how to catch kokanee salmon colorado

As the rivers retreated and the lakes separated from some streams, there were sockeye salmon that were not able to get back to the ocean. Kokanee like 54 degree water, the warmer it gets the deeper they are. Kokanee Salmon are very tasty fish. If you are hooking fish, plan for other boats to come over and share the wealth. Fly Fishing Techniques for Kokanee Salmon in a River Kokanee Salmon Fly Fishing techniques are very similar to trout fly fishing. If you can catch them during the spawn in the fall, they will be stacked up along the shores of the reservoir as well as in running water. Sometimes very large trout are often intermingled with the Kokanee. This means that often the streams and rivers feeding into the reservoir can be the best places to catch monster fish. To catch kokanee salmon on a fly, anglers must beef-up their tackle from typical trout fishing accoutrements. The fast action of jigging is, hands down, the most thrilling way to fill a boat with these silver beauties. If you do not find them there, check the mouths of adjoining streams next. The best times of day to catch kokanee through most of the year are in the reduced light hours of early morning and late afternoon just before sunset. In order to consistently catch Kokanee, you must first find them. This spot has at times had over 1 million kokanee, but recent numbers have dropped below 300,000 due to predatory lake trout. Colorado is home to a unique salmon species called the Kokanee. We have no idea why, but kokanee tends to like the scent of white shoepeg corn. For the most convenient spots to fish for Kokanee, you can head to Lake Granby, Williams Fork Reservoir, Wolford Mountain Reservoir, and Green Mountain Reservoir. If you try to lift one into the boat by the line, it will likely rip the hook free. However, Kokanee (land-locked Pacific sockeye salmon) are suited to the large, fluctuating mountain reservoirs of Colorado. Also be aware that these fish are migrating up some of Colorado finest trout streams. This migration gives Colorado fly fishermen a chance to catch these hard fighting fish in many of their home rivers. Kokanee are fish that are becoming more and more popular to pursue. You will also need to have a good fishing net with you for Kokanee. They tend to fight the best and eat flies more aggressively in the earlier part of their migration. Snagging of kokanee salmon is permitted from October 1 through December 31. Look each Fall mid to late October for some fun runs as well . Bright colored streamers seem to work well when swung close the spawning salmon’s nest. Every year about the beginning of […], Fly fishing in the Colorado High Country means constantly adjusting to the changing conditions. For details on regulations, … These silver fish with black spots on the upper half of their bodies can be found swimming in compact schools feeding on zooplankton, a food source unaffected by the drawing down of reservoirs. You can also check along the dam if you have no luck up to that point. However, the best spot in Colorado for kokanee fishing is the Blue Mesa Reservoir. They can unwind your reel quickly, so make sure you have your drag set properly. Obviously anywhere in a stream of the reservoir is a fine place to fish. Anglers will often hook females in the mouth because they try to pick up an egg pattern lure with their mouths. Yes, you can catch Kokanee without it but if you really want to increase your odds in catching more Kokanee using scent is key! While it is possible to catch the odd Kokanee from shore, you're going to have a much more successful time in a boat. As they start their journey to the inlets and up the tributaries of these larger reservoirs, they change dramatically in appearance. When they take off, be ready and hope you have the right gear. Sometimes no retrieve is necessary and a dead drifted streamer can be very effective. Fishing for Kokanee in the middle or upper part of the water column will most likely not work since the fish will be concentrated deep, and focused on their nests and eggs. However, in spring and late fall, kokanee can be trolled for near the surface. … I heard catching them from the shore was super tough so I wanted to give it a try and in this post, I’ll talk about how to catch kokanee from the bank.. Kokanee tends to be in schools in the middle of the lake and don’t come to the shallows very often. The majority of successful setups include a brightly colored egg pattern alongside a nymph that is heavily weighted. As always, make sure to stop by Vail Valley Anglers in Edwards to stock up on all the right flies, tackle, and gear for Kokanee fishing in Colorado. I have to admit, it feels strange fishing for salmon in the same valleys in which I hunt for elk. Therefore the point of snagging this kind of salmon, is to catch it while the fish is still fresh, thus eliminating the possibility of this waste in our streams and rivers. Somehow it thrives over 1,000 miles from the Pacific coast at elevations of more than a mile above sea level. Again these are tough, strong fish that run hard and jump frequently and anglers should use at least a five weight. For the most convenient spots to fish for Kokanee, you can head to Lake Granby, Williams Fork Reservoir, Wolford Mountain Reservoir, and Green Mountain Reservoir. They are prepared for a workout. There are a number of different things you can use to catch kokanee and they’ll all work on different days. As the salmon spawn in the fall, they slowly die. Most would agree 1.5 to 1.6. Kokanee are simply landlocked sockeye salmon. Kokanee salmon swim anywhere from 25 feet down. If you want to catch Kokanee Salmon in Colorado, you just need to know where to look. If you can catch them during the spawn in the fall, they will be stacked up along the shores of the reservoir as well as in running water. Or just downstream of them feasting on the eggs that the female salmon are depositing and this gives anglers a shot at fly fishing for some trophy trout while chasing salmon. Trolling p How To Catch Kokanee, trolling basics www.informativefisherman.comwww.facebook.com/theinformativefisherman Hopefully this article has shed some light on how to fish for Kokanee with a fly. The males develop a large hook at the tip of their lower jaw. They mean no disrespect. They don't get as big as some of their salmon cousins, but they are fun to catch and even more fun to cook and eat. Just a piece on the tip of the hook is enough to bring them in. Fish on the meter!! They are notorious for running at the fishing boat, so be ready for it and do not let it break the line. Lastly, leave the light tippet at home. With its hooked jaw and beautiful scales, it's hard to miss. A biology lesson on the life of a kokanee may seem like a waste of time. These landlocked salmon are close relatives to the Pacific sockeye salmon. When it comes to picking out jigs that catch kokanee, the Walters brothers are about size, not color. Kokanee have mouths that are soft in some places, and the hook can rip free. Fishing a heavier rod with some back bone will only help the cause. There are a few ways to do this, but one of the best is to set up a deep nymph rig with large, brightly colored flies like eggs, stoneflies, and San Juan Worms. During the spawn, males turn a reddish-brown color and fat ones can look like rocks on the bottom. The fact is that any scent may be better than nothing. Kokanee swim in large groups, so finding them is easy with a digital readout. Keep in mind that while these landlocked salmon are in the process of spawning, it is not considered unethical to target them at this time. Snagging, the act of hooking a fish without bait, is legal during certain periods of the year in Colorado to help control carcass litter. The kokanee salmon is similar to the sockeye salmon and has no spots on its back. Read our blog to find out how to fish the post-spawn successfully. The South Platte River offers some of the best kokanee salmon fishing in Colorado, during the fall salmon spawning run. The one thing I’ve noticed is that the smaller lures tend to work a lot better. Streamers can also get good results for fly fishermen during Kokanee season. Some give anglers an opportunity to keep salmon after a certain date, but by then the kokanee are spawned out and beat up, and I can’t imagine a decaying fish tasting that great. Like other salmon, kokanee prefer cold water (about 50f, in fact). The salmon may be caught conventionally through fishing with a lure or by snagging with a hook during the snagging season. Colin, Josh and I head out to catch some Kokanee Salmon in Colorado 2019. The average Kokanee runs from sixteen to eighteen inches long and two to three pounds but larger specimens are common. Ice Fishing Lures For Kokanee. For their size, Kokanee are often times stronger than trout, and will break light tippet easily. When you think of salmon fishing, you probably think of heading to Alaska or the Pacific Northwest. Kokanee is usually found in abundant and even are known to taste great. Speed. They adapted to their new environment over time, and soon, there was no urge or need to head back to the ocean to spawn. If you hit Blue Mesa during the spawn, plan to meet lots of other anglers. This transformation in the male fish makes their jaw and mouth more suitable for fighting off intruders who may compromise the Kokanee’s reproductive process. A nice sized spoon trailing your artificial school of fish will make it seem like there’s a lagging fish that will make a good target for the Kokanee salmon to attack. https://bit.ly/3eADetoKokanee are a popular landlocked salmon fishery in the western United States. If you have success, then fish there. You should have a thick hook to penetrate a boney jaw. During the spawn this is where they will likely pile up in large numbers. Kokanee salmon were presented experimentally in many lakes and reservoirs in broad numbers in North America during the 1940s. Blue Mesa Reservoir serves as home to fish responsible for about 60 percent of the eggs needed for stocking kokanee at 26 lakes and reservoirs around the state. This means that the only real way for fly fishermen to hook them is to take advantage of their territorial nature and agitate them with their flies in order to get a bite. It still accounts for roughly 60% of the kokanee population. While I tend to agree most of the time, there are times when it’s all about jigging. In Colorado Kokanee salmon snagging is allowed throughout various dates depending on the location and is only allowed on certain waters. They generally live 3 to 7 years and die after spawning. Check the regulations at each river to be sure. This means that when a lake is stratified the kokanee are down deep. These silver fish with black spots on the upper half of their bodies can be found swimming in compact schools feeding on zoo plankton, a food source unaffected by the drawing down of reservoirs. As the salmon spawn in the fall, they slowly die. When the fish reach four years old, they instinctively swim upstream to spawn at the place they were born. But getting your rig set up will help immensely when targeting spawning Kokanee. These landlocked salmon are close relatives to the Pacific sockeye salmon. Kokanee (land-locked Pacific sockeye salmon) are suited to the large, fluctuating mountain reservoirs of Colorado. In an attempt to spawn in feeder streams much like their ocean-dwelling relatives. Their bright silver color gives way to a deep red or crimson throughout their body, while their heads remain dark green. You also want to handle the fish as little as possible if you plan to catch and release, so use your net and use fishing pliers to get the hook free. Whether you want to take a trip down to the Gunnison area to fish the Taylor River, East River, and, of course, the Gunnison River, or you want to stay closer to Denver and fish the Dream Stream or the Blue, there are plenty of places to catch some Kokanee. They have a similar reproductive process that includes migrating upstream into moving water to spawn. Colorado River, (North Fork) including Shadow Mountain Spillway – Grand County From Shadow Mountain Dam spillway to Lake Granby including Columbine Bay to the Twin Creek inlet: Fishing is … According to Examiner.com, “Take care, however, when you do snag a kokanee, to look over the fish for large white spots. Since then it has been a huge success that soon developed into a glorious sport for many anglers in West as well as eastern waters. This is my favorite run to catch in Colorado. Either way, set your drag stiffly to handle that initial run. This is where the baitfish swim, or at least underneath where they swim. Kokanee fishing is the main thing I’ve done in my fishing career and have always trolled behind a boat. They also showcase big, sharp teeth. Why Choose a Rubber Bag Landing Net for Fly Fishing. However, do not muscle the fish too much when you are reeling it in. Depth. "While fishing early in the morning and late in the day, when fish are on the surface, we'll use the lighter weight 3/8- and 1/2-ounce jigs. When trolling the main body of water, check out the main channel first and use a fish finder. South platte, or Dream Stream section below Spinney also is a must. For fly fishermen, these fish offer excellent and unique fall fishing opportunities. "We fish 3/8-, 1/2-, 3/4- and 1-ounce jigs," Scott noted. If keeping a salmon is something that intrigues you, the date when the regulations turn from catch and release to catch and keep in the Gunnison is Oct. 31. But, a six may be more appropriate and upsizing tippet to the 3X range is a good idea. Start fishing around 10 feet down with your lure or bait. Their teeth become larger and more exposed.

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