Phil Snyder Loc: Fresno CA

Hi, I don't know about you but for me Kokanee salmon is one of the best fish I've ever tasted. Therefore let's figure out how to fish them!

I just had one hour to put my Kayak in the water at Shaver Lake. I dropped a lead line in the water with a flasher and pink hoochie. Bait was corn soaked in oily tuna. Nothing happened until I let my line out to 90ft. I paddled very slowly to keep the line deep and, voila! A beautiful 15" Kokanee.

Was I just lucky? Please let me know your successes in the Fresno area, or anywhere in Northern Ca for that matter. Phil

stuco Loc: Northern Utah - Salt Lake City

Welcome to the stage Phil. I agree there’s not a lot I’ve caught that’s better eating, and they’re fun to catch.
I haven’t fished them in California, but I read that if you have something that can tell you the water temp as you go down about 53 degrees is the ideal temperature for the zooplankton to thrive. That’s where the Kokanee will hang out.

DozerDave Loc: Port Orchard Wa.

You caught one, so you must be on the right track. Just keep experimenting with various colors, depths, dodgers and lures. A chartreuse dodger and wedding ring are my go to… 🐟on

Jarheadfishnfool Loc: Woodlake/Tulare ,Ca.

Congrats Phil ! Where there's one there are more, like DD mentioned the dodger flasher and wedding rings are my favorite, tipped with corn or a pinched nite crawler, in the other post you asked about Millerton / kokanee, as far I know I've never heard of them being caught there there are kings that come up the San Joaquin river but I think they're protected, Pine Flat Dam has kokes but deep towards the dam, Shaver and Huntington are your best bets, we like pics ! Good catching !🤙🤙

bapabear Loc: Blaine, Washington

Good job. It sounds like you got it figured out. Depth is a major key and can change from hour to hour. I have found Kok's are usually boat shy, so trolling far back is usually a good move. If you see fish jumping, logic says there are some near the surface. Many fishermen ignore the surface fish and still go deep. I have never figured out why. I often catch kokanee in the top 10 to 20 feet of water. I troll from .8 to 1.2 mph. Wedding rings are the go to, but there is a local (Washington ) lure that I have gone to that nearly always outfishes the other stuff. It is called a "gods tooth". Between the orange color and the silver and blue, I can usually get fish. I fish it 9 inches behind a Mack's 4 inch spoon type dodger using red corn soaked in tuna. The advantage (or disadvantage depending on how you look at it) is that trout also love it. I can not vouch for it in California as I have not tried it yet there , but it is always my first choice in Washington and Idaho.

Andy cacciatori Loc: Modesto cal.

All I can say is be careful using corn if I'm right it is not legally allowed to use corn in California.
I would check the Reg.
Wouldn't want you to get in trouble.
Safe times on the water.

Jarheadfishnfool Loc: Woodlake/Tulare ,Ca.

Corn is legal , we use shoe peg corn, however it is illegal to chum with corn.

bapabear Loc: Blaine, Washington

I am not sure about California, but if that is the case, my second choice would be gulp maggots soaked in tuna scent. Thanks for the warning Andy.

Jarheadfishnfool Loc: Woodlake/Tulare ,Ca.

The only places corn is not allowed is in certain streams or sections of rivers that are lures only fishing

wattsonjim-85

Hi Phil, saw your entry a few days ago and did not respond. I have been on vacation in California for the
past three months. I have fished Shaver Lake for the past 40 plus years. Kokanee has to be one of the best
fighting fish pound for pound there is. Also one of the best eating fish on the planet. As for the best ways
to catch them. I have used a great number of different methods. Bait I use shoepeg corn marinated in various scented oils Pro-Cure Shrimp Oil, Garlic Oil and one called Kokanee Special. Various dodgers made by Vance tackle
Shasta Tackle, and Mag Tackle. Colors vary depending on time of day and whether there is cloud cover or bright sun.
As far as lures go, I have used Hoochies, wedding ring spinners, Apex Lures etc many more, but these have been the most productive. I alter all of them. The wedding ring I replace the hook that it comes with and replace it with Gamagatsu hooks (2) tied in tandem to get a better hookup ration, tipped with the shoepeg corn, trailed behind
the dodger generally 15-18 inches behind the dodgers. The Apex Lure is altered also to change the angle in which it runs, this is put behind the dodger that I am using generally 15-18 inches. as far as line goes using lead core, i Tie a mono leader on generally 20-30 yards long this helps in keeping fish on as they have a tendency to throw the hook because of the weight of the lead core. Fished anywhere from three to six colors. Down riggers are the best way to go in order to get the right depth that the fish are holding at.

ranger632 Loc: Near Yosemite Park Ca.

I think they are the best eating fish of the trout and salmon family

Sport Loc: Sacramento county north. California

I'm thinking, do that again. Don't change til they stop. Small change, try again. You are in them. Don't discount that. Start there. Good luck. Kokanee are pretty neat fish.