June 2017

Walleye On The Lower Columbia By Lance Merz throughout Washington each year came into the boat, a 16” walleye and loves to teach how to fish; and that knocked the funk off the boat. there is an art to fishing this species of fish. We launched in an area of the Lower Columbia, just below the McNary Dam in a place called Crowe Butte. We were fishing in attempts to find some fish to catch for a TV show with Northwest Fishing Reports (NWFR). Due to the harsh winter that was felt by all, the current of the river The Smile Blade® SpinDrift was moving quite fast. Instead of Walleye lure is another alternative moving into the main current, Ted to catching a variety of species of Lance Merz sought his attention to areas of the fish. Walleye fishing on the Columbia river where the current wasn’t as A slow troll downstream revealed River is a destination hot spot for swift. Normally, these areas are a few more fish in the live well; this anglers who seek this predatory closer to shore and range in depths was going to be a good day! There fish. In fact, most walleye anglers of 5-25ft. We were with are parts of the Columbia River will tell you that if you can catch bottom walkers with a 5-6ft leader, that can be very intimidating and if a walleye, you can catch just about primarily using Double Whammy® you’ve never been on that particular any species of fish. Over the past Walleye and Smile Blade® Super area of the river, I’d recommend two years, Departments of Fish and Slow Death Rigs tipped with a night going out with a guide who knows Wildlife in Washington and Oregon crawler. the water. Channels can be very have lifted the limits while fishing shallow, which can take out a lower the Lower Columbia. Studies are unit very easily. There are even showing that walleye are eating areas of the middle of the river that the and Steelhead smolts can be as shallow at six inches! and they want to eliminate the Ted and I fished throughout the species all together. Only one rod day; a fish here and a fish there. is authorized per angler, but there is The fishing was consistent, but plenty of fish to be had for all. it wasn’t lights out for sure. The I had the opportunity to fish with water temperature for fishing was Mack’s Lure Pro Staff angler Ted still a bit chilly (57 degrees), and The Double Whammy® Walleye is the clarity of the water was color of Beach, a professional Walleye a crawler harness that matches the chocolate milk. angler whose knowledge compares hatch. to that of an encyclopedia. When Ted talks about fishing, people It wasn’t long after we started listen. He gives various seminars trolling that the first fish of the day Continued on Page 2 Page 1 Continued from Page 1 were all using Double Whammy® Walleye crawler harnesses and Smile Blade® Super Slow Death Rigs. The hot Smile Blade® of the day however, was the UV Glo® Burst, which produces a tremendous amount of flash and attraction even in murky waters.

A good day of fishing with Mack’s We pushed the limits and decided Lure Pro Staff Ted Beach (second to fish just below the McNary Dam. from left). There was only one guide boat on the water and the preferred method Then the wind picked up. It is was to troll up to the border (a line Bob Loomis and Richy Harrod imperative that if you’re operating a just below the dam that no one is holding their bigger walleye on boat on the Columbia River that you allowed) and drifted down. All but the lower Columbia River. (Photo are aware of the weather conditions one chute was open at the dam and courtesy of Richy Harrod). at the time you are going to fish. the water was swift to say the least. Without warning, the chop on the Even without the wind, swells were Although there are no limits on water can produce 5-6’ swells and consistent at five to six feet. A few parts of the Lower Columbia River, without enough knowledge of boat more walleye were caught in this it doesn’t mean that all fish have to operations, it could be catastrophic. area before the wind picked up, be caught. I have seen first hand Since the wind was so sever on the which forced us back down to the where anglers will go out fishing main channel, Ted decided to tuck slough, and produced more fish in and catch in excess of 100 fish or into a slough which protected us the rain. In all, 40 fish were caught more in one day. In my opinion, from the wind. Not only did we in a two day period. catch what you’re going to eat. Set start to catch walleye, be we also a limit for your boat which will began catching Smallmouth Bass Ted is an excellent teacher. I allow other anglers the ability to and Perch as well. Since walleye learned a different way to up the catch fish as well. are a predatory fish, catching these walleye rod and even learned a new other species was a good sign. way to thread a worm on a hook. What I learned the most from Ted, Mack’s Lure The next day, we decided to fish in was that preparation is essential DOUBLE WHAMMY® another area of the river, adjacent to when fishing for walleye. As with the town of Plymouth, Washington. any other , having the line in WALLEYE SERIES Ted made this decision because the the water longer will eventually lead forecast was calling for wind gusts of to more fish. Ted’s boat was filled up to 22mph that day as well as rain. with additional tackle and riggings We met with the crew of Northwest that made it very easily to slide off Fishing Reports and began to film each lure to try a different color. the show. Mike Carey, owner of the NWFR jumped in the boat with Ted That same week, Bob Loomis and I, and his crew was in another and Richy Harrod took their shot boat fishing as well. We launched at fishing the Lower Columbia as the boat and the conditions were well. They fished in an area of the perfect; calm with no rain. We Columbia adjacent to Maryhill, decided to take advantage of the Washington, at a place called early morning by fishing what Ted “Peach Beach”. Trolling was the called the “Plymouth Slough”, a preferred method, just off the main branch of the Columbia just off the channel using Wally Pop® crawler main channel of the river which if harnesses, as well as Double needed, could protect us from the Whammy® Walleye and the Smile gusts which were coming. The Blade® Super Slow Death Rig. fishing was consistent and again, we

Page 2 to have coffee every morning with Every article in this online Stan’s Space a good guy who owned a sporting presentation is written by goods store. Being at that store often experts. Some are written by The Skinny On provided an opportunity to observe men who have designed prize Swivels & Snaps what a customer did with the box or winning baits for Bob’s company. By Hall-of-Fame Angler the printed material that came with Nobody knows more about Stan Fagerstrom whatever he’d just purchased. Often getting these products to produce. You’re missing one heck of an Part 2 times it went into the nearest trash opportunity if you fail to take I’m not the only one who wants container before the customer even advantage of this information you to have the straight skinny on left the store. yourself. swivels and snaps. What a mistake that was and is. A whole lot of folks, as Bob “Who,” you say, “could that Again, if you want to get satisfactory Schmidt will tell you, already have. possibly be? It sounds like nonsense performance out of whatever tackle The number of “Mack Attack” to me.” Well, it’s not. Think about you buy, get into the habit of reading readers has been growing steadily it for a minute. The owner of the and studying every darn thing you ever since it was introduced. Anglers store where you buy your fishing can get your hands on that might are learning from it and undoubtedly gear wants you to know what you’re help. it’s one of the reasons for the soaring doing, and so does the designer of I’ve been fishing and writing sales of tournament winning Mack’s the lure you’ve got hanging out about it,as well as demonstrating Lure fish clobbering products. And there on the end of your line. and showing folks how to use some yes, some of the information in past Nobody wants you or me to of it at outdoor shows around a articles has dealt with swivels and catch fish more than the guys who sizeable chunk of the world for a snaps. make or market the gear we use to long, long time. This experience Many lures do come equipped catch ‘em with. It’s the only way provided me the rare good fortune with a split ring for a line tie. Like they’re going to stay in business to get to know more than my share Charlie said, “You can use the over the long haul. A beginning of the people involved in tackle split ring to attach your line if you angler rarely has all the answers. building and marketing. Quite choose.” I don’t. The first thing I They are especially unlikely to be often over the years I’ve even had do with a new lure so equipped is knowledgeable about something as a chance to actually fish with some remove the split ring. I always tie seemingly insignificant as swivels of them. a snap on the end of my line. All or snaps. Bob Schmidt, the president of Mack’s Lure, provides an excellent I need do when I want to change example of what I’m talking about. lures is unsnap the one I have on I’ve shared a boat with Bob on a and replace it with something else. It only takes seconds to do so. number of occasions. I’m aware of the keen interest he has in all of us knowing more about the products he makes and markets. It’s something we’ve actually discussed on numerous occasions.

When you get a dandy little Mack’s No need to worry about snaps or Lure Promise Keeper® spinner, swivels when you rig your lure the you’ll find it already is equipped way this expert does. The expert is with a barrel swivel up front. No Bob Schmidt, president or Mack’s need to worry, you can tie direct Sometimes this rig can be dynamite Lures. As I’ve pointed in my column, to the swivel. I like to occasionally for both large and smallmouth bass. nobody wants you and me to know use Mack’s Lure components to I’ll tie my line to that barrel swivel how to use Mack’s Lure products come up wih my own version of the you see on the top end of the leader successfully more than Bob does. Promise Keeper® as you can see at that’s attached to the lure. That’s why he has launched the top of the photo. I’ll tie a small aids like the “Mack Attack.” You’re barrel snap swivel to the end of line Have you ever taken time to missing one heck of a chance to fish with it. study the monthly “Mack Attack” to increase your own angling For a number of years when I still publication Bob makes available at knowledge if you’re not reading that lived in Washington State, I used no charge to anyone who visits this monthly presentation. website? Continued on Page 4 Page 3 Continued from Page 3

Don’t, as I’ve seen some water. I decided to head for the Any time the water temperature newcomers to bass fishing do, hook deepest section of the lake, the east exceeds the comfort zone of any a snap into the split ring on the lure. arm. It didn’t take long to locate fish, my suggestion is to locate deep Use one or the other. Don’t use both. the kokanee that showed up on the water. In a straight line, from shore Some crankbaits come with a fish finder, near bottom in 79 feet to deep water, continue to follow snap attached. Why do you suppose of water. Maximum lake depth is the shoreline drop-off until it stops these fast wobbling little beauties about 81 feet. “stair-casing” then flattens out. It’s come with a stainless steel snap generally at this juncture where the attached to their line? I can tell you. fish will be located. Better yet, if It’s because that little snap lets the it’s located along a shady shoreline lure wiggle the way it must to catch since most fish are light-sensitive. fish consistently. It isn’t as effective Over these many years, I have without it and the people who are found, as a former troller, that marketing those lures know it. vertical in fairly calm water Sometimes little things can and do is very uncomplicated and is more often make a big difference in how effective in catching larger and many fish we put into the boat. As more kokanee than by trolling! The I’ve mentioned many times before, The Sonic BaitFish™ is a great secret is in interpreting fish marks about 10 percent of fishermen catch jigging spoon for targeting many on your electronic fish finder and species of fish, including Kokanee. 90 percent of the fish. I guarantee (Photo courtesy of Mike Hall) the type of jig you use. the anglers who fall into that 10 per cent know when it’s best to use a It was a slow drift, so Al and I TROLLING… snap. You’re not likely to get into rigged up with lighter 1/3 oz Sonic that group until you do also. BaitFish (Mack’s Lure Co.) and It was in the early 1980’s that dropped down to within six feet I started to design, and develop, a Kokanee Jigging With of bottom. Almost immediately, lure for jigging. It was the beginning The Sonic BaitFish™ Al had a fish on. That didn’t take of the Crippled Herring. Trolling (SBF) long to attract unexpected attention. this type of lure never entered my By Captain Pete Rosko A bald eagle nabbed Al’s kokanee mind because I previously trolled as it came to the surface. Then, with spinners and crank baits for My neighbor, Al Brown, and I the same thing happened after I walleyes. Then, in 1987, I received launched at the public ramp on Lake hooked-up. The eagle flew away a call from Ed Ruck who was a Sutherland at 10 am on Monday. with our first two. Afterwards, we Lake Michigan charter captain and Surprisingly, we were the only did manage to get over two dozen salmon troller. By pure accident, fishing boat on the water all day. The more kokanee to the boat without he told me he caught 8 of the 9 water initially was dead calm, perfect further interference. All kokanee that day on a 2 oz for jigging for kokanee. However, ranged in length between 15 and 17 pearl white Crippled Herring. A the surface water temperature was inches…excellent size for so early client originally purchased that lure 73 degrees. Not good for kokanee in the season. in California but never used it as it with their ideal preference of 54 When the wind picked up, we was still in its package. He pestered degrees. Apparently, that was a upgraded to heavier jigs, 1 oz the skipper to try it until he finally, good reason for our boat being Kandlefish, in order to stay near and skeptically, consented. In order the only fishing boat on the water. bottom. In 33 years of jigging at to save time and not go through the Almost always, kokanee become Lake Sutherland, I never fished normal fuss of setting up special completely inactive in such a warm a jig as heavy as this 1 oz’er. It rigging, Capt. Ed attached that water environment. The only thing didn’t matter as the plankton-eating Crippled Herring directly to the between aborting the trip, and kokanee immediately slammed the downrigger weight and only three fishing, were my two Lowrance fish jig. I was jigging one of my salmon feet behind it. Primarily, Ed was finders on board. Over the years, favorites...a fluorescent yellow going to convince his client that this invaluable sonar technology chartreuse back with a glow white trolling a metal jig was “a waste of has made the difference between belly. It was the same finish as on time because it was not a trolling failure and success. Today would the Sonic BaitFish. Almost all the spoon”. To say the least, this well- be no different. The fish had to kokanee that day were caught on seasoned skipper was shocked at the be deep in their attempts to escape this popular salmon-catching finish. results of the day, especially after from the upper column of warm Continued on Page 5 Page 4 Continued from Page 4 being fishless, until agreeing to troll Larry would troll with his favorite In Washington State, I enjoy the Crippled Herring. plastic hoochie. Before Larry fishing freshwater lakes when unexpectedly passed away, I may I cannot fish in saltwater. The have salmon-trolled with him on his Sonic BaitFish is a deadly trout boat a couple dozen times. Time lure when jigged or trolled. I love has a way of eroding one’s memory. keeping things simple! As a result, However, one fact remains clear I only flat line troll in my boat with in that the Crippled Herring was basically the same rig I jig with. (On never skunked in all those “dead a friend’s boat, I will attach a Sonic reckoning” trips with Larry in the BaitFish to whatever trolling device 80’s. I am not a professional troller is on board…downrigger, planners, like my good friend, and Mack’s etc.). When the fish are near surface, Pete’s playground, located just pro-staffer, Mike Hall. Mike is a I flat-line troll. When they are deep, outside of Port Angeles. Photo trolling scientist. However, it’s the I jig. Take advantage of what nature courtesy of Pete Rosko. darting action of the metal jigs I gives you. On internationally- create that catches a lot of different renowned Lake Crescent, the silver- Then there was my good buddy, fish and makes me look good. That blue Sonic BaitFish is deadly for its Larry Guerrette who relocated to includes the Sonic Baitfish. As I unique Beardslee and Port Angeles after leaving Caribou previously mentioned, the 1 oz size its Crescent cutthroat trout. 30-50 Maine to join the Marine Corp. is my favorite to troll. That is one trout days are not uncommon when Larry called every day a bonus day of the reasons that a new 1 oz Sonic flat-line trolling in May and June after surviving all the landings in BaitFish will be available in the not with a 1/2 or 3/4 oz blue silver Sonic the South Pacific during World War too distant future. Baitfish over 55-75 feet of water off II. Larry loved to fish for Chinook I mentioned trolling a 1 ½ oz the Lake Crescent Lodge shoreline. salmon but always considered doing Crippled Herring behind a large During July and August, the trout it with little thought. He generally flasher and consistently catching go deep and suspend in the thermo fished by “dead reckoning”. I think Chinook salmon. However, with cline layer between 80-90 feet. Jig it’s another word for not knowing the smaller-size Sonic BaitFish, I the same 3/4 oz blue silver Sonic what you are doing. He also find that the flasher’s action deadens Baitfish within that thermo cline for loved his uncomplicated 18 foot the critical darting action of the near-stop trout action! The thermo boat and mainly trolled out of it. Sonic BaitFish. This should not be a cline layer is where the trout are Downriggers were too much work problem with a 1 oz Sonic BaitFish more concentrated and larger in for Larry. Instead, he opted for lead that is heavier than the present 3/4 size. ball weights that he would attach oz, and less, sizes. Basically, trolling to the line with a flasher. Larry with a dodger or flasher works best As much as I prefer jigging over had no idea where his presentation with a lure attached that has no trolling, I will fish with my trolling was located relative to any fish in built-in action. Examples are plastic friends for one basic reason. That the water column. That seemed to hoochies or flies. A Sonic BaitFish is to show them that a metal jig can be okay as long as he was fishing. has a flasher-type action built into it out-fish traditional trolling lures. While Larry was trolling, I was as it darts and rotates. This results Also, the metal jig almost always jigging in my boat and catching in flash and vibration…two main will catch the largest salmon. As big numbers of salmon. Then, one sight and sound fish attractants. a former offshore guide in the Gulf day Larry asked me again to fish of Mexico, I also experienced this with him. It seemed as if I refused phenomenon with swift forked-tail to troll with him a thousand times species like barracuda, mackerel, before his latest request. This time, tuna and wahoo. Before the Sonic Ed Ruck’s trolling experience with BaitFish was created, I flat line that 2 oz pearl white Crippled speed-trolled 1 to 2 oz Crippled Herring must have finally registered Herrings and Kandlefish against the in my sub-conscious. At the time, premier tolling plugs of other tackle I considered my 1½ oz chrome companies, including Rapala. In Crippled Herring a good size to every outing, these metal jigs were troll (my favorite 1 oz trolling dominant fish catchers. One of size had not been created yet). the consistent main bite-triggering Continued on Page 6 Page 5 Continued from Page 5 strikes came on the inside turn when the metal jig flutters swiftly Kokanee Fishing 101: backwards on a slack line then The Basics darts forward as the line suddenly By tightens again. Conventional Danny Coyne trolling lures do not have this type of action. Note: The Sonic BaitFish is a hybrid body of the Kandlefish. Over the past 10 years a huge Danny’s wife, Marina, showing It has an optional line attachment “Kokanee Craze” has been ignited off two kokanee caught on a Pee Wee™ Wiggle Hoochie™ on the top of its back for increased within the angling community vibration when vertical jigging. throughout the Pacific Northwest A Kokanee’s size depends on and British Columbia regions. genetics but they are also density My philosophy to fishing is to make Kokanee are second only to dependent, which means their size it easy and enjoyable for everyone. Rainbow Trout as the most popular can be contingent on how many Life can be too complicated. Fishing game fish in British Columbia! But other Kokanee are within the lake is the escape from the pressures and really, what’s there not to like!? competing for food. Typically, complexities of the world. That They’re plentiful, fun to catch and the less Kokanee in a healthy lake includes designing fishing lures for they taste exceptional! the bigger the Kokanee will be. young and old alike. Versatility and Kokanee are also prey for other effectiveness are part of the Sonic All you need to get started are some predator fish such as Rainbow Trout BaitFish. It’s the only lure type that fundamental techniques and the and Char. On average a mature can effectively catch fish whether basic understanding of a Kokanee’s large Rainbow Trout or Bull Trout cast, jigged or trolled. biology. More than often anglers will eat two adult Kokanee per day! tend to misunderstand Kokanee So it’s vital that whatever gear you In closing, I like to share a final tip fishing tactics and pursue them like present while fishing for Kokanee about this coming “odd year” pink when pursuing Rainbow Trout. you do not mimic a threat similar to salmon sport fishing season. Over There are some similar techniques these predator fish. the years, it has been my experience between the two, but a Kokanee’s Kokanee are very sensitive to that the blue silver finish is the best nature to strike your lure is much water temperatures. They prefer color for pinks and not pink/pearl different than a Rainbow Trout. water temps ranging from 45F to white. Deviate from trolling for 54F, with 53F being optimum. Any pinks and cast a blue sliver Sonic Biology of a Kokanee prolonged exposure to temperatures BaitFish with the line attached to the To start, let’s look at the simple greater than 60F can be fatal to the nose. Once your line hits the water, biology of a Kokanee. Kokanee are fish. This is one of the many reasons engage your reel and twitch (not landlocked Sockeye Salmon. Like why Kokanee do not handle catch jerk) your rod on a tight (not loose) Sockeye, Kokanee mature between and release well. line. The resultant action will drive 3 to 5 years of age and then die Locating Kokanee those pinks crazy! Incidentally, once they have spawned. They feed Kokanee can be scattered I use this same technique when almost exclusively on Zooplankton. throughout the lake, so where they casting for large Chinook salmon off They strain zooplankton from the were one day doesn’t mean they the kelp beds west of Port Angeles. water by means of many fine combs will be there today. Using good The 1/3 oz size is a favorite of mine. on their gills called “gill rakers”. sonar will stack the odds in your Cast the smallest lure to effectively They will also eat tiny plants, favor to locate the fish. Kokanee reach your target. The lighter the insects, and freshwater shrimp are a schooling fish that makes lure, the slower the fall for giving when available. Due to the location them easy to locate once you travel any suspended fish more time to see of their food source, Kokanee will over top of the group. Areas in the your lure! spend most of their time suspended lakes in which you want to target mid depth in the lake. It is important are areas with currents, wind blown As always, thanks for subscribing to note that Zooplankton is light points, tight narrow contour lines to the Mack Attack. Your confidence sensitive, which means on brighter and large points that come out into in fishing Mack’s Lure Co. products days the Kokanee’s forage will the main lake. These are all zones is sincerely appreciated. Pete descend in the water column that you will locate Kokanee due to Rosko and the Kokanee will follow. their food source being pushed into these areas.

Continued on Page 7 Page 6 Continued from Page 6 that is unnatural that comes into their respective space; that is as long Dodgers & Flashers as they don’t feel threatened by it. As a dodger travels through the water it moves side-to-side creating Rather than discussing every flash and water displacement Kokanee lure out there, it is best to (sound to a Kokanee). Dodgers mention that there are essentially get the Kokanee’s attention and Downriggers will assist greatly in two categories that all Kokanee call the fish in from a far. Once the getting your presentation to the lures fit into. A lure that has it’s own Kokanee comes in, it’s your lure desired depth. side-to-side action and a lure that that encourages the strike. Using runs straight through the water. The larger dodgers in lakes with high Since Kokanee can range from all important part to note is the length predation can repel Kokanee, as depths of the water column, using in which you run your leader behind mentioned above larger dodgers can downriggers will assist greatly in your dodgers as it differs between mimic a predator fish. It’s a good getting your presentation to the the two types of lures. A lure with idea to have a selection of four to desired depth. If you don’t have its own action, you’ll want to run six inch dodgers within your arsenal downriggers, using a variety of three to four times the length of to provide you with options. Using inline weights will aid in getting the dodger so the lure’s action isn’t larger dodgers in cloudy water will your gear down deep enough to interrupted by the action of the help the fish find your gear, while where the Kokanee reside. When dodger. A lure with no side-to-side in clear water conditions selecting using weights be sure to always action, you’ll want to run it 2 to 2 a small 4-inch dodger can produce count out how much line is being put ½ times the length of the dodger to better results. out and the speed in which you are transfer action from the dodger to Choosing a dodger that can be trolling; this way you can duplicate the lure. “tuned” is a good idea. The Mack’s the results once you get into fish. A few popular types of lures are: Lure Sling Blade™ Dodger is one of the most popular Kokanee dodgers Kokanee Tackle Action Lures: on today’s market because it can There has been a lot of innovation • Mack’s Lure Wiggle be bent to add or reduce the action. and advancement in Kokanee tackle Hoochie™ The added bend creates more action over the past decade. The old Gang • Hum Dinger® Spoon that the dodger will transfer to the Trolls and Ford Fenders which were • Cripplure™ lure and the more “thump” will be once favored by anglers are now created to attract the fish in. quickly becoming a thing of the Non-Action Lures: Using inline flashers such as past. Instead of using heavy metal • Mack’s Lure Smile a Mack’s Lure Flash Lite® 4-Blade gear that weighs down your rod, Blade® Kokanee Hoochie Series can be a great tool for when anglers are now switching to ultra • Wedding Ring® long lining without downriggers or light tackle options with medium ­ • Pee Wee™ Spinner Hoochie when the fish are scattered and not slow action rods. Using this lighter as tightly schooled. Since inline gear allows one to play the fish and Kokanee are attracted to a variety flashers have rotating blades and run absorb the Kokanee’s aggressive of colors ranging from hot pinks, straight through the water they will fight with increased amount of fluorescent red, bright orange and not add action to your lure. Selecting fish being landed rather than lost. chartreuse. Using UV and Glow a lure with it’s own action or with a colors are excellent during low light spinner is crucial when using this Lures conditions and when fishing deeper type of attractor. Leader lengths vary There are a variety of Kokanee water. between 15 to 30 inches depending lures on the market today and on water clarity, when there is less majority of the tackle that we present water clarity use shorter leaders. to a Kokanee are not imitating something natural that they will eat. Scent & Bait Instead, Kokanee lures are created Tipping your lure with a piece of in a way to “tick them off” and bait will help close the deal once get them irritated to entice a bite! the Kokanee approaches your lure. Kokanee are like aggressive little The Sling Blade™ can be bent to Popular Kokanee baits are Pink bulldogs that will attack anything increase or decrease action. Maggots (real or synthetic), dyed-

Continued on Page 8 Page 7 Continued from Page 7 cured shrimp and dyed-cured White speeds are used when trolling for downrigger up one turn and then Shoepeg Corn. Be sure not to put Kokanee. Unlike when fishing for back down will all help persuade too much bait on the hook as it will Rainbow Trout where the average a Kokanee to strike your gear. take away from the lure’s action. speed is over 2mph, speeds for Once piece of corn or two small Kokanee range from .8 to 1.8 mph. Kokanee fishing can sometimes maggots on each hook is adequate. be challenging but once you get Anytime I’m Kokanee fishing Kokanee tend to follow your gear your presentation just right to the I’m adding scent! Yes, you can for miles around the lake until conditions you will have a lot of catch Kokanee without it but if you something changes. At which point fun bringing them into the boat. really want to increase your odds in the Kokanee thinks your lure is Some days will be much easier catching more Kokanee using scent getting away or they get annoyed than others but keep applying these is key! Consider this: Kokanee are with it and strike. This is why it’s basic methods and you will have said to have a hundred times greater important to troll in a way that consistent results. The important sense of smell than a Bloodhound it puts erratic action onto your thing is to get out and give Kokanee Dog! Sockeye Salmon will make presentation. Trolling tactics such fishing a try, experiment and most a run up a river over 1000kms to as “S” Turns, stop and go, speed up of all have fun! the same water in which they came then down, or even bringing your from based on scent alone! Not only does adding scent to your bait and lure provide a scent trail that helps the Kokanee hone SLING BLADE™ SUPER GLOW 4” in on your gear and tempt them to strike, but it helps mask any other unwanted smells that may repel a Kokanee. Let’s face it, our human smell is not a natural attractant to Kokanee and neither is sunscreen, gas or that stinky sandwich we had for lunch.

Always use scents when fishing for Kokanee.

Some of the popular attractant scents are Shrimp/Krill Super Gel, Kokanee Special Super Gel, Bloody Tuna Super Gel. Using scents that are irritants to Kokanee such as Garlic or Anise will also help yield results when the fish aren’t as active. Kokanee tend to attack these irritant smells out of sheer aggression.

Trolling Speeds & Tactics Establishing the correct trolling speeds is necessary when it comes to Kokanee fishing. Much slower

Page 8 of using a snubber is when fishing HOT DEAL OF Question of the Month deep. Fishing deep gives more elasticity to the line which will hold the fish on as well. How do you rig THE MONTH Have a question? We’d love to answer it? From the main line, attached a it! Contact us at MacksLure@Mack- Mack’s Lure Smile swivel and then attach the snubber, sLure.com if you have a question you Blade® Shad Slammer™ which attaches to the top of the would like to see featured! dodger. It’s just a preference, but Q: What is a snubber and how you can attach the snubber either do you rig it? above or below the dodger. As the shad begin to flow up river, the Mack’s Lure Smile A: A snubber is essentially a The staff at Mack’s Lure is always Blade® Shad Slammer is the rubber band that helps reeling in a committed to providing a quality perfect lure to use! Not only smaller, more aggressive fish. It’s product. We want your input! If does this lure catch Shad, but designed to act as a shock absorber, you know of anyone who would it catches other fish as well, which minimizes the chance of like to be on the mailing list to such as Trout, Kokanee, and losing a fish when reeling it in. In receive the Mack Attack, please Panfish. Enter code “Slam10” addition to using a snubber, using a forward their email address to Al@ and receive 10% off of the Shad good monofilament line also gives MacksLure.com. Photos, stories, Slammer. a needed stretch to help hold that and comments are welcomed fish on. Monofilament line gives and encouraged. Please forward Enter code: the most stretch and a snubber all content materials to Media@ compliments its ability, especially MacksLure.com THANK YOU! if the rod doesn’t match the type Slam10 of fishing. Another ideal situation

Photo of the Month Video of the Month

Check out the new video of the Mack’s Lure Shuttle Hawk™, a down rigger release system that offers more of an advantage of stacking multiple lines on a down rigger. Click Here for video. If you have video’s to share, we’d love to see them!! Send your video links to: Al@MacksLure. com Mack’s Lure Pro Staff Jerry Brown of JB KingFisher Adventure guide service displays an array of the Smile Blade® Shad Slammer!

Send your photo’s to [email protected] for consideration to be included in a future Mack Attack edition or on Facebook.

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