Hi ho silver! A beginner’s guide to trolling for kokanee salmon at Boise-area reservoirs
As my boat glided through the mist, one rod gave three telltale downward bobs on the downrigger. Before I even had hands on it, a silver rocket exploded out of the water, pirouetting across the glass-calm surface.
Welcome to the strange and wonderful world of fishing for kokanee salmon — quiet mornings on the lake periodically interrupted by the best kind of chaos.
I’ve dabbled in kokanee fishing over the years, but after upgrading to a bigger boat two years ago and adding downriggers last season, I feel fully equipped to chase these silver slabs of goodness. I’m still refining my skills, but I’ve learned enough to provide a crash course in kokanee fishing:
The setup
Trolling is the most common strategy for catching kokanee. Jigging scenarios exist (like through the ice), but for the most part, trolling is the ticket.
The reason is interesting (at least for a fish nerd like me). While kokanee look similar to trout and other salmonids (they are technically the same species as sockeye, but are landlocked rather than migrating to the ocean), they aren’t aggressive predators like most of their kin. Instead, they filter feed on plankton and other small creatures. So, anglers target kokanee with small lures resembling shrimp or squid tipped with a piece of scented corn (which the fish love, for reasons that remain unclear). Lures are typically deployed behind dodgers or flashers — metal blades meant to look like other fish following food.
Flexible rods in the 7-to-8-foot range work well for kokanee. It’s best to pair them with a level-wind reel (preferably with a line counter on it) and 8- or 10-pound monofilament line.
So many variables!
Once you have the basic gear, it’s time to dial in your presentation. And with kokanee, there is a lot to think about. For starters, identify how deep the fish are. Generally, they hang out near the surface when the water is cool and head deeper as things warm up. If you don’t see fish on your finder, start shallow. If you are marking fish consistently at a certain depth, start there. In the heat of the summer, kokes will go as deep as 100 feet!
There are two ways to fish deeper water: downriggers and leaded line. Downriggers get your bait to an exact depth by clipping your line to a weight about the size of a baseball and lowering it using a spool of cable. Leaded line sinks your lure a prescribed amount, depending on how much you have out (i.e., five feet per colored section of line). I employ both methods on my boat.
Speed is next. Kokanee trolling speeds are relatively slow, usually somewhere between 1 and 2 mph. This is best accomplished with an electric trolling motor or a gas kicker motor. I like to vary speeds and add curves to my route to give the lures more action.
From there, things get super nerdy. There are tons of lure and flasher/dodger colors to pick from (pink, orange, green and silver are popular choices), not to mention countless brands and styles. For bait, most anglers swear by some kind of corn, but some employ maggots and other scented baits. One universal piece of advice — keep changing things up until you find what’s working!
Finishing the job
Kokanee usually aren’t huge. Keeper-sized fish range from 14 to 16 inches, and anything bigger than 18 is a really nice one. Still, they have a well-earned reputation for being difficult to land.
Reasons abound. Kokanee have soft mouths. The hooks used to catch them are small. They jump a lot, especially when hooked close to the surface. And as filter feeders, they don’t annihilate a lure the way predatory fish do.
To make the most of your opportunities, use quality tackle, keep your hooks sharp, and make sure you keep a good, long-handled net on board. You’ll inevitably lose a few, but patience and careful landing habits can help limit the heartbreak.
Kokanee fishing may seem like a lot of work, but it’s actually relaxing once you’re set up and rolling. The fish are fun to catch, they’re excellent eating, and they’re abundant in the three Boise River reservoirs — Lucky Peak, Arrowrock and Anderson Ranch — along with Payette Lake in McCall. I’ve enjoyed getting up to speed on this unique, delicious Idaho species, and I bet you will, too. Tight lines!
Jordan Rodriguez has been fishing Idaho waters since he was a teen. Share your fish stories, adventures and questions with him at tightlinesboise@gmail.com, or visit www.tightlines208.com for the latest local fishing reports and upcoming class offerings.
