What was you using?
In the past, before I got my boat and downriggers, I would vertical jig with buzz bombs and catch Kokes at the Pig.
I would fish blind and drop the jig to the bottom and then reel back up about 4 turns. If I didn’t catch anything, I would reel up a couple more turns and try again.
This almost always produces some fish.
Some were Kokes and others were trout.
Try 2" or 2 1/2" bombs in orange, white on blue or white on green.
I will second that Pete. I remember those days. Ice fishing rocked up there. I can remember getting 24 fish in about 35-40 minutes. It was that fast and furious!
i was using worm harnesses and, i think they are called dodgers? it was pink and small, and i was fly fishing, i can usually entice a few with the fly rod. thats what i was doing is hitting bottom and than bringing it up so its just above bottom and jig, than bring it up some more, as you described. im not a good jig fisherman, and i still have a lot to figure out. what are “buzz bombs”? like i said im very ignorant when it comes to jigs and lures.
Buzz Bombs are a jig that you can buy at almost any tackle shop.
Just ask for them by name.
They catch tTout and Kokanee.
Get them in 2" or 2 1/2" size.
The size of the Kokes went up after a few years of that, with the size ranging more like 13 to 14 inches and a few going to 16 or better.
Thnaks I will head to sportsmans and see if I can find any in all the colors mentioned. Gotta try for some of these.
do you use any bait with it? like worm or power bait or anything?
I use a little pro cure scent on the dodger itself, Use some carp spit or the New JJ special Pro Cure, I also tipped my squids with either natural or Pink Berkly gup maggotts.
Found the buzz bombs, they don’t look much like a jigging rig. Interesting lure though.
To jig with a Buzz Bomb, lift your rod tip up quickly, about 3’ and lower it back down. Repeat.
Most strikes will be as the jig is going down.
Work the jig throughout the water column.
Most Kokanee will be in deeper water and located between 25’ and 45’ of water.
I like a stiff rod when jigging a Bozz Bomb.
Thanks good to know. I will see what I can do. Not sure when I can get out after the kokes though.[crazy] Got a full docket for rest of the week.
Holy Carp! That’s a load of Koke!
Buzzbaits - check, added to the list. Got a grundle of Koke targetting stuff - just need to get some time on that water!
So - what kind of boat did you load in there? Bass boat, ski boat? I had a “fun” time getting out of the mud/lake last fall - after realizing I really shouldn’t back THAT far in on THAT lake shore! (first “wild” launch. Live and learn!)
Did you find them more around the dam area, or up by the inlet? I’d spotted up bunches of fish around 25ft as it drops off - mostly to the sides of the damn. It drops down pretty deep there - as much as 100ft!
Now when you refer to a boat “launch” you’re just talking about where you can drop in - there’s no specific launch I’m aware of. But if there is a spot that’s more ideal - I’d be happy to know about it.
Sounds like launching anything over a 14 foot aluminum is pushing it, we found fis throughout the lake in 40 feet of water