Wallowa Lake Kokanee (Kokanee Across America)

Kokanee Across America Is Made Possible by:
- Paulina Peak Tackle: paulinapeaktackle.com/
- @Old Town Canoe & Kayak: oldtowncanoe.johnsonoutdoors....
With Support from:
- Humminbird: www.humminbird.com/
- Cannon Downriggers: www.cannondownriggers.com/
- ProCure Bait and Scents: www.pro-cure.com/
- Ram Mounts: www.rammount.com/
Home to several world record shattering records Wallowa Lake in northeast Oregon is known for producing giant Kokanee. The Kokanee populations and sizes in the lake are cyclical and while large numbers of 8-15" Kokanee are present in the lake this year several fish up to 7 lbs have been caught this spring. However, big changes are in the horizon as dam restoration will once again restore fish passage in this lake setting the stage for the return of anadromous Sockeye Salmon run which may spell the beginning of the end of this trophy Kokanee fishery.
Tackle used in this video:
- Paulina Peak Tackle 7'3" Kokanee rod: paulinapeaktackle.com/shop/ol...
- Paulina Peak Peak Peformance Lite Dodger Moon Pink/Purple Net: paulinapeaktackle.com/shop/ol...
- Peak Performance Dodger Silver Moon Jelly: paulinapeaktackle.com/shop/ol...
- Paulina Orange Micro-hoochie: paulinapeaktackle.com/shop/ol...
- Paulina UV Orange/Chartreuse Spinner: paulinapeaktackle.com/shop/ol...
- Gulp Maggots: amzn.to/3NgzSNi
- Pro Cure Water Soluble Krill: amzn.to/3w75MpM
- Pro Cure Water Soluble Shrimp: amzn.to/3a1zsfH
- Pro Cure Water Soluble Anise: amzn.to/39gDMXI
Kayak & accessories:
- Old Town Salty 120 PDL Kayak: oldtowncanoe.johnsonoutdoors....
- Humminbird Helix 7 SI/DI/GPS: amzn.to/36MC8w3
- Pro-Cure Shrimp Water Soluble Oil: www.pro-cure.com/products/shr...
- @Cannon Downriggers Lake Troll: amzn.to/3wbaO4L
- Cannon 6 lb ball: amzn.to/3yzlTxZ
- Gamakatsu Split shot/Drop shot hook size 2: amzn.to/3s3gVp5
- RAM Rod HD Rod Holder: www.rammount.com/part/RAP-433...
- RAM Extension Arm: www.rammount.com/part/RAP-114....
SAVE 15% ON RAM MOUNTS WITH THE CODE "HICKS22"
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[@stingray4540]

Boaters with bad boating etiquette is one of my biggest pet peeve’s.

[@adamsnyder9347]

I love the natural history information you include in your videos. Suttle Lake is home to Oregon’s other historic Sockeye population, and similarly had a system of dams erected below it, destroying the run. There’s also a restoration effort going on in that watershed. I’m hopeful for both of those projects because I believe it’s possible to create new Kokanee fisheries, where it looks like opportunities for salmon habitat are always shrinking. Thanks again for the great content, as always.

[@thehonfleur]

That downrigger trick to cut the gear is a great idea!

[@coyakbrian3411]

Always get excited when you are in the PDL drive. I could relate. Used to think trolling in a regular boat was boring and just sitting and waiting for something to happen. Somehow it's a different feeling in the kayak when peddling. 95% of the time I just troll in my kayak. Some days I peddle for 8 hours. As always thanks for sharing!

[@jbkokanee1796]

I got my first 20" kokanee this year at Wallowa!

[@spiltmilt]

Congrats!

[@chubbrock659]

When you get to flaming gorge, you’ll potentially catch a whole bunch of lake trout “pups” while trolling, they are so heavy in there now that they are stunting and the DWR is literally begging people to take them home. There are also fish in the 30 plus range caught regularly. It’s an awesome lake!

[@macsmith2092]

As always, great video. Looks like a fun few days. Thanks for sharing.

[@donbarber5687]

A year ago I started Kokanee fishing from my kayak after a lifetime of fishing for trout, steelhead, and salmon. I moved to Joseph and this lake is on my doorstep. I basically scoured the internet and fell upon Spilt Milt videos and have learned about everything I know watching Tyler’s videos…. Fast forward to today… great morning bite and I pr’d. 23.5” long. I didn’t have a scale but I’d estimate it well over 5 pounds… it cut amazing. I broke a cardinal rule by not retying that leader and when I trolled back through where I caught the big one, I hooked up on the downrigger (the hit knocked it off the downrigger)….it broke my 10 pound maxima between the two hooks after a run…it was another giant. Anyways, thanks Tyler! Learned a ton from you watching your content! You introduced me to another fishery and I’m really enjoying it!

[@spiltmilt]

Wow! Congrats!

[@donbarber5687]

I posted some pics over on NWKA

[@donbarber5687]

@@spiltmilt thank you!

[@garymiralles614]

Great video! I saw you mentioned the world record Kokanee that was caught on a Macks Sling Blade dodger and a pee wee hoochie. I'm surprised you weren't fishing that set up.

[@wildzenventures]

Another great video! We are new to Kokanee fishing and had a tripped planned to Wallowa lake in early May but canceled it due to weather! Maybe next year, it looks beautiful.

[@hsoloman]

EARTH-SHATTERING KOKANEE. I like the sound of that!

[@spiltmilt]

I saw some pics of 7 lb Kokanee. I could feel the jealousy juice kicking in hard in my brain.

[@JJ-tf2qs]

Thanks for the video and sharing good information 👍

[@deanwilcox1698]

Good job on the video. I appreciate all the info you provided. I am going to Wallowa Lake in a couple weeks to fish for the first time.

[@billfaubion6295]

Wallowa & the town of Joseph are a long drive for most of us. That said it would be a shame to travel that far and not experience taking the tram to the top of the mountain. Four years ago it cost me $35 per adult but it was worth it! Where else & when ever will you experience a tram that goes that far up? Take a camera! Launch ramps at both ends of the lake are good. Fun to fish Wallowa. Thanks Tyler.

[@spiltmilt]

One of the most beautiful Kokanee lakes in the world

[@jasonhurdlow6607]

We've camped there many times, but never taken the tram due to the crazy price. I know lots of other people who feel the same. If they'd cut the price down to like $15 they'd end up making a lot more money.

[@Bykerboy26]

25 Kokanee holy cow! We're only allowed 4 here. I have a hard enough time trying to get a limit when I go out.

[@codygray7791]

Was there over the stormy June 4 weekend similar sale big fishing. But you scored on your last day! I had 5 over 13" 2 and a half days. Largest a nice 17" personal best. Since the water was cold i released all the small ones as well

[@donbarber5687]

Tyler, thanks for the video. Sorry for the jackasses. I live on the west side of the west moraine and have been getting similar results. Seems the bigger fish I’ve been getting have been mid-lake in 13-30 feet of water off the east moraine during the mornings for future information.

[@spiltmilt]

I tried the east shore a few times with no significant sized fish but maybe next time.

[@donbarber5687]

@@spiltmilt seems to be best before the sun peeks over the moraine.Depending on the wind, I’ve spent quite a bit of time in that same area on the west moraine. If you get a south wind, it’s not bad near the state park ramp on the west moraine side. There are some springs that empty into the lake on that end that fish tend to collect on. Kokanee fishing is a new fishery for me having just moved here two years ago. Always been a salt water kayak fisher mostly. Thanks for all the great videos! I’ve learned a ton from you!

[@smallieman1756]

@Don Barber for those not familiar with the lake’s orientation, if I’m at the state park facing the lake, which side is the east side?? I mean, I COULD just look at a map! 😂😂🤓

[@donbarber5687]

@@smallieman1756 your right more or less. It’s not a true north south orientation. The good thing about Wallowa and the wind is it either comes from the state park end or the county boat ramp…so if it’s white caps on one end, more than likely the other end is protected and fishable.

[@smallieman1756]

@DonBarber So Don, if I’m facing the lake from the state park. Based on my google earth, the east side would be the side that the road to the park is on correct? I.e. my right hand side?

[@4DDrover]

Sure hope you come to a Canada .. Castlegar BC to Kokanee fish the Arrow Lakes :-)

[@mlinder85]

Great video, always informative. The lakes in British Columbia are turning slowly because of the wet summer and we are still catching them in 10 ft of water! Odd question, but what glasses are you wearing in this video?

[@ShenpaiWasTaken]

Thanks for putting in the hours! Crazy that the limit is 25! That's so many fish! That sucks so much that some guy was cutting you off. I guess I've just been lucky with the people I fish around. Interesting idea with using the downrigger to cut off his gear.

[@hsoloman]

Has happened to me a few times in the last month. Powerboaters coming up from behind me and crossing my direction of travel in front of me. Not sure what they're thinking.

[@spiltmilt]

Sorry that sucks.

[@asully70]

I’ve only had one bad experience with PB’er, at the HOC on the Willamette. Most of them are friendly and ask questions about the kayak.

[@smallieman1756]

Excellent as alway Tyler! I will be there for 9 days starting on the 20th. We’re you out 100-150 on the surface? I’ll have my downrigger as well so fingers crossed. Thank you for posting this! Very timely!!

[@spiltmilt]

80-100’. With as many boats as were there i don’t think 150 would have worked out so well.

[@Marcg5555]

Hey there love your videos!! Been watching you now for a while. Wish you could come to California to a lake where I live called Shaver lake out of Fresno California. Great Kokanee fishing here! Anyways awesome vids and keep up the great work!

[@spiltmilt]

I wish I could fish Shaver just a really long drive

[@Marcg5555]

@@spiltmilt I totally understand! You would kill it up there though I tell you that 👍

[@michaelmercer8725]

Just a heads up, I often search the Montana FWP website and check out their sampling data. There is a lake in central Montana that produced a few Kokanee that were 25 inches and near six pounds last fall. If you are traveling all over the place searching for the lil silver fish you might swing through central Montana as well.

[@spiltmilt]

Interesting. The FWP data portal is down right now but I'll check it out.

[@MarkoAbo]

Hi Tyler! I thought kokanee were always caught in the very deepest part of lakes. Not so? I head to Wallowa every year in late July for rainbow catch and release. Great fun. Thanks, Mark

[@spiltmilt]

Absolutely not. Kokanee distribution is impacted by food resources, water temps, breeding behavior, and many other variables.

[@verdeanpetersen8350]

I would really like to see how you can kokanees

[@josephmcnally6627]

I was out there last Wednesday (6/15), I was the kayaker with the minn kota mentioned in the other comment. Got my very first kokanee, a nice 16"er and a few 10"ers. Wish I had run into you to say thanks for all the tips. I somehow avoided the DB in the PB. What net do you use? I could have had more luck but I was fighting a hooked net (not rubber coated) as the fish finder was blowing up, never again. You would have gotten a kick out of my set up with one casting rod and one spin rod with one line counter between the two. Ya make do with what ya got sometimes, thus the wrong net. Thanks for the videos.

[@spiltmilt]

Congrats on your first Kokanee. I use a Ranger Nets rubberized nylon it helps cut down on the hook snags but isn't as heavy as straight rubber

[@paulheberling9847]

Do you have any videos or discussion items that talk about the potential of raising triploid Kokanee or where is the most recent fisheries discussion on the subject? Thanks

[@Justin-zs1ql]

Bummer about the dude in the PB. The day I saw you at the Wind is the first day I really felt I was being bullied by a PB. Same guide kept cutting me off. The first time he did it he cut across the trolling lanes over 100 yds, making eye contact with me half the time, and cut in front of me within 15 yds on the exact troll line I was on. I had to stop peddling so I wouldn't be 10 yds behind his boat while his clients looked at me awkwardly like they knew he was wrong and felt bad. The annoying part is he hooked up with a springer within seconds of cutting me off. Besides that day, I've had mostly positive experiences with PBs. Most of them say my kayak looks awesome, fun and ask me how good of a work out it is. I feel bad for guys who have an elitist mentality and don't want to share information. Makes me feel like fishing is all they have and while that may or may not be true, their attitude is sad.

[@spiltmilt]

Yeah that sucks. It's a weird thing to deal with on the water. Of the thousands of interactions on the water I've had only a couple have been really bad. Most of the time people just aren't aware of what they are doing but when it's done with intent it's something else. The very first year I fished the Columbia I had a guy absolute lose it when I hooked up on a King next to him and landed it. He went crazy and started telling me I had no right to be out there and I was ruining it for everyone else. I remember laughing when he screamed "Why don't you go fish in a lake!" and drove off. The next day I went to Merwin and limited in less than an hour. I attribute my success to the positive energy he sent my way. 😂

[@queefingallday]

Hey tyler. Quick question. How do you prevent line tangles while flat lining. Especially with those tight turns. Thank you

[@spiltmilt]

I rarely have that issue but I don’t do 90 degree turns either

[@tonyh.9957]

Some ppl just are just a**ho***!!! Don't let them ruin your day!!! And if they want some than they can get some!!!!!✊👊👊

[@bartribotta1118]

Another good vid thanks for your efforts. One question I fish kokes in Tahoe as I have mentioned the surface temp is like 64-65* I release most of the fish in your opinion am I making a mistake. They all seem to swim off. Of course if they are bleeding I do keep them.

[@spiltmilt]

Above 60 F is considered sub-optimal and above 70 F is lethal. If you get them up and back down in a hurry you definitely increase their odds of survival.

[@bartribotta1118]

Thanks for the response, yes I don’t touch the and shake them off boat side.

[@jasonhurdlow6607]

Just got a boat. Guess I better get down there before the dam renovation ruins the koke fishery. 😢 Lets be honest, the sockeye in the Snake drainage are history. Wouldn't care to catch dark fish anyway.

[@spiltmilt]

I wouldn’t write those Snake River sockeye off yet. Look what they have done with the Okanogan run.

[@ericward6919]

Hi Tyler. Did you alter the boom on your downrigger to be shorter? I have a fixed length boom on my Cannon easi troll and it is a little long and kind of a pain to deal with.

[@spiltmilt]

Yes I shortened the boom

[@wubbalubbadubx2]

Tyler can you tell us about the side pocket you installed on your Salty? thanks :)

[@spiltmilt]

Berley Pro Side Bro and I love it. Mariner Sails is a good place to buy one

[@xiPootie]

What kind of bait were you using? I was up there last weekend and couldn’t catch a thing. 😩

[@spiltmilt]

Corn or Berkley Gulp Maggots

[@markmokhnach1090]

How far back do u let the rig go?

[@spiltmilt]

80-100'

[@chubbrock659]

With no weight on the line and going out 80-100’ how far down do you estimate your line is running?

[@spiltmilt]

It will depend greatly on the dodger. With the Peak Performance I am getting 5’ of drop

[@romancole2671]

Were you flat lining with weight? Also how far back on the line counter were you?

[@spiltmilt]

No weight. 80’ to 100’

[@romancole2671]

Thanks! Heading out there next week

[@dougsparks66]

I grew up on Merwin and my grandpa said "if you want bigger fish, use bigger hooks"...Do you stay with #4 year round or would #2 be okay now through spawn on Wallowa?

[@spiltmilt]

I run 2’s for larger grade fish

[@dougsparks66]

@@spiltmilt My first trip to Wallowa is this weekend...everyone says "ORANGE" lol

[@verdeanpetersen8350]

When I see bad behavior on the water I can take a picture of the boat with bow numbers, send it to my dnr and they have caught and ticketed them.

[@samijov]

When you coming to Colorado to catch some kokanee

[@spiltmilt]

Next week

[@samijov]

Nice what lake ill be ready for your great content

[@spiltmilt]

Blue Mesa

[@samijov]

I live in Colorado i go kokanee fishing 11mile green mountian Williams fork Dillon are you goin to fish any of those lake while ur out here by any chance

[@joeys7519]

So weird when a boat angler beefs with a kayak angler , there is no reason for it

[@Badkharma21]

Lol Mackinaw… what’s wrong with lake trout?

[@spiltmilt]

What’s wrong with Mackinaw?

[@Badkharma21]

@@spiltmilt That's not the accepted common name for the species. I only knew what you were talking about because I lived in Idaho and that's what the locals call it.

[@Badkharma21]

@@spiltmilt Tyler, we whacked 3 lakers and a landlock atlantic salmon Wednesday. The lakers are amazing table fare. maybe you could do a catch and cook on the western planted lakers? I'm curious to see if the meat is orange like in the east.

[@chubbrock659]

We call them mackinaw in Utah as often as lakers. It’s all the same.

[@alsellers5657]

@@chubbrock659 X2 in Wyoming...