under the boat trolling. Motor noise plays no part i have caught fish 5 feet right under the boat trolling

[@spiltmilt]

How do you catch fish at 5' right under the boat?

[@TheRyan12576]

@@spiltmilt trolling motor in neutral had ford fender with wedding ring dangling few feet under the water while untangling two other poles. When we were put the motor in gear and as soon as we started to moving a kokanee came up and took the wedding ring. It happened once but it did

[@kenbob126]

what lake is this?

[@spiltmilt]

Deep Lake, Grant Co., WA state

[@tadsklallamn8v]

what lake is that? It's gaaaahgeous

[@spiltmilt]

Deep Lake Grant Co Washington

[@atlasfishing9694]

is there a reason why you reel so slow, i'm guessing cause how easy they get off

[@spiltmilt]

Slow and steady pressure results in a higher landing ratio

[@atlasfishing9694]

@@spiltmilt Thanks

[@outdoorsy2603]

Bro should be called the "kkk" kokanee killer king

[@Grumpyoldman60]

lube your noisy kyack peddles. it's annoying.

[@spiltmilt]

Trust me it was lubed. Mirage drives are just noisy which is why I got rid of them and went with a quieter pedal drive from Old Town.

[@robbjoyce]

I would’ve told him to just keep scrolling, learning lots from your videos. Thanks.