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ICE KOKANEE IN BC BY DANNY COYNE | MACK’S LURE PRO STAFF | BCFISHN.COM are naturally distributed in lakes over, an angler will typically locate within B.C. and now, thanks to the kokanee anywhere from 15-feet Freshwater Society of B.C., down to as deep as 80-feet. The use more lakes are being aggressively of will help improve your odds stocked with kokanee, providing immensely in locating fish. even greater opportunities. The hard season, then, provides The best types of to use an exceptional time for anglers as, when fishing for kokanee are unlike the open-water season, one the flasher types, such as the doesn’t require a boat to reach these Garmin Striker Series of sonars. They One species of fish that is fish. Instead, ice fishing for kokanee provide real-time movement on the continues to grow in popularity to provides an affordable family fishing screen that allows you to drop your target during the hard water season experience that everyone can enjoy. presentation right to the fish. in British Columbia is Kokanee. Kokanee are land-locked sockeye Fishing for kokanee is much salmon that spend their entire different than fishing for trout. life cycle in freshwater. They are Kokanee can thrive in lake that schooling fish and, once your locate rainbow trout may not, due to their the active school, ice fishing for distinctive diet, as they don’t have to kokanee can turn into a fast-action, compete with other fish species. fun-filled day. With their reckless fight, pound-for- Kokanee can thrive in a lake “ pound, kokanee provide an angler that rainbow trout may not due to their distinctive diet, as they with an exciting fishing experience don’t have to compete with like no other. Just like their ocean- “others fish species for food. going brothers, kokanee have deep red, oily flesh that make them superb table fare. Combine their Instead, ice fishing in shallow water, delicious delicacy and amusement you will typically be fishing in lake of catching them, it’s no surprise depths between 50- to 100-feet. The The Sling Blade™ 6” UV Pink was deadly in 2018 that kokanee are the second-most reason for this is because kokanee sought after freshwater game fish in primarily feed on Zooplankton, If you do not have access to a fish British Columbia. which are microscopic organisms finder (sonar), then start fishing at that usually suspend within the mid- 10-feet and work your way down. Many anglers are still new to the water column. It is important to note When fishing with other anglers in concept of ice fishing for kokanee, that zooplankton are light-sensitive, your group, start at 10-feet and as it’s relatively a new fishing which means the brighter days will the other at 15-feet, then progress experience that can no be utilized drive them down deeper and the deeper until you find the fish. Having throughout the province. Kokanee kokanee will follow. During ice- a line-counter on your reel will help MACKSLURE.COM Page 1 recognize the depths in which you TECHNIQUES & TERMINAL TACKLE are fishing. If your reel doesn’t have a line counter, simply count out the The most productive way to catch amount of line in 1-foot pulls that kokanee through the ice is by . you are using. When you discover These little critters are attracted to the fish, you will want to repeat that flash and lots of it! With this in mind, same depth. A good tip is to add a jigging techniques consist of using threaded bobber stop every 20-feet 4- to 6-inch attrators, such as the on your so you can quickly Mack’s Lure Sling Blade™. Run a 6-lb. mark how much line you let out. leader between 14- and 16-inches from the attractor of choice to your The schools of kokanee will cruise lure. Having a variety of colors of throughout the lake, but will tend to attractors will increase your odds Some anglers prefer to use small stay in areas that provide plenty of immensely throughout the day. spoons or jigs, such as the Mack’s food. Even though there is ice cover, UV Pink, Silver, Glow and Gold or Lure Sonic BaitFish™ or Mack’s Lure lakes still ahve current in them, Copper Sling Blade™ dodgers tend Hum Dinger® spoon. The small jigs which can push the zooplankton to to be the best producing colors. and spoons provide that extra bit a specific end. Points and ledges “ of action that invites the kokanee that reach out into the lake can to strike. It is best to try multiple also provide good forage areas Mack’s Lure Glo® Hooks in presentations until you find a pattern for kokanee, as the plankton will red and chartreuse produce, that is working. What is working one be pushed up against these zones. hands down, the best results. day doesn’t necessarily mean it’s When approaching a new body of “ going to work the next. water, simply look around for other signs of anglers — the locals tend The technique in which you want to No matter what lure you’re using, it to find the best-producing areas jig is to jig up-and-down slowly from is best to tip the hook with some sort for kokanee and they don’t change between 6- to 20-inch pulls — just of bait. Popular baits that work great much throughout the year. enough to get the flasher fluttering for kokanee includes pink maggots to attract these curious kokanee. (live or synthetic), krill, shrimp or Once of the great benefits of When there are no fish around, make cured and dyed white shoepeg targeting kokanee during the hard longer swift jigs to get the attractor corn. Take your presentation to the water season is the extended to reflect light to help attract the next level by adding Pro-Cure Bait season. Due to these fish residing in fish from a far. Once the school Scents, such as Krill, Shrimp or Trout deeper areas of the lake, they don’t of kokanee move in, you’ll want to and Kokanee Magic, as it will attract become as deprived of dissolved shorten up the amount in which you fish from a far and get them to strike oxygen as other fish species. Later in are moving the lure. Not only will the on the slowest days. the ice fishing season, such as mid- flash bring in the fish, but also the to late-February, the fish are not as attractor will transfer erratic action It is possible to “still fish” for lethargic and willing to strike a well- to your lure that will encourage the kokanee, which involves suspending presented lure. kokanee to strike. The key is to always the bait with no movement. When keep moving your presentation as using this method, scent and bait are kokanee wil strike very subtly — it’s a must or the fish will not strike. Be the constant jigging that will set the sure to hold the rod in your hand and hook before you even know you have not resort to a rod holder — you will one on. need to set the hook the moment the kokanee bites. The use of bobbers The hook can consist of a plain is not recommended, as the bite is hook or small jigs. Mack’s Lure so light that it will usually not pull Glo® Hooks in red and chartreuse it down. The most effective way produce, hands down, the best to identify a bite is to hold the line results. The added glow appearance between your fingers. Still fishing aids the kokanee to key in on the lure can be effective when the fish are and encourages them to strike. If you somewhat less active and not willing are using a regular hook, choosing to chase your jigging presentation. colors such as chartreuse or red will The bait needs to be directly in front sometimes help entice the bite. If of the kokanee, as most of the time, the hook is tangling with the flasher, they won’t swim upwards to strike a add a small split shot weight to the suspended still presentation. Gorgeous BC Kokanee caught on a Sling middle of the leader. Blade and Sonic BaitFish™ combination. MACKSLURE.COM Page 2 The type isn’t as The Northwest Outdoorsmen heads to BC to important as the presentation, WATCH THIS! target kokanee with the Mack’s Lure Pro Staff however a softer rod will help you recognize the subtle strikes and land more kokanee, as they have soft mouths. A small 5-foot casting rod or an ice fishing rod is adequate — really it’s up to you and what you have within your fishing arsenal.

If you have any questions, you can contact the author, Danny Coyne, on Instagram or Facebook, or visit his website, BCFishn.com. Danny has appeared on several television programs and has been extensively invovled with growing the kokanee fisheries in British Columbia.

presentation. That all changed in the 1) The jig is equipped with a SONIC BAITFISH™ (SBF) off Port Angeles where I could single siwash-style tail hook. see down to at least 23-25 feet. TIPS & TECHNIQUES During the 1980’s, we were blessed a) But, it can also have an optional with huge schools of near-surface nose hook attached. After years feeding chinook salmon. That top of catching over two thousand 25 feet of marine water became fish, on the metal jig, rigged with my visual laboratory for learning and a nose and tail hook, almost every testing how salmon reacted to their fish was hooked on the tail hook. prime forage base of Pacific and candlefish. The wiser and larger b) The Sonic BaitFish is an exception salmon positioned themselves under because of its hybrid design in this bait mass to lazily pick-off the which the hook(s) can be attached injured ones, created by smaller to the tail or nose or to both. salmon crashing through the bait. All predator fish are opportunistic c) A jig, with an attached nose hook, VERTICAL JIGGING VS. and, as with all predators, will never is limited to vertical jigging. Its action CASTING & refuse an easy meal. as a trolled, or cast, lure is poor compared to a tail-hooked metal jig. BY CAPT. PETE ROSKO The primary strike-triggering Reason... the single tail hook acts as action, that cause fish to strike, is an a rudder, similar to that of a plane For my first 35 years of recreational erratic action. Most fishing lures are or boat. The free-swinging tail hook fishing, I cast and trolled. I had no built on that premise. However, it is causes a lively darting action when idea what vertical jigging truly a properly-designed metal jig that cast or trolled. The larger the hook, meant and why it was so effective. separates itself from the rest of the the greater the darting action. A jig That education process began when field. It is a unique lure-type that is with “nose-assist” hooks is incapable I relocated from so versatile that it can fish the world. of this action. Do not confuse the country to Port Angeles, Wash. in That was said about the leadhead versatile Sonic BaitFish with the 1979. jig prior to the creation of metal jigs. limited function of metal jigs with When I created the Crippled Herring hooks on the nose, commonly referred The next 35 years dramatically back in the early 1980’s, it was the to as speed jigs. The Sonic BaitFish is changed my approach to sport first metal jig that looked like a real a finesse jig with built-in action that fishing forever! I quickly learned that , a Pacific herring. Prior to requires little rod movement for lively a buck-tailed leadhead was not that, they were generally referred to action. Because of its versatility, you the same as a metal jig, frequently as “slab spoons” that had little to no can add a nose hook when finesse referred to as a “jigging spoon.” resemblance of a bait fish. jigging but I personally favor only a Because of low visibility water single tail hook. conditions in the Midwest part of This is what I look for in a metal the country, it was impossible to see jig that qualifies as a premier fish 2) The jig can be effectively fished how fish reacted to a particular lure catcher.. whether cast, jigged or trolled.

MACKSLURE.COM Page 3 Back in 1987, A Lake Michigan a slower fall. Cast to near-surface In closing, I hope to eventually write salmon charter Captain, by the feeding fish and it should be a hook- a book on metal jig fishing to cover name of Ed Ruck, called me to share up on every cast as it’s skipped over its wide range of versatile ways to a remarkable experience. That call the surface with the rod held at a 12 fish. From albacore tuna to opened my eyes to trolling metal jigs. o’clock position. and everything in between, a metal His client came on board with a 2 oz jig is so versatile that it can replace a pearl white Crippled Herring that 3) Never overlook ways where closet full of tackle boxes filled with he recently purchased in California. the Sonic Baitfish can be vertically different lures. It truly can fish the It was still in its package. Capt jigged. world and is an exciting way to fish Ruck thought it was a joke since he for the entire family. See photo (left) exclusively trolled with conventional This is the purest form of creating of 6 year-old Floridian Finn Rodgers trolling spoons as did 100% of the strikes... it’s the flash, flutter and with her first Pacific NW trout caught rest of Lake Michigan salmon trollers. vibration of a falling lure that creates on a Sonic BaitFish™ on her very first The client persisted for almost four most strikes. For example in trolling, cast. The fish was quickly released hours, especially since not a single it’s the rod on the inside turn that by Finn. strike was experienced in all that results in the most strikes because time. the line tension on the lure relaxes. Thank you for taking your time to This causes the lure to hesitate and visit this month’s edition of the Mack momentarily fall before line tension Attack. So long until next month! is restored. For shoreline jigging, any vertical shoreline depth greater than five feet will work, especially around UPGRADE YOUR GEAR culverts, docks and along walls in Highlighting new Mack’s Lure gear. marinas. Off bridges, jig the deeper holes near bridge supports. Normally, boat channels are the deepest and most favorable spots. When jigging from a boat on rivers, lakes and ocean, your electronic fish locator is critical to your jigging success. Start jigging only after fish are located. There is no more-effective technique, SCENTFLASH™ UV TRIANGLE FLASHER at catching great numbers of fish, The ScentFlash™ is an 8” high UV than bottom-bouncing a Sonic in-line spinning flasher featuring a BaitFish to fish near bottom! This is patented scent release system. Simply unsnap the ScentFlash™, apply scent to 6-year old Finn Rodger with a Lake Sutherland cutthroat pure joy for a family with children. It trout on her very first cast with a 1/6 oz. Sonic BaitFish™. the premium pad, and snap into place. Finn’s dad is a PhD scientist at Florida State University. is so simple and so deadly-effective The ScentFlash™ will release scent for just about anything that swims. through the water, attracting fish with Capt Ruck had enough with his scent and flash. Each flasher includes pestering client and had an idea to TIPS: SCENT... Very seldom is one (1) ScentFlash™ Pad. Pad packs are silence him. He attached the bare adding scent to the jig necessary. available as a four-pack. MSRP: $15.99 Crippled Herring three feet behind However, at times, tipping may the ball and without any be necessary for certain species attractor. At the end of the day, (9) like walleyes where a nightcrawler keeper chinook salmon were caught. piece added to the jig will increase The score was (8) for the Crippled strikes. JIG SIZE... Select the Herring and (1) for the spoon. My smallest jig to effectively reach eyes were opened! Since then, I your target species. However, never underestimate the value of deeper water and stronger water the metal jig. There is no other lure movement will require a heavier jig BALL TROLL DOWNRIGGER ATTRACTOR type that can be fished in so many to reach where the fish are located. This long, 26” rotational flasher is different ways as the Sonic BaitFish! designed to snap to your downrigger An example is the 1/10 oz Sonic Download the Sonic BaitFish Tech ball. It’s made of large nickel willowleaf BaitFish rigged for casting to bass Guide for more information. blades and high UV beads, which in very shallow water, especially will attract fish from further away by parallel to a shoreline. By attaching combining tremendous amounts of flash and vibration, bringing the fish right a single hook and a free-swinging #0 up to your gear. Includes one (1) Ultra or 00 Indiana blade to the split ring, Release. MSRP: $12.99 the result is extra flash, vibration and

Page 4 QUESTION HOT DEAL OF THE MONTH OF THE MONTH Have a question? We’d love to answer it for you! Shoot us an email at media@ mackslure.com with your question and you may see it featured in an upcoming issue of the Mack Attack Magazine!

Q: How do you a night crawler to a Smile Blade® Slow Death or Super Slow Death Hook or crawler harness?

A: There have been many people asking about this, so Mack’s Lure Pro Staff Ted PHOTO OF THE MONTH Beach made a video about it! But we’ll Mack’s Lure Pro Staff Jesse Lamb and his team recently won the Griggs Winter answer it here, as well. Shootout on the Columbia River. This 13-plus pounder was the catalyst to their win.

A nightcrawler is an effective bait for many species of fish, but particularly walleye. Although they come in many sizes, using these worms can be extremely effective and add to your movement.

For example, when using a Smile Blade® Slow Death or Super Slow Death Rig, start threading the night crawler up the hook and all the way to the eye. Make sure the hook itself is not exposed and the barbs on the hook make the crawler stick in place. Once the crawler is threaded, bend it so it’s perpendicular to the hook, then pinch off the crawler an inch from the back of the hook. This is only a preference.

Click the on the video below to view how Ted rigs up his Slow and Super Slow VIDEO OF THE MONTH Death Hooks. Mack’s Lure Pro Staffer Ted Beach joins Northwest Fishing Reports on the Columbia River to share tips on how to effectively rig a bottom bouncer for walleye fishing.

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To submit your catch, send us an email at [email protected] or tag us on social media using #MacksLure.

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