Has anyone caught Kokes on a Kayak at Lake Berryessa? Is this possible?

I'm itching to go to Berry with my Hobie Outback and try for Kokes, but everytime I've gone out there I haven't seen anyone fishing in their yaks. Has this happend before and any tips on where to launch, setup for yak, etc etc?

Yes it has, but not by me.
I've never been to Berry.
And as far as I know, any fish is possible to catch from a kayak.

Thanks Tote. I'm sure Trolling is the way to go on a yak out there, but im wondering about baitfishing for kokes and just anchoring up somewhere, or using leadcore (if that's effective?) I don't wanna start rigging my yak up with DRs and drilling holes, im bad at the stuff and it can get costly.  I just wanna go out and catch them yummy morsels..lol. I know Kings are deep maybe 100 feet so thats out of the question.

Kokonee are down deep too.
Right now people are trolling for them @ 40'-60' in over 100' of water. If you're not trolling your best bet is jigging for them.
Good luck

Kokonee are down deep too.
Right now people are trolling for them @ 40'-60' in over 100' of water. If you're not trolling your best bet is jigging for them.
Good luck

What would you use to jig for them if you dont mind me asking? What kind of setup is this?

I went out there on Sunday with a friend on his boat.  We launched from the free public ramp and went to the " Ranch House" and "Big Island".  We trolled mainly hoochie, I think pink and blue color, red apex, a GVX Tequila Sunrise.  We we at about 45' and 53'.  We were going about 1.75 mph.  We trolled for 8 hours and only caught 5.  They were good sized, 18", 17".

The day before, my friend was told by another fisherman that the bite was really good.  On Sunday, other fishermen we commenting on Ch. 69 on how slow the bite was.

I did appreciate many other fishermen telling people on Ch.69 what color, lures, depth, and approximate locations fish were being caught at. 

I think it would take hours to get from the launch ramp to those spots on a kayak. Sorry, this was the first time for me there.   I don't know of any closer launch sites. 

When my friend was changing lures, I started practicing with my new bass bait casting reel.  I was tossing a orange 5' Senko and reeling it back in.  I got a small birds nest and untangled it.  I noticed that the line was at the back of the boat so I reeled in really fast so it would not get tangled in the other lines or motor.  As I looked down, just as it was about 1' away, I saw a bass turn away from the boat.  It was going after a the worm.   This was in the middle of the lake. 

newfish - I was out there on Sunday too with my friend we hammered the Kokes come mid afternoon trolling, 7 to the boat! Biggest at 19.5 inches. We were using GVF Tequila Sunrise with Koke Special on Shoe Peg corn. My friend was actually on the radio giving his report. That was an awesome day. We were down 47-55 feet by the ranch house. Your right it would be a paddle to the big island. I hear theres a spot called Cappell Cove that may be closer to launch from but I don't know if it's open? Anyone know?

I been out there a lot but really wanna get out on their on my yak and get kokes. That would be ridiculously rad.

Search my post history in the members only forum and you'll get pretty much all the beta you need for kokes at Berry.  Launching at Capell is probably a 3 mile to good koke hunting, launch at Oak Shores puts you closer to Big Island / Ranch House areas.  Probably 2 miles out to Big I.

StephL - we were out there from 6:30 am to about 2:30 pm.  On Saturday, I heard the bite turned on at 3:00 pm.  I guess the fish are biting in the afternoon. 

I think we heard you friend's report.  My fishing pal, is a lure junkie.  He had a ton of lures with him.  When we heard over the radio that the Tequila Sunrise was working, my friend changed to that.   

Thanks to you and your friend for the "assist".

Thanks Tote. I'm sure Trolling is the way to go on a yak out there, but im wondering about baitfishing for kokes and just anchoring up somewhere, or using leadcore (if that's effective?) I don't wanna start rigging my yak up with DRs and drilling holes, im bad at the stuff and it can get costly.  I just wanna go out and catch them yummy morsels..lol. I know Kings are deep maybe 100 feet so thats out of the question.

I have a hobie outback as well, I outfitted mine with a vise one cannon which requires no drilling and is removable. I put it right side near the handle. You will also need a fishfinder to really get afterthe Kokanee in any lake during the summer unless jigging. I am planning a trip out to berry very soon my my first Kokanee troll there, will pm u in advance to see if you want to hook up. Good luck

StephL - we were out there from 6:30 am to about 2:30 pm.  On Saturday, I heard the bite turned on at 3:00 pm.  I guess the fish are biting in the afternoon. 

I think we heard you friend's report.  My fishing pal, is a lure junkie.  He had a ton of lures with him.  When we heard over the radio that the Tequila Sunrise was working, my friend changed to that.   

Thanks to you and your friend for the "assist".

newfish - we got there at 8am and stayed till 3pm. I think the bite turned on around noonish. 17.5 10 19.5 inchers so not a bad day, considering out last trip out i was slow. My buddy is on the GVF pro staff so he always likes to try different lures, I still have a ton to learn but im learning that koke fishing gets to be addicting, esp with all the different lures lol. Glad you guys soaked up the tips, always nice to share info on the radio. I'm waiting for my VHF in the mail and soon I will be as well! 

Thanks Tote. I'm sure Trolling is the way to go on a yak out there, but im wondering about baitfishing for kokes and just anchoring up somewhere, or using leadcore (if that's effective?) I don't wanna start rigging my yak up with DRs and drilling holes, im bad at the stuff and it can get costly.  I just wanna go out and catch them yummy morsels..lol. I know Kings are deep maybe 100 feet so thats out of the question.

I have a hobie outback as well, I outfitted mine with a vise one cannon which requires no drilling and is removable. I put it right side near the handle. You will also need a fishfinder to really get afterthe Kokanee in any lake during the summer unless jigging. I am planning a trip out to berry very soon my my first Kokanee troll there, will pm u in advance to see if you want to hook up. Good luck

Thanks Motherlode def let me know when you plan on going out and I'll meet up with you. I will look into that Vise One cannon. I may also look into a Deep 6 Diver, if it can go deep.

Launching at Capell is probably a 3 mile to good koke hunting, launch at Oak Shores puts you closer to Big Island / Ranch House areas.  Probably 2 miles out to Big I.

2 or 3 miles isn't very far - especially with a Hobie.  It's like an hour of leisurely paddling or a 30 to 45 minute workout.  Get on that!

A DeepSix will definitely work, and so will a banana weight.

And I'm w/ Tote - any fish can be caught from a kayak, but you gotta GO FOR IT!!

Good luck.   

I'm looking forward to Dawn Patrol Koke Hunting up at Tahoe out of the Keys in late July/early August.  Smallest DeepSix, Sepp's Dodger, Wedding Ring - only about 20-30 feet down if I remember right.  What a hoot - MINI SALMON!   

My friend said that from Markley Cove, you can launch there and peddle to the "Ball Park" which is about 300-400 yards away.  Another 300-400 yards away is the dam.   He said that he has got fish there. 

Launch at capell cove and head out you will go past the no wake bouy then you will come into another cove with a buoy in that one as well not far at all. Water is around a 100'. I was there on thursday and towed in a guy from there who was in a 10ft aluminum boat with a electric motor and a dead battery. Wind was blowing about 20mph. He and another boat were trolling in there and got 9 between the 2