Now is a great time to catch kokanee salmon
Kokanee salmon are a very popular fish in the West and certainly so here in Northwest Montana. The kokanee salmon is delicious fried, baked, grilled, smoked and canned.
For the serious Kokanee Konnoisseur, there are two seasons that do not get ignored: September, when kokanee can still be snagged on the Tobacco Root River, and late ice when they get easier and easier to catch, right up until the ice goes out. Late ice is here.
Late ice also is one of the most dangerous periods that we fish, and ice conditions can change by the hour. Only you can make the determination if the ice is safe, and no fish is worth risking your life for. But, there is still good ice to be found and most of our better kokanee lakes are in good shape.
As the snowpack melts off lakes and the ice pack thins, more light is getting into the lakes. Streams are starting to loosen up and flow. Shorelines are warming and that means lake floors are warming and growth under the ice pack is beginning. All of these factors contribute to kokanee becoming more active, and on many lakes they can be found shallower than during winter.
On Ashley Lake during the last week or two of good ice, many anglers hand-line kokanee that are only 3 to 10 feet under the ice. You don’t need a very big or heavy set-up since these fish are shallow and you can make alternate plans for your afternoon — limits come fast and easy under these conditions.
On other lakes, they may not be at the surface at all.
Swan and Bitterroot lakes over the last two days have had tremendous bites going on 3 to10 feet off the bottom. These fish are obviously keying in on mysis shrimp and are eager to feed on anything put in their face. Fishing technique here involves heavier set-ups to help get your bait deeper where the fish are, 100-plus feet on Swan and 200 feet and greater on Bitterroot. Longer rods, braided line and a good fish finder make all the difference here.
Other good area lakes for kokanee this time of year are Lake Five, Echo Lake, Glen Lake and Salmon Lake, and each lake will fish a little differently than the other. Some lakes are good morning bites, some are evening bites and some turn on and off several times each day
The common denominator for fishing kokanee is movement. Kokanee feed primarily on plankton, which tend to be found in large masses. The larger the mass, the more kokanee that will be found therefore creating even more movement. Baits should include an attractor (Swedish pimple or other small vertical jigging spoon) with a small glow hook or jig tied approximately 2 to 3 inches below.
Other popular choices include a Hali jig or the locally made Whiptail by Pete’s Tackle. Both incorporate an attractor with a small hook attached via dropper chain. Bait up with maggots, corn or waxworms and give everything a liberal squirt of Atlas Mike’s glow shrimp oil. When the fish are super aggressive, all you need is the shrimp oil. Check the last 3 to 5 feet of your line regularly as these fighters will wear it out circling the hole as you land them.
I can’t stress enough that safety must be your most important consideration. Shoreline ice is the first to go, and there are days where the ice will be three feet from shore in the afternoon, even though it was there when you set out. A set of ice picks is mandatory this time of year. Wear them. A good old personal flotation device (inflatable or standard) is recommended, too. If you don’t have an amphibious vehicle, it’s time to hoof it and bring along a spud bar to test the ice ahead of you. Wear bright clothing and have a whistle in case you do go through and always let someone know where you are going and when you will be back, especially if you are heading out alone.
It’s a good time to catch kokanee, but be smart and be safe. I’ll see you on the water.