Stampede Kokanee?

I haven’t caught any Kokanee salmon. I am thinking to go try Stampede lake near Truckee. Appreciate any info regarding where to launch kayak and where to troll, etc.

Hi Jonny,
No info but I am going up for a week in July camping and fishing....so I will be watching this thread.
Troy

My total Kokanee fishing experience consists of 1 attempt, at Hell Hole Reservoir. Beginner’s luck was on my side and I got a limit. It’s a very fun kind of fishing. Good luck!




 

Launch at the boat launch located on the south side of the lake, west of the dam. Easy to spot on google earth. Troll toward the dam. Use pink.

Take all this with a grain of salt, I’ve only gone there twice.

 
 My only Kokanee experience was on Bullard bar lake in my 12’ alum. Boat.  Only way to catch limit was using lead line, 4 colors out and a yellow rooster tail trolling slowly. This, however was many years again late 80’s early 90’s. So no help from me.

Launch near the campground, and head towards the dam. Figure 8s or whatever you prefer through that area. Ima head up for  a day trip when I get my new boat setup.

Check in w Mountain Hardware for area/lure advice, but the standard works, hoochies, brads, wedding rings, pinks, oranges, corn, maggots, etc. Here is their regional report:

https://mountainhardwareandsports.com/inside-mountain-hardware/fishing-reports/

Hit us w a followup if u go! Cheers.

I've never fished it but I'm planning on doing a Donner/Stampede trip hopefully in mid to late June.

There are a ton of video's out there.
General, My setup is as follows;
6-10lb main. On the main line, put on one of the little red weight sliders (Sorry, I don't know what the name of them is). On the slider I use 1, 2 or 3oz torpedo's or ball weights.
Then tie on a bead/chain swivel to the main line. This is important to keep the line from twisting. From the Chain swivel add about 3-4' 6lb leader. Tie on a 4" dodger. Tie on your lure about 6-8" from dodger. Troll at 1.2 to 1.8mph depending on what the Kokes want.

Tackle- Underlined are my go to's.

 Dodgers- 4" in several color combos, Chrome/Pink, Chrome/Watermelon and Brass/Orange. Sometimes the Kokes can be skittish so that's when the Brass/Orange is used.

 Lures- Paulina Peak Micro Hootchies with double hooks in Hot Pink. Wedding Rings, Spin-n-Glows, Apex's, Brads kokanee Killers.

Bait- Shoe peg or White caned corn. I make 3 different batches. You don't need the expensive cures or scents they sell at the tackle stores!

1-put the drained corn on a paper towel and pat dry
2-place 1/3rd of corn in a zip-lock bag, 3 bags total.
Do not use iodized salt!
3- Bag 1, Add 2 teaspoons of Kosher Salt and 1 spoon full of minced garlic.  Done.
    Bag 2, add 2 teaspoons Kosher salt and 2 teaspoons Table sugar. Done.
    Bag 3, add 2 Teaspoons Kosher salt and add 6 drops of Anise extract. (You can find this in the baking section with the Vanilla and other flavors). Done
4- Close bags and mix.

That's it! Time to go fishing.

Feel free to ask any questions you have.

Kevin

They’ll be shallow this time of year. Get on the water as early as possible, grey light is best. Send your rig down 1-5’. I doubt they are any deeper than 10’ right now. Stampede Kokanee seem to like wedding rings and other smaller presentations, but it can and does change from year to year.

There will likely be a guide boat or two out there, They’ll be Kokanee fishing, so I would head in whatever direction you see the boats with graphics. If they aren’t around to give you a notion about which way to head, I’d start fishing right out in front of the ramp in about 30 fow. head towards the islands, and if you aren’t in the fish by the time you complete one pass along the island shoreline, head for the dam.

My approach is exactly what 3$J has said. Launch from the boat ramp area and head towards the dam. I use 4 inch dodgers and have done best on wedding rings at Stampede. Top colors for me have been green followed by red. Would love to see a report!

Thanks for all the very helpful inputs. Hopefully I can catch my first Kokanee. Will give a report after.

Actually I may be up there Saturday AM, if anyone is planning. Might hit Donner Friday PM too.

I launch from the boat ramp and have pulled limits going either direction. I have done well trolling along the island toward the dam as well as in the channel toward the west end of the lake. The bite is better early, and I try to get there before sunrise, especially now when they’re shallow, but as long as the wind doesn’t blow you off the water, they’ll bite through the morning. The Kokanee are not huge in Stampede, but they’re good to eat. I was out there a couple of weeks ago and not too many boats were out yet, and the biggest I bagged was 12”, but that’s Stampede for you. I caught a few off the DR at 20’, and a couple while top lining. Watch the FF and adjust your depth when you see the marks.

As far as gear, I go with a wedding ring, or a hoochie, 30 to 36” behind a dodger. Pink is the first color I drop, but chartreuse, red, and orange can work too. I tip the trailing hook with corn… and I use whatever happens to be in the freezer at the time, and they seem to go after it, so I stay with that.

This weekend I’m busy with recerts, but the Mrs. gives me hall passes when others are going…

Actually I may be up there Saturday AM, if anyone is planning. Might hit Donner Friday PM too.

If you’re going to hit Donner Friday afternoon, I should be able to join you… though we may be windy in the afternoons starting Thursday

I haven’t caught any Kokanee salmon. I am thinking to go try Stampede lake near Truckee. Appreciate any info regarding where to launch kayak and where to troll, etc.

I don't think you will have a problem catching koks there now. I went out yesterday and they were hitting all morning. I fish shallow so usually by 8 the koks quit biting, but all morning they hit. I switched to spoons looking for holdover trout and I still caught koks. The boats that launched with me were all off the water by 10 so they limited early. Most were 12-12.75" but I got a couple at 14."