Bullards Bar Fish n Chill May 15-17'2026 - 4th annual!

Hey all, planning a Fish n chill at Bullards Bar, Dark Day Camp/Launch the weekend of May 15-17th, 2026

Similar setup to last year, same target (MONSTER 10-12" Kokes), the lake also hold some bass and trout...so you might be able to check off 3 fish on your AOTY list!

We'll base out of the Dark Day Campground and Dark Day boat launch.  Friday afternoon pre-fish, and should be some campfires and barley pops to be had.  Saturday morning fishing, Saturday afternoon we'll have a pot luck.  Plug-n-jug will be organizing our friendly competition again (Photo based, so keep or release as you like) $10 donation, 100% payout

For those not familiar with Bullards, it’s a super nice place to go fishing.  If you go on a weekday, you'll have the lake to yourself…and be listening for any unwanted banjos.  Come on a weekend, especially in the summer, and you'll need to share the lake with a few folks.  Spring can be gorgeous up there, you get the early morning crisp air of the mountains, the unmistakable smell of pine in the air, and generally a lot of -----quiet---- which is nice.  The Kokes tend to be easy to find, but can hide on some days, they are small, with a limit of ten.  They cook very nicely whole, or just slice them in half, and pull the bones out after cooking.  Personally, I prefer the small BB Kokes to the larger kokes in Fallen Leaf Lake - I cannot yet compare them to the larger cokes over at Whiskeytown.

Camping spaces are limited so get one now if you want to join, and ideally plan to share it with another NCKA camper.
If you're not up for the camping - just join for the day - it a lovely lake and a nice drive.

Agenda
   - Friday 5/15 pre-fish and/or arrive
      ○ Friday evening, walk campfire to campfire, chatting
   - Saturday 5/16
      ○ AM Fish (comp from 7am to noon)
      ○ Afternoon: Biggest Fish comp picture turn in
      ○ 5 PM Pot luck

Last years winners:
1. Pasha, longest stringer, 9 Kokes.
2. Troy, longest Koke 12.5"
3. John, longest non Koke - Bass 14.5

https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/10039887

hope to see you all out there,
Brian.

Got 1d fri=sunday, Can't wait!

Got my reservation! Can't wait!

Note: You do not have to be a NCKA member to enter in the tournament!  You don't have to enter the tournament! If you want to just come up to fish and enjoy yourself, that's fine with us!

Derby rules:
$10 donation for each person fishing.
100% payout.
3 chances to to win.
This is a photo or retention contest. Pics must clearly show length when on a measuring board. Those that wish to keep their fish can bring them to the judges for measurement.
#1 - Kokanee - Longest total length of your 10 fish limit.
#2 - Kokanee - Longest single fish.
#3 - Alternate fish - This can be any fish you catch.... Trout, Bass, Carp, Sturgeon, Whatever.... Longest single fish.

Saturday -Lines in at 7AM. Lines out at 12:00.
Judging will be at site (to be determined) at 1:00

If there happens to be a tie, you can split the prizes or there will be a chugging contest!!

All cash and prizes will be split up between the 3 categories.

Prizes -
Best Limit - Trophy , Cash, assorted items.
Best Single Koke - Cash, assorted items.
Best Alternate Fish - Cash, assorted items.

Last year, a few people generously donated Lures, Dodgers, Stickers and other items to the pot. If you have something/anything to donate, please let me or bbt95762(Brian) know. Does not have to be fishing or kayaking related.

The first 3 years have been fantastic and I'm sure that year 4 will be even better!

If you have any questions, reach out to Brian or myself.

See you There!
Kevin

 I'm by far no expert but here are a few key things when targeting Kokanee: Depth, Trolling Speed, Presentation, Lure/bait, Weather.

Having a fish finder and a line counter reel on a soft action rod are what work for me.

I fish with two rods and start fishing at staggered depths, usually 10' apart. I do not use a down rigger. I prefer the sliding weight method.

Pay attention and let the fish tell you what they want. Just because you read a report that someone used X bait at X speed at X depth last week doesn't mean that that's what will work today for you.

For me Depth is most important.  90% of the fish I catch come from the surface down to 40'. These are generally  the active feeding fish. When you mark fish, don't drop down and blow right through the middle of them. This will usually spook them and scatter the school. Drop down a foot or two above them.  Often you'll see two schools at once. Ignore the deep school and go for the shallower school first. Make a pass or two. if it doesn't produce then drop to the deeper school.

Trolling Speed can be critical. I usually start slow, 1.2 or less and then bump it up a point at a time until I get hit. I rarely fish faster than 1.6 but sometimes faster works. Once you get hit, make a note of the speed and stay there. Many times I've found that going 1 point faster or slower than the speed they want that day will result in no hits.

Don't just troll in a straight line. Make S turns. When you do this, the outside rod will speed up and the lure will rise slightly. The inside rod will slow down and drop slightly. Many times this will entice a bite from a Koke that's been following but but not committing.

Presentation can change day to day or even hour to hour. Some times they only want a slow subtle set up. The next they go wild for something aggressive. I always start with the subtle stuff and work my way through my terminal tackle toward the aggressive until I find what works. My Subtle tackle starts with a dodger with slow action and muted colors. Aggressive is fast action and bright colors. Remember, you can bend most dodgers to change the action. Leader lengths, both in front of the dodger and between the dodger and your lure play a roll too.

Lure and Bait. If you use a lure with little or no built in action like a Hoochie and Wedding Rings, shorten the leader length between the dodger and the lure to 12" or less. For lures with built in action like Wiggle Hoochies and Flutter Bugs, I go with 12 to 18". I've found that certain lures and colors work well at certain lakes. Typically I'll start with something with Hot Pink. Then change colors till the kokes tell me what they want. Lure size can change too. If you find that you're getting hits on a certain color but only getting short strikes, try down sizing the lure, add more or less bend in the dodger or perhaps increase or decrease your speed a point.
For bait, I primarily use Shoepeg corn with the oil from a can of tuna. I always bring a tub of corn cured with Minced Garlic and another cured with Anise extract.
All my lures have two hooks on them. I put one kernel of corn on each hook. Any more than that may affect the action of the lure. You can also add dye to the corn. Pink, orange and green work well at times. I also carry two jars of Powerbait Maggots. One in Pink and one in Chartreuse. On occasion this is all they will hit.

Weather. Kokes can be caught all year around. I've caught them while it was snowing and raining as well as on scorching 100*+ days. I've found that they do bite better with a little wind chop on the water. I will fish the shore line the wind is blowing against. This is because the wind will usually push the plankton that direction. Regardless of the time of the year the kokanee are light sensitive. In the morning, they tend to be shallow and then move deeper as the sun comes up and the water warms. This is not always the case though, sometimes there will be a plankton bloom when the water warms and the Kokes will be gorging themselves in very shallow water. Moon Phase can play a factor too. I fish any chance I can get so I don't worry about it too much but a full moon bite is normally slower as they tend to feed all night and are not as interested in the morning. More aggressive lure tend to work better during these times as the bite is from reaction and you've just pissed them off!

Well I hope this helps those of you new to kokanee fishing or struggle a bit. Let me know if you have any questions or need specifics on set ups.
Kevin

Hi everyone.... Looking foward to this.... any one want to split one of the double sites.....1D-3D.... a little up the hill from the main party but it is quiter.

Troy

I'm by far no expert…

*proceeds to lay out the the most expert and succinct Kokanee advice*
💯🙌

I’m tbd I’m if I can make it this year 😢 but I really want to.
The 2025 event was a really great time.

I have to go to a wedding that weekend, unless it falls through…

I'm by far no expert…

*proceeds to lay out the the most expert and succinct Kokanee advice*
💯🙌

I’m tbd I’m if I can make it this year 😢 but I really want to.
The 2025 event was a really great time.

Well you beat me last year Pasha. That makes you PRO STAFF!

"the lake also hold some bass and trout...so you might be able to check off 3 fish on your AOT..."

that lake is the best guess from experts to produce the next biggest spotted bass, no?

Booked site 5!

Booked site 10

See you all there can hardly wait.  Hopefully the fish are more active this year.

Troy

Just saw this on the Nothing but Kokanee site!

Draggin’ Flies by Dan
Announcing The 2026 Draggin'Flies Kokanee Krawls
This year my buddy Fin and I will be hostin' 2 Family Friendly, Free, Fishin' Events
The 1st is scheduled for Saturday , May 16th at Bullards Bar Reservoir aka The Bar.

This means that there may be a ton of people and pressure on the Kokanee on Saturday.
Might be best to go up Thursday or Friday to do some scouting so you'll know where to fish and what to use come Saturday morning!
If you haven't booked a camp site yet, better do it now.
Of course, if they are all already booked, reach out to us and we'll double you up with someone that's got space. These camp site are rather large. Well get you in somewhere.
Kevin

Hi Kevin,
I got my site but trying to see if there will be any room for my smallish trailer for the skiff.   I think I have number 10 at the main area but only one parking space.  Would you have a space for it... little bigger than yours but not much.

I plan to be up there Thur

Troy

Troy, we may have to disconnect it from your vehicle but we'll get it in somewhere. Better than leaving it unattended in the main parking lot. Do you have a hitch lock? You can use mine if you don't.
Kevin