Pounding 'em at Palisades

[Aluma165]

Thanks, Mike for the compliment. I would just add that the main challenge with Kokanee is staying on them. At this time of the year you will get them hit and miss while flatlining on most trout and kokanee setups. To specifically target them, a decent color finder is necessary . Kokanee generally run along a line at a fairly constant depth or will stack in a column. They regulate the air in their bladder to hold at a water temp range of 50-55 degrees; as the surface warms they go deeper. With a decent color finder their bladders show as red arches. Locate the column or line of them first and then you racetrack back and forth through them just a few feet above their depth. (their eyes look up) They'll hit almost constantly. I prefer DRs to leadcore but different guys use either one or both. I usually run DRs with light tension stacker clips on each side of the boat and then often a leadcore off the back. I like ball flashers for deeper applications. The magic speed for kokes is .9 to 1.4 mph. Faster will lessen your chances and drop your catch rate. I have a spring-loaded ProTroll composite plate to slow my 60hp down enough that I can power up to the ideal speed and maintain good directional control. Snubbers between the flasher (or dodger) and lure are important and it is also important to ease them in once hooked. Their soft mouth will tear easily if horsed. No need to set the hook. At that slow speed I don't even cut the power while bringing them to the boat. Most losses occur right at the boat so have a good net man. Better not to let them settle into the net but rather use the net as a safety device. (hooks foul in the net otherwise) Very limber glass rods work best. I'm set this year with Lamiglass and Vance's 7' Koke rods with Shimano Calcuttas and Tica reels. 6 to 8lb. mono. White shoepeg corn scented with various scents seems to increase the bite. Tandem snelled #4 Gamakatsu octopus hooks. Hook the large end of the corn so that the necked down end trails. Kokanee are the absolute finest eating fish available. Clean them as you catch them and best not to put them in a live well but rather on ice right after gutting. If you smoke them try one of "Indian Candy" salmon recipes. (pure maple syrup the main difference) Ton more to learn and practice but this is a start.
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