What's a good Kokanee???

[AJ's Dad]

I'm under educated when it comes to Kokanee fishing. I love to catch crappie and a 13"er is a nice fish especially when caught on ultralight. What is considered to be a good sized Kokanee? I'm used to catching Pike and when you don't catch them at 5lbs or bigger, you normally don't post about it unless to say only the little ones were biting. Is a 12 or 13" Kokanee considered to be a pretty nice fish? Thanks in advance for the education.

[Amx]

One that stays OFFFFF my hooks. I don't know how many rainbows I've caught this year. One or 2 under 10" and about 5 over 16" up to about 22", some day I'll have to measure one, and weight it. Dang things.

[Racer]

Average kokanee around here will run 13 - 15". They get thicker but the length is about the same.

[hanapaa808]

Where are you fishing that the average size koke is 13"-15"?

[Toni]

I have caught them as small as 6 inches at Clear Lake in Pierce County and the biggest I have held was 15 inches this year at American Lake. I saw one in 2010 that was 18 inches from American Lake. The largest Clear Lake kokanee I have caught was 11.5 or 12 inches. Largest at American was 15 but this year the people who can catch them are getting them as large as 16 inches. This is unusual for the beginning of the season.

[Racer]

The 13 -15" average is what I was getting at American last year. So far my biggest this year is 14".

[The Quadfather]

Where are you fishing that the average size koke is 13"-15"?

Ya, I have to say you are lucky to be getting Kokes that size on this side of the mountains. ( I saw your reply Hanna re: American)
I find most Kokanee in the lake I fish, (Cavanaugh- Skagit or N. Snohomish County) to be 11-12" They are a thicker beefier fish than a trout though. To me, a 12" Koke, has the mass of a 14" rainbow.
You should check out the recent reports for lake Samish in Whatcom county. DANG There was a report showing some very nice size fish.
There is a lake in E. Washington, can't remember.... Roosavelt maybe? That has Kokes 3-4lbs. Matt knows the lake,, but I doubt he is telling.

[hewesfisher]

There is a lake in E. Washington, can't remember.... Roosavelt maybe? That has Kokes 3-4lbs. Matt knows the lake,, but I doubt he is telling.

I know it too, and it is Lake Roosevelt.

Bewteen us, my wife holds the honors for biggest koke we've caught there...

[The Quadfather]

And out from deep in the vaults comes the photo.

[natetreat]

That's a nice fish! I'd get on the lakes more often if I was fishing for fish that size.

[Mike@Bills]

This time of year on American the average is usually 13 inches but this year all the ones we are catching are between 15-16 inches which is the size they usually are in October and November. They are not huge over here but they put up a great fight and are very tasty.

[racfish]

I agree those Kokes are humungus. I catch Kokes in Lk Stevens averaging 9-11 inches and Lost Lake near sheton for 9-12" kokes. These were my Kokes last year.

[Bodofish]

Oh come on Ralph, those are sardines, right?

[racfish]

They had 4" heads..... plus thats after smoking for 6 hours

[Toni]

They are footballs. Mini salmon.

[Mike Carey]

They are footballs. Mini salmon.

Let's go Toni!!!

[Toni]

They are footballs. Mini salmon.

Let's go Toni!!!

Unfortunately, I have only caught 2 this year Mike. I went twice over the weekend and only got that dreaded rainbow trout.

[Mike Carey]

After our Riffe lake trip I bought two okuma kokanee rods and nice BPS reels, I'm pumped to go out again. What an addiction!

[hewesfisher]

And out from deep in the vaults comes the photo.

Proof positive they are there Quad and Debbie still ribs me about having caught the best koke.

Other good kokanee lakes in the Spokane/Couer d'Alene area - Priest Lake, ID, Couer d'Alene, ID, and Chapman (if access is granted this year). There are a few more, but they're a little further out from the "metropolitan" areas.

[Toni]

After 3 outings w/o a kokanee I have decided that a good kokanee is one that is on your hook!