Good going Jeff, at least you caught a koke, on my last trip there all we got was trout and we saw a few schools of kokes come threw. Where we walked down was a lot easier to get down to the ice.
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Nice fish, were those two Cutts or bows? I’ve found up where you fished is a better spot for trout for me but the Kokes have always been fewer up there for me. But it is a little easier to access the ice. I found a spot that wasn’t too bad to get on and off just the top ten feet that were too steep and slick for me to pull the sled over. I really want to go back because I’m having a tough time accepting that I couldn’t get them to bite. Plus I think they are a little bigger this year. Anyway thanks for the note. J
I thought they both were bows but the guy I was fishing with, wiperslayer, thought the top one was a brown. It is hard to tell from that pic but I have seen a few browns like that without spots.
I agree, the back can be tough for kokes but we have caught them there, just a lot harder to get a 12 fish limit there. I have walked down to the ice there by that tree in your back ground pic and fished in that area many times but I have done better fishing in the middle or off to the other side. After seeing your pic of that koke you caught maybe they are a little bigger this year but when I have had the problem you did, where they won’t bite, I have always thought it was because they were too small, who knows for sure. I like your idea of getting up there and giving it another try though. Let me know when your going to give it another try and I’ll try and meet you there.
That picture by the tree was where I started, I seen a bunch of holes and figured they must know something I didn’t so I punched some holes and got the graph cranked up, but I didn’t see anything too interesting on the graph… I did see a couple single fish moving through that weren’t interested, I suspect trout… but after an hour or so I moved on to the dam and seen a bunch more fish on my graph and that’s where I caught one… I’m sort of on fish ground around home these days so I’m not sure when I’ll get out to play again… As soon as I do, I’ll try to let ya know I’m going to give it a try… Don’t know why my wife thinks I fish too much, but seems to be the thought lately so guess I better help around home for a bit… Catch ya later J
Well hey - count me in if you’re making a go of it. I’d even pull a weekday. Not having tried it on ice, would appreciate the company.
I’ve got a collection of koke lures, spoons, squids and such. But I don’t know if they’re too big for ice-season. I wonder how they’d like the Bumblebees. Anything with flash?
one thing I’D need to do would be to TRY to pack light, not my forte. [crazy]
Yote you’re more than welcome to come along. I’m just not sure when I can get a kitchen pass, but been working on some chores so hope I can get to go play again before too long. Sorry I don’t know what to recommend for lures and that can change daily if I knew what was good today it could be different tomorrow. If you two get a chance to go, don’t wait for me. Good luck and I’ll keep in touch. Later J
I understand your pain on the kitchen pass, me - I don’t have to worry about what my wife thinks about how often I go fishing. I do have to sure I keep the real bosses happy though, so I’d need to plan a few days a head at least.
Sure would like to see Bear Lake cap up good before the season’s up.
It’s starting to sound like Bear Lake will make it before long. It would be fun to go try to catch some real fish over there or even the whitefish off Cisco Beach used to be a lot of fun. Isn’t it great to always have so many options? Just wish I had more free time to enjoy it. But I have to keep the other bosses happy as well and things are in hyper drive there lately so taking a day off is not in my foreseeable future. Anyway maybe around Presidents Day. Later J
Smoked the Koke last night and tried it hot out of the smoker, holy cow that is good stuff. Forgot how tasty Kokes are, I guess I need to catch a few more now. Later J
She always used to joke, “how’d you keep it lit?”
Fired up the smoker for one 10" Koke? You my kinda man! Ha They sure are beautiful to see the pretty pink contrast with the shiny silver.
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So - do you brine or spice it up, or just keep it pure?
Best way I could than my lender and realtor - smoked up a couple big Salmon Filets as a thank you. I believe it was well received.
Longest Short Sale in History! It was worth celebrating.
Sounds like we’re in for a bit of snow, followed by - more snow. Not sure what that does for driving conditions up there. All the more for the buddy system. At least have someone else there to laugh at you when your stuck up to your rims in snowpack (when I say “you”, I mean “me” of course!)
Well if you light the right end they stay lit perty well…
I have an electric smoker(masterbuilt), so I cheat, just set the numbers and put in some pellets and it does the rest… Probably not the most economical to do them one at a time, but didn’t want it wasting and I hate to freeze them… I put mine in a liquid brine of salt, brown sugar and water, let soak 24 hrs, but that was a little too long it got a little salty.. Anyway it’s pretty easy and tastes great, this time it only took about 2.5 hours in the smoker and would have been good to eat even sooner, I just set it and forget it.. Kokes are really oily fish and that makes great fish to smoke…
That hill might get scary with the ice underneath and fresh snow on top, but seems like it slopes towards the hill instead of the drop off so I think we will be okay, it’s not very deep snow yet on the road. Off the side of the road where you park is getting a little interesting, but as long as a big crowd doesn’t show up, it should be fine with plenty of safe spots to park… I do need to go catch some more of those tasty snacks… Later J
I hit it last Saturday and had very similar results. My BIL started with a friend at around 9, I got there with my daughter at about 1230, and they hadn’t had a bite, and were ready to move. We guestimated my old standby spot and didn’t see a single fish on the flasher up through 230, and decided to move again. My BIL’s buddy skinned out at that point, and we moved over towards the dam - about half way across, and 100 yds out. Finally had a group of 5-6 show up around my lure just before the 4:00 buzzer and managed to pluck one of em out. They were gone by the time I got back down and that was it. No bumps for the rest of my team. The fish was definitely above average. 12-13" and healthy.
I definitely want to go back. But this weekend is out, and the 15th is iffy. Plus I am eyeballing Blake as well. [crazy] It’s rough to be a fisherman with a job I tell ya.
Well that sounds like a tough day at the Pig, thanks for sharing your report. Maybe I’ll just wait until ice off.
Thanks for the post you make me feel a little better. She’s pretty stingy this winter. Glad to hear you got a nice one that helps keep my interest. But I’m like you with the Bear coming on. It will be hard not to try it. Later J
Ya, we never witnessed a fish being caught either. They just didn’t seem to be on the move at all that day. Once I got some fish under me it was game on though. Took two whiffs, but the third was solid. So that was encouraging. I always seem to do better after my daughters b-day (2/15).
How deep were they that hit for you? Usually the ones I catch are shallow like 8 - 15’ down, but mine was 42’ this time. I didn’t see very many shallow this year so I wondered if that was part of the reason it’s harder to catch them this year. Later J
Right in the clown’s mouth. 
12-13 ft
Thanks I think the deep one was a fluke. J
Maybe. And then it could be a precursor to a smashfest. A couple of years ago, I nabbed one at the 80 foot mark, and the very next weekend it went ballistic. 
I hope that is the case, but if so I’ll probably be at Bear Lake or doing honeydews. My luck. Later J