ICE FISHING KOKANEE IN BRITISH COLUMBIA BY DANNY COYNE |
One species of fish that continues to grow in popularity to target during the hard water season in British Columbia is Kokanee. Kokanee are land locked Sockeye Salmon that spend there entire live cycle in freshwater. They are schooling fish and once you locate the active school, ice fishing for Kokanee can turn into a fast action fun filled day. With their reckless fight, pound for pound Kokanee provide an angler with an exciting ice fishing experience like no other. Just like their ocean going brothers, Kokanee have deep red oily flesh that make them for superb table fare. Combine their delicious delicacy and amusement of catching them, its no surprise that Kokanee are the second most sought after freshwater game fish in British Columbia. Many anglers are still new to the concept of ice fishing for Kokanee, as it’s relatively a new fishing experience that can now be experienced throughout the province. Kokanee are naturally distributed in lakes within BC and now thanks to the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC more lakes are being aggressively stocked with Kokanee providing even greater angling opportunities. The hard water season provides an exceptional time for anglers, as unlike the open water season one doesn’t require a boat to reach these fish. Instead, ice fishing for Kokanee provides an affordable family fishing experience that everyone can enjoy. Fishing for Kokanee is much different than fishing for trout. Kokanee can thrive in lakes that Rainbow trout may not due to
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their distinctive diet, as they don’t have to compete with other fish species. Instead of ice fishing in shallow water, you will typically be fishing in lake depths between 50 to 100 feet. The reason for this is because Kokanee primarily feed on Zooplankton, which are microscopic organisms that usually suspend within the mid water column. It is important to note that Zooplankton are light sensitive, which means the brighter days will drive them down deeper and the Kokanee will follow. During ice over an angler will typically locate Kokanee any where from 15 feet down as much as 80 feet. The use of sonar will help improve your odds immensely in locating the fish.
@BCFISHN as the plankton will be pushed up against these zones. When approaching a new body of water simply look around for other signs of anglers, the locals tend to find the best producing areas for Kokanee and they don’t change much throughout the year. One of the great benefits of targeting Kokanee during the hard water season is the extended season. Due to these fish residing in deeper areas of the lake they don’t become as deprived of dissolved oxygen as other fish species. Later in the ice-fishing season, such as mid-February the fish are not as lethargic and willing to strike a well-presented lure.
The best types of sonars to use when ice fishing for Kokanee are the flasher types such as the Garmin Striker Series of sonars. They provide real time movement on the screen that allows you to drop your presentation right to the fish. If you do not have access to a fish finder (sonar) then start fishing at 10 feet and work your way down. When fishing with other anglers in your group work as a team. Have one person start at 10 feet and the other at 15, progress deeper until you find the fish. Having a line counter on your reel will help recognize the depths in which you are fishing. If your reel doesn’t have a line counter, simply count out the amount of line in 1 foot pulls that you are using. When you discover the fish you will want to repeat the same depth. A good tip is to add a threaded bobber stop every 20 feet on your fishing line so you can quickly mark how much line you let out. The schools of Kokanee will cruise throughout the lake but will tend to stay in areas that provide plenty of food. Even though there is ice cover, lakes still have current in them, which can push the Zooplankton to a specific end. Points and ledges that reach out into the lake can also provide good forage areas for Kokanee,
KOKANEE ICE TECHNIQUES & TERMINAL TACKLE The most productive way to catch Kokanee through the ice is by jigging. These little critters are attracted to flash and lots of it! With this in mind jigging techniques consists of using 4 to 6 inch attractors such as a Mack’s Lure Sling Blade Dodger. Run a 6-lb leader between 14 and 16 inches from the attractor of choice to your lure. Having a variety of colours of attractors will increase your odds immensely throughout the day. UV Pink, Silver, Glow and gold or copper Sling Blades tend to be the best producing colours. The technique in which you want to jig is to jig up and down slowly from between 6 to 20 inch pulls; just enough to get the flasher fluttering to attract these curious Kokanee. When there are no fish around make longer swift jigs to get the attractor to reflect light to help attract the fish from a far. Once
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the school of Kokanee move in you’ll want to shorten up the amount in which you are moving the lure. Not only will the flash bring in the fish, but also the attractor will transfer erratic action to your lure that will encourage the Kokanee to strike. The key is to always keep moving your presentation as Kokanee will strike very subtle, it’s the constant jigging that will set the hook before you even know you have one on. The hook can consist of a plain hook or small jigs. Mack’s Lure Glo-Hooks in red and chartreuse hands down produce the best results. The added glow appearance aids the Kokanee to key in on the lure and encourages them to strike. If you are using a regular hook choosing colours such as chartreuse or red will sometimes help entice the bite. If the hook is tangling with the flasher add a small split shot weight to the middle of the leader.
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MACK’S LURE GLO® HOOKS IN RED AND CHARTREUSE HANDS-DOWN PRODUCE THE BEST RESULTS.
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— DANNY COYNE
Some anglers prefer to use small spoons or jigs such as a Mack’s Lure Sonic Bait Fish or HumDinger Spoon. The small jigs and spoons provide that extra bit of action that invites the Kokanee to strike. It is best to try multiple presentations until you find a pattern that is working. What is working one day doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to work the next. No matter what lure you are using it is best to tip the hook with some sort of bait. Popular baits that work great for Kokanee includes Pink Maggots (live or synthetic), krill, shrimp or cured and dyed white shoepeg corn. Take your presentation to the next level by adding Pro Cure Scents such as Krill, Shrimp or Trout and Kokanee Magic as it will attract fish from a far and get them to strike on the slowest days.
The fishing rod type isn’t as important as the presentation, however a softer rod will help you recognize the subtle strikes and land more Kokanee as they have soft mouths. A small 5 foot casting rod or an ice fishing rod is adequate, really it’s up to you and what you have within your fishing arsenal.
WHERE TO ICE FISH FOR KOKANEE IN BC Since Kokanee require high levels of oxygen you will mainly find these landlocked salmon in mid to large lakes within the BC Interior. The Freshwater Fishery Society of BC has been aggressively stocking numerous lakes around the province with Kokanee and Triploid Kokanee. Triploid fish do not reproduce which means Triploid Kokanee put all their energy into feeding and growing. It is not unheard of for Triploid Kokanee to sometimes reach over 3 pounds. To name only a few popular lakes in British Columbia that have been stocked with Kokanee and offer good ice fishing include: Region 3 “ Monte Lake, Stump Lake; Region 4 “ Moyie Lake, Monroe Lake; Region 5 “ Bridge Lake, Deka Lake, Chimney Lake, Timothy, 10 Mile Lake; Region 8 “ Alleyne Lake, Yellow Lake, Otter Lake. Kokanee are a fragile fish compared to rainbow trout. They require a well-balanced water system of numerous contributing factors to survive. They do not handle catch and release well and their mortality rate is high even when handled and released with extra care and attention. Releasing the fish while still in the water is the best way to help with their survival rate when not being selected for harvest. The FFSBC does stock the lakes with Kokanee as a put and take fishery; which means they are there for harvesting. It is good etiquette to limit fishing for Kokanee to the casual appetite for table fare and not just to fill a freezer. It is always recommended to check the fishing regulations before heading out fishing as many water bodies in British Columbia to have lake specific regulations during the ice fishing season.
It is possible to “still fish” for Kokanee, which involves suspending the bait with no movement. When using this method scent and bait are a must or the fish will not strike. Be sure to hold the rod in your hand and not resort to a rod holder, you will need to set the hook the moment that the Kokanee bites. The use of bobbers is not recommended, as the bite is so light that it usually will not pull it down. The most effective way is identify bite is to hold the line between your fingers. Still fishing can be effective when the fish are somewhat less active and not willing to chase your jigging presentation. The bait needs to be directly in front of the Kokanee as most of the time they won’t swim upwards to strike a suspended still presentation.
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PROVEN WAYS TO BE A WINNER BY HALL OF FAME ANGLER STAN FAGERSTROM There really isn’t any big secret to you being able to consistently catch your share of fish. I’ve been preaching about it in this Stan’s Corner column and the informative Mack Attack Magazine now for years. There are, however, a few things you’ll have to accept and must do before you can hope to be consistently successful. What are they? If you ever hope to wind up catching your share of fish you need to accept the necessity of practice and preparation. That sounds simple enough. But ever so many fishermen fail to give these points the attention they deserve. The results? They usually wind up not catching their share of fish or being unable to fully enjoy the wondrous memories the sport has to offer. Over a lifetime of fishing and writing about it, I’ve seen what I’m talking about transpire again and again. I’ve seen it apply to everything from rods and reels, lines and lures. You simply must develop the ability to use any and all of these items with the skills demanded if you’re to take fish consistently. Let me provide an example of what I’m talking about: I really didn’t care all that much about the guy who was in the boat with me. Even so, I can’t recall a time I’ve wanted more to see a companion hook a good fish. It wasn’t really because I wanted to see him hook a good one, it was because I had a darn good idea of what was going to happen if he did. The truth of the matter is that I was ticked off at the guy I had with me. He really hadn’t done much bass fishing but he wouldn’t accept any advice. He really didn’t know his bass from a hole in the ground, but in no way was he about to accept the suggestions I’d attempted to share with him. I had tried my best to convince him the lightweight spinning rod and 6-pound line he insisted on using at the outside edge of the cover we were fishing wasn’t adequate should a good largemouth grab his lure. He wasn’t listening. Like I said, though, he really
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“Listen,” he snorted pontifically, “I’ve used this spinning outfit all over the country. Don’t tell me I can’t handle a big one with it. You show me where the fish are. I’ll take it from there.” My silent wish was granted less than an hour after the trip started. I asked the guy to flip his floating lure up next to the edge of a heavy pad field. We were on my home lake and for a couple of weeks I’d been catching some dandy bass along this one stretch of heavy pads. My companion cast, waited, then twitched his lure. I saw the pads quiver ten feet away and then a heartbeat or two later a fish smashed that floating plug with hair-raising fury.
fishing and writing about it. I’ve witnessed a tremendous change in angling equipment in that time span. Fifty years ago it was often difficult to find the rod, reel and line combination best suited for the specific type of fish you were after. That’s not true anymore. Today you can tailor your tackle to any need. When you do, you’re a cinch to realize the satisfaction and enjoyment having the right outfit brings and you’ll also catch more fish. As anglers eventually find out, there is no one rod, reel and line combination best suited for all kinds of fishing. What works like gangbusters in your home lake might not be worth a toot in another part of the country.
“I got him!” my guest shouted. It was debatable who had who. I knew what was going to happen. As soon as it felt the hooks that brute of a bass turned and headed back into the cover. You could see the direction it took because it tore up pads as it went. The man holding the spinning outfit was powerless to do anything. The line peeled off his spool. Then, the fish wrapped the 6-pound line he was using around some pads and there was no more movement. The line was busted and the fish was gone. The bass that fellow lost on a beautiful May morning was the largest he’d ever hooked. He didn’t have to lose it. What he did need to do was to match his equipment to the problems he was up against. That’s something I’ve been preaching about at outdoor shows and in the outdoor columns and features I’ve been writing since shortly after I got home from World War II.
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STAN’S SPACE
hadn’t done all that much bass fishing, but he had all the answers.
MATCHING YOUR GEAR TO THE PROBLEMS YOU’RE UP AGAINST IS THE KEY TO ANGLING SUCCESS. — STAN FAGERSTROM
Matching your gear to the problems you’re up against is one of the keys to angling success. Unfortunately, it’s a key that’s ignored over and over again among the anglers of this country. It’s too bad, really, because matching your equipment to the demands you create is one of the real keys to angling success. Like casting practice, it’s one of the few things you can do to actually control the number of fish you catch. The answer, then, is simple: You’ve got to match the equipment you’re using that’s best suited to handle the problems you’re facing. Fail to do this and you’ll likely wind up like the guy I told about hooking that big bass.
YOU CAN TAKE NICE BASS ON A SPINNING OUTFIT IF YOU’RE AROUND WATER THAT’S CLEAR OF HEAVY COVER.
While the level wind reel is a superior tool for many kinds of fishing, it doesn’t begin to match the performance you can achieve in handling lightweight lures with a spinning outfit. And while one line might be great in the clear water of your favorite river, there will be others twice as effective where the cover is heavy and the water stained. There really aren’t many things a fisherman can do to control the number of fish he puts on the bank or into the boat. The experts who catch more than their share are invariably those who are most knowledgeable about the tackle they employ and the uses they make of it. If you’ve been reading these columns regularly, you’ve seen lots of reports on how expert anglers use a variety of Mack’s Lure products. Some of these reports have involved record catches. Are you putting the advice of these experts that I have shared to work in your own angling endeavors? You’re missing a bet if you aren’t. I’ll have more to say on this in my next column.
I’ve been around a heap of fishermen in a lot of different places over decades of
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SONIC BAITFISH™ (SBF)
TIPS & TECHNIQUES
Now, let’s return to that wintertime lake in Texas back in 1995. Over the years, “high density” fluorescent and UV finishes have evolved into very productive finishes versus the basic chrome finish used in 1995. Secondly, there is a huge advantage to being able to fish a jig with three different attachment points. On almost every outing — whether in fresh or saltwater — I find that a bite can be activated by changing the line attachment on the Sonic BaitFish™. Back in 1995, if the bite went dead on a nose-attached Crippled Herring, then it usually stayed dead without the option of changing the vibration and flutter of that jig.
OPEN WATER, WINTER TIME BASS JIGGING WITH THE SBF BY CAPT. PETE ROSKO It was the winter of 1995 when I received a phone call from the editor of the Honey Hole. It was the monthly “Trophy Bass Magazine of Texas”. Over 20 years later, I still remember the more important fishing details, but sadly forgot the names. The editor not only invited me to Texas to fish with him, but he also did a three-page story, complete with photos of 100-plus largemouth bass days while cold water vertical jigging. These were not small schooling bass, rather they were large bass stacked over critical break lines in 45- to 55-feet of water. The break lines were submerged river beds. The metal jigs being fished were chrome 3/4and 1-oz. Crippled Herrings. Since the Crippled Herring was awarded a mechanical patent and marketed in 1986, many similar experiences were shared with me from anglers across the country, as well as foreign countries. Basically, I had a very wide network of volunteer field testers helping me to make any future products better. Some of those products evolved into the Sonic BaitFish™.
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In cold water, the presentation needs to correspond to the slow, semi-hibernating activity of the fish. “Dead sticking” can be a huge advantage. Visualize a nose-attached metal jig hanging still in an unnatural, vertical position versus a SBF attached to the back, slowly rotating in a natural horizontal position. There’s no guessing which lure will attract the most fish. Wind- and water-movement permitting, I have effectively vertically-jigged the SBF in depths as deep as 85-feet. Break lines are critical to your success. Off-shore submerged river beds, road beds, rock piles, reefs and ledges are prime examples of vertical “stairway” break lines that predator fish travel, up and down, to both feed and find shelter. These are structures that attract predators, both in open water and through the ice. Thank you for subscribing to the Mack Attack Magazine and join us next month for the February issue of the Mack Attack, where I’ll be sharing tips on how to vertically jig the Sonic BaitFish™ in shallow water.
GARY’S FISHING CORNER NEW YEARS RESOLUTION
THERE IS A HUGE ADVANTAGE TO BEING ABLE TO FISH A JIG WITH THREE ATTACHMENT POINTS. — CAPT. PETE ROSKO
There is a pronounced difference between the Crippled Herring, which I invented over30 years ago, and the Sonic BaitFish™ of today. The two primary contrasts are the finishes and the action. The most advanced finishes are now incorporated in addition to the SBF being the only metal jig with three attachment points that can be fished very effectively.
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BY GARY MIRALLES 2017 was an excellent year, and there were a lot of changes in my life and career. So, I am really looking forward to a new year. Luckily, 2018 looks exciting and I wanted to share some of my resolutions for the new year. This year, I promise to eat better, get more exercise and spend my money more
wisely. I’m going to try to not let things stress me out and spend more time with my family. So, how am I going to do that? I’ll fish more often, so I can catch, and in turn eat more fish. Fish, prepared the correct way, is a healthy addition to any diet. I’m also going to use my kayak more often so that I get more exercise. And saving money? Well, I’m only going to spend money on fishing gear! To combat my stress, I’ll go to my happy place—on the water, to spend time fishing alone and relaxing. To accomplish more time spent with family, I’ll plan fishing trips to areas where my family can accompany me. Isn’t it nice when a plan comes together? Have a great new year everyone. I’ll see you on the water.
COOK YOUR CATCH
KOKANEE CORIANDER INGREDIENTS • • • • • • • • •
6 thin kokanee filets 2 tbsp crushed coriander 1 lemon, juiced 2 garlic cloves, minced 1/4 tsp ground cumin 1/4 tsp kosher salt 1/8 tsp ground black pepper 2 tsp olive oil Soy Sauce
DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees; 2. Mix coriander, lemon, cumin, olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Let sit for 15 minutes; 3. Place filets onto a baking sheet. Pour/brush coriander mixture onto each filet; 4. Bake for 13 minutes (time will vary depending on thickness of filet); 5. Drizzle filets with soy sauce
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HOT DEAL OF THE MONTH
day. Using any type of UV component, lure, blade, etc. increases the visibility for it to be seen at nearly any depth. Liminescence can be another important factor in visibility, and that’s why on all of our hoochie octopus skirts we have the eyes glow in the dark as well. Quite often, you can walk into your local tackle shop and see anglers or guides with a UV flashlight testing the product which they are looking to purchase. using this UV light shows exactly how much UV is in the product, and many can attribute their fishing success to this important aspect of any fishing lure.
SUBMIT A QUESTION OR PHOTO USING
#MACKSLURE OR EMAIL MEDIA@MACKSLURE.COM
PHOTO OF THE MONTH
MACK’S LURE PRO STAFFER JEFF WITKOWSKI OF DARREL & DAD’S GUIDE SERVICE SHOWS OFF A GORGEOUS LAKE CHELAN WINTER KOKANEE CAUGHT ON A SLING BLADE™ & PEE WEE™ WIGGLE HOOCHIE COMBINATION TIPPED WITH PRO-CURE SCENTED CORN.
VIDEO OF THE MONTH
QUESTION
OF THE MONTH Q: I am looking at your ultra-violet (UV) hoochies. I am wondering how effective they are and at what depth? A: Thanks for the question! The honest answer is really quite simple — whenever you’re fishing, no matter what species it’s for, always use tackle and fishing lures that have high UV. Colors will remain the same, but what changes the effectiveness of that colors is water clairty and brightness of the
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TAKE A TRIP TO CASCADE LAKE WITH HARROD OUTDOORS AND THE NORTHWEST OUTDOORSMEN TO CATCH SOME GIANT PERCH WITH MACK’S LURE PRO STAFFER MIKE HALL.
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