Kokanee salmon are a popular freshwater game fish found in lakes and reservoirs across North America While often caught by boat anglers, kokanee can also be caught from shore for those without a boat With the right gear, technique, and knowledge of kokanee behavior, shore fishing for these landlocked salmon can be extremely rewarding.
Best Lures for Kokanee from Shore
When shore fishing for kokanee salmon, lure choice is critical to success. Of all the various lures used to catch kokanee from shore, a few stand out as top producers
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Small spinners – Spinners in sizes 0-2 with silver or gold blades work well. Tip the spinner with a piece of worm or corn.
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Soft plastic tubes – Often called “hoochies” or “squids”, these tubes mimick baitfish. Tip with bait. Pink and orange popular.
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Small spoons – Casting spoons like Kastmasters and Krocodiles in 1/4-3/8 oz. Retrieve back to shore with erratic action.
Popular Kokanee lures include small spinners, soft plastic tubes often called “hoochies” or “squids”, and small spoons. Kokanee will hit a variety of lure colors, but the most common colors used are pink and orange. Anglers often attach a Dodger or other flasher just ahead of the lure.
Proven Techniques for Shore Fishing
While having the right lure is critical how you fish those lures is also important when targeting kokanee from shore. Here are the best techniques to catch kokanee without a boat
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Cast & Retrieve – Cast lures like spinners, spoons, and jigs out and retrieve back. Vary retrieve speed until you get bit.
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Vertical Jig – Vertical jigging small jigs or hoochies right below you is deadly. Use rod to lift lure up before letting flutter down.
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Drift Fishing – Let wind/current drift bait/lure along structure. Use just enough weight for vertical drift.
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Pier Fishing – Fish off piers or docks. Let lures and bait sink to depth where kokanee are.
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Still Fishing – A worm below a bobber or baited hooks on bottom can work when still fishing from shore.
Experiment with retrieves and techniques until you find what triggers kokanee to strike on a given day.
Where to Find Kokanee from Shore
Locating fish and understanding their behavior is key to shore fishing success. Look for these high-percentage areas when fishing from shore:
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Creek Inflows & Dam Outflows – Fish where creek channels enter lake or where dam outflows create current.
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Points & Shoals – Inside turns, points of land, and shallow shoal areas hold kokanee.
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Weed Edges – Find weedlines near deep water. Troll or cast parallel to weed growth.
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Drop-Offs – Pitch lures close to shore over underwater drop-offs and ledges.
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Docks & Piers – Fish all around docks and piers which provide access to deeper water.
Position yourself in areas where deep water is close to shore. Focus on structure and transitions where kokanee cruise and feed.
Best Times to Target Kokanee from Shore
Focus your shore fishing efforts during the prime times when kokanee are most active in shallow areas:
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Low Light – Kokanee feed aggressively at dawn and dusk. Fish the first and last hour of light.
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Overcast Days – Cloud cover draws kokanee shallow. Cloudy days mean good midday bites.
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Night – After dark, kokanee move extremely shallow. Night fish under dock lights.
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Fall – Cooling water in fall brings kokanee shallow all day. Great shore fishing.
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Spawn – During the spawn run, kokanee swim into shallow inlets and rivers.
Helpful Tips & Tricks
Follow these key tips to maximize your success shore fishing for kokanee:
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Use light line in the 2-6lb range so lures present naturally. Fluorocarbon is ideal.
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Keep lures and baits small, matching the size of insects and baitfish kokanee feed on.
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Change retrieves until you dial in speed kokanee want. Vary things up.
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Stay mobile. Don’t be afraid to move spots and cover water to stay on fish.
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Have a variety of colors and lure choices to dial in what works each day.
With the right approach, shore-based anglers can enjoy stellar kokanee salmon fishing without a boat. Use the right lures and techniques, target high-percentage spots, and fish during prime times to get your line tight with kokanee from shore!
FAQ
What is the best bait for Kokanee salmon?
Popular Kokanee baits are Pink Maggots (real or synthetic), dyed-cured shrimp and dyed-cured White Shoepeg Corn. Be sure not to put too much bait on the hook as it will take away from the lure’s action. Once piece of corn or 2 small maggots on each hook is adequate.
How do you catch kokanee without trolling?
Another option: jigging
Again, if you are without a fish finder, look for areas where boats (and likely kokanee) are concentrated and start there. Drop your jig deeper than you think the kokanee are likely to be, then gently jig with your rod while slowly reeling your line (just a few turns at a time).
What is the best time of day to catch kokanee?
This is the time most anglers experience the greatest success. Fish all depths from the surface down. The peak fishing periods are dawn and dusk, but kokanee will forage throughout the day.
Why are kokanees hard to catch?
