Bought koke for $8 *video*

Had high hopes with the reports, and by god the kokes were there but didn't wan't my offerings. I marked huuuuge schools of fish. 200 yards wide and fish were from 12-42 feet thick as well. Had many many hits dragging my lures through the schools but only had one fish stick and he was hooked good. All the boats around me were popping doubles and triples, nets flying everywhere. Wish I could have filled my limit but oh well. Caught my first koke. I am glad I stuck it out with trolling, for a while there I quit and just hammered the bass. Lots and lots one after another, all small fish but fun.

Water was like glass pretty much until 1:30pm when I got off the water. No one was at shack to pay when i came in and didn't see an iron ranger so I figured I'd just pay when I drove out. But when I went to pay I was surprised with an $8 charge! Oh well whatever. I got so used to the free access to this lake. I will be back to this lake soon. I got tips by other guys at the fish cleaning station so I'm going to give it another try!

Put 8.10 Miles on the gps. Launched at Tuttle town, trolled to the spillway, then to the dam, then halfway to the spillway and then poked around back to the launch. I'll get the track map up here in a bit.

I saw a bunch of different kayakers out there. A group of SOTs I ouldnt catch up to then I saw snapperhead in the tandem but I was to busy hammering the bass at the spillway by the time I was ready to go say hi they were way far away. Here are the pics.

Jeff

Here's my report that I posted to your other post on Hook-ups. I thought that was you, but couldn't remember your name. I never foung the schools of kokes, just singles. I did bring my extra downrigger, but left it in the truck, cause I forgot to get back to you before I left. I talked to a few guys who fished the 49 bridge and they got limits of kokes as well. I've never fished for bass and woul;d love a lesson; anywhere! I might be able to get back out on saturday, but can't tell for sure til friday.

"My daughter and I went up today as well. Was that you by the spillway? We were in a red two seater trolling for trout. The kokes ended up being shy by the spillway and since we lauched at Glory Hole we didn't want to go down to the dam.We had a few take downs, lost one at the boat and boated 1 koke and 1 rainbow. The rainbow was a nice 3 1/2lber! It put up a great fight and went airborn once before we netted him. I'll try and post some pics in a few.

I never found the schools of kokes, just singles.

There was a big school right by the spillway, then the long school I caught my koke in was halfway between the spillway and the dam in 70 fow with my lure down at 28 feet @ 1.7 mph. The guys I talked to said they were catching all their kokes right out in front of the Tuttletown launch.

Jeff

Looks like a wonderful day to be on the water. I'm chained to work and my honey-do list for another week ... oh well.

What did the guys at the cleaning station have to say?

Ben

We were gona go to tuttle town, but decided on glory hole. Luck of the draw.

Looks like a nice day on the lake.  Thanks for the report and pictures.

Good for you Jeff!  At least you did not drop yours!  I wish I could have made it, but glad to be back to work.  I will hit it up Sunday with the kids, set them up on the bank, and then go out for kokes.  What did you get yours on?  Shoot me a pm, I will send you some hoochies I tied up.

jeff did you use a two hook rig or only one?  could be why you were missing hits.

jeff did you use a two hook rig or only one?  could be why you were missing hits.

I was using a large wedding ring spinner with a stinger. I talked to other guys as well and they were having the same results. Lots of lost fish.

I forgot to add that these fish come up easy but when the get to the surface they sure act like a salmon. Thrashing hard.

Jeff

It is really easy to tear the mouth on the early season kokes. They have incredibly soft mouths. If you set the hook you will tear it out. If you have a stick rod, you will tear it out. Some guys user a small rubber snubber to help with the lost hook ups.

Way to go up there!

-Brian G

Good photo report.

Long limber glass rod and very light drag will help.

The largemouth fishing should be getting interesting by now.  Did you try for em?

When did they start charging day use fees there?  I wonder if the fees actually improve the facilities or does it go into a dark hole somewhere.  They had good facilities when it was free, and it wasn't crowded even on big weekends.

The hoochies I am tying with the treble, should be good for short strikes, and lost fish at the yak, might hold them a few longer, I am waiting to try them out.

I like using the hoochies and small apexes.  Congrats on the kokanee though!!!.

jeff did you use a two hook rig or only one?  could be why you were missing hits.

 I had four strikes that went without releasing the downrigger. I was using a hoochi on one and a uncle larry spinner one the other; both had double hooks. I've never missed more kokes than caught.

Jeff, not sure if your using your bass rod for the kokes, but if you are you must use the rubber snubbers. BTW, I love that shot of your F/F with the fish schooled up.
If I go on saturday, I think I'm going to launch at the 49 bridge. The guys there caught alot of fish and with the yak you can launch right there.

Did I miss what lake this was on?
   49, is that Millerton?