1st Annual Berryessa Salmon Slam Apr. 2, 2011...IT'S ON!

yeah I have some glo beads i will try on the next few. the white one is actually a glo hoochie. I have some different spinner blades that I can try. I have a hard time getting double snells that close. I also have some wedding rings that I tied. I use 10lb flour. seems plenty strong

This may sound like a dumb question, but i'll ask it anyways    If you need a whippy rod, or have to use a snubber to impart some 'give' to the leader when the fish hits, why use Floral instead of Mono?

I'll buy a tee-shirt.

its what i had and I was thinking the flour would be less visible. My main line on my koke rod is mono. I am guessing the 5 ft of leader I am using for these won't make that much diff it were mono.

This may sound like a dumb question, but i'll ask it anyways    If you need a whippy rod, or have to use a snubber to impart some 'give' to the leader when the fish hits, why use Floral instead of Mono?

Al, its not that you have to "give" to the bite of the fish, its the fact that these fish have very terrible mouths that tear easily, not to mention they have very vicious headshakes and jump and go absolutely CRAZY when hooked! The limber rod matched with a light, giving, but smooth drag plays these fish perfectly. Using mono is absolutely find, probably even better as it does stretch more than flouro, but 6lb flouro is less visible, but still giving and strong enough to handle these fish w/o a problem. I just like it personally.That was a good question Al.

I'm not a Koke expert but instead of putting only blades in front of the hoochies, try making a few with wigglefin action discs.  It imparts quite a bit of action.

I am def in, and will make a bunch of pink hoochies to hand out if guys want them.

I'd take some!  

I'm not a Koke expert but instead of putting only blades in front of the hoochies, try making a few with wigglefin action discs.  It imparts quite a bit of action.

I am def in, and will make a bunch of pink hoochies to hand out if guys want them.

I'd take some!  

almost looks/acts like a scrounger head for bass....hmmmm?

Extremely generous of you two to do this.  I am planning on being there.  I don't know how to catch
either fish.  Can you give us a tutorial?

I am willing to help with logistics if you need.

Count me in.  Ricci, you da man!

kokes and kings are not line shy.  some guys use 15-20lb fluoro for their leaders.  I use fluoro for my leaders because mono tends to be too limp and doesn't impart the dodger's action to the lure as well.

i always run short leaders behind my dodgers, 12-24" but usually 18.  the kokes are seriously not shy about anything, they are attacking out of aggression not hunger.  kokes are plankton feeders only.  I don't know much about kings other than rolling shad.  they will hit the same things as kokes do as well.  i don't use snubbers because i use really soft downrigger rods...the shimano talora kokanee rod is a great rod for downrigger fishing.

i'm fairly sure i won't make it to this event but i think i'll be at berry a couple weeks after since we're going to davis for picnic day again this year. 

Here's a good youtube video showing how kokes react to baits underwater...you can see how aggressive some of them can be. you can also see what a dodger and koke lure looks like with short leaders.  with bug type lures i use short leaders, with spinners i go 18".

http://www.youtube.com/user/HiTechKoke#p/u/10/0eH79W0MSPM

oh and bergie, my favorite hooks for kokes are size 4 red gami octopus. 

double snell is easy - the trick is to snell the rear hook first, then do the "easy snell" on the front hook.  the kokes won't break the line so the easy snell works just fine.  run the leader backwards through the eyelet on the front hook, spiral back a minimum 8-10 times, tighten, wet the knot and run it back through the eye.  its much easier to tie double snells this way.  if you don't know what i'm talking about i can make a short video of it.

thanks ben I will give that knot a shot. thanks for the vid. seems like the hits came when the lure had a wider more wild motion. kinda like flopping around

yes! good vid Ben!  is it an illusion or is the doger only tied to the line at the top hole(not tying the leader to the dodger bottom hole)  it looks like it is just swinging from top hole..... is that for a reason?

oops.  yeah it is probably an illusion.  i am sure he has his leader tied to the rear of the dodger. the reason the rear of the dodger is pointing downwards is due to the boat's slow speed.

the faster you go, the more the dodger wobbles rather than swings and spins side to side.  the kokanee guys generally troll dodgers real slow, 0.8-1.1mph.  i am in the 0.9 to 1.1 range normally but wow you can get pretty bored at that slow speed.

10-4......i know how they are normally rigged, but the slow speed made it appear as though it was just hanging = thanks for the clearification........i will be envisioning that video every minute of mu troll.