Man you hit the nail on the head regarding Colorado. 11 mile by far puts out the largest Kokanee on average here, and you are correct, it can be a very tough lake to figure out. It took me two years of grinding away to dial it in, and unfortunately our culture in Colorado is not one in which we anglers share what we’ve learned with other anglers. I will however share with my fellow Colorado anglers one lake that has rebounded well and is once again putting out Kokanee of a consistently large size, and that is green mountain reservoir. If you’re looking for a good day of fast action, easy fishing and large kokanee, go to green mountain reservoir, most of the four year old fish this year were 18-19 inches, and I personally caught several 20 inch kokanee out of there before they ran up the blue river. The lake has been through some rough times thanks to our incompetent fisheries management, but despite that, it has rebounded quite well.
Green mountain definitely is starting to grow some large salmon just looking at the spawners up the blue rarely seeing any fish under like 16 last couple years. We’ll see how that holds up since colorado kinda feels like they don’t ever really mange for em. And there is a lot of predation in that lake with lakers and pike. Could end up being size and not numbers fishery but really good to hear your also catching lots of em. Im usually a fly fishing guy but I love to keep tabs on the reservoirs since I do deploy the kayak from time to time and partake in ice fishing on those same reservoirs.
Gill Lice have decimated the Kokanee in 11 Mile….yes it definitely can produce large fish but the vast majority die off from the gill lice. Huge die off 75+% back in 2016 I believe and it has never recovered.
Thanks for an update and prediction for 2025. I've found your videos to be very accurate. The 2024 season found me at Fontanelle twice and once to Holter. Phenomenal fishing at both reservoirs. Planning a move from SE Idaho to Helena to be closer to grandsons in Bozeman and be closer to the terrific fishing opportunities.
Great video Tyler! I'm hoping to try Kal & Wood lake in 2025. You'll need to update your map to include the Yukon and Alaska (although they will probably be coded as red/bad chance). Yukon has 8 stocked lakes and a few watersheds with wild fish. I think Alaska you can fish for them in Copper Lake.
This year 2024 is my first year Kokanees fishing. A huge Thank you goes to you and, a with the help of my fishing knowledge i was able to continuously catch 16-19 inch Kokanees, and yes always catching full limits every Kokanee fishing trip. Much respect Thank you, your the #1 Kokanee fisher in my book.
My 1st trip to Fontenelle was a huge success. Thanks to your video of that lake put me on to a limit of 20" to 22" fish. I've never see a kokanee hit that hard on a take down. Fabulous.
Thanks for the info! I live very close to Holter and I didn't realize it was such a good Kokanee fishery. I'll be sure to give it a try. Holter and Houser lake have Kokanee, but, Canyon Ferry which feeds the other two has no Kokanee. Maybe the rainbows are them all 🤷
Nice work on this video Tyler. Very informative and inspiring for me since my boat is "winterized" until ice off in the Spring. Can't wait to get back on the water. I have fished Wallowa, and of course, since I live nearby, I have fished and caught some dandy Kokanee out of Holter and recently a 19 inch Koke out of Hauser. I'll be pulling a few more out through the ice when we finally get cold enough temperatures to give us "safe" ice. My goal this Spring is to hit Roosevelt (a first time for me on that lake) and I'd really like to head South and try out some Wyoming lakes too. Gotta see how the pocketbook pans out tho...
As someone who lives in SE Idaho, I’m definitely planning on hitting Wyoming and Montana over the summer, maybe even make a trip down into Utah. At least 4 days of fishing for each as well. Fingers crossed and tight lines to all!
Remember Wyoming has a 1 day possession limit so 3 or 4 fish (depending where they set it for 2025) for the Gorge. Not saying you won't eat your fish every day but stuffing the cooler with 4 limits could land you a big ticket.
Wyoming has more than two res. 20 plus inch live in. Lots of fish in the middle of the state. G&F has done a very good job in introducing them. Desmit, Alcova, Pathfinder, Boysen not yet sure but could be a sleeper. Fish on!!!
I’ve been hunting for that trophy Kokanee at Wallowa for a few years. They are in there but just haven’t found it yet. Have caught some really nice fish though.
I wish I lived closer to try and do this but I got the great Lakes main fish mn, wi, and mi. This would be an amazing trip to get out west. Love kayaking in my big water. 6ft4in tall guy here.
Jordanelle and Fishlake in utah have some decent kokes, but are smaller than FG and Strawberry so not as high output, but still beautiful lakes and have a good chance of connecting
Dworshak is my home Koke fishery. I'm just excited that due to the abnormally small surveyed 2-year population we might see them coming in around 12" instead of the more typical 9". 😂 They'll be harder to catch, but then I won't limit out (25) in 2 hrs like can happen most years. Next year ('26) has a big population so we'll be back to normal. 😢 Maybe I'll head up to Hayden one weekend and try for something bigger.
I caught a 21 inch Kokanee in January on Lake Washington. I know there is a sockeye run though, but not in the winter. Either it was a leftover or a Kokanee.
Independence lake that’s hidden we in the mountains north of Truckee is loaded with Kokanee. It’s a lake used as a backup home for Lahontan cutties. No personal craft allowed on the lake and they rent little boats every other weekend. You can guess what those Lahontan cutthroat are eating. I’m sure there are big Kokanee in there since it’s gets very little fisherman. Fishing that lake would be an adventure.
I fish Spirit Lake in Idaho. I recommend it. They haven't been that large, but they are so numerous that the daily limit is 25. They are getting bigger, and as we start to thin them out, they will will come into their own. Hayden lake is not very productive, but they are larger when you catch them.
I just started to fish for Kokanee this year, mainly because I finally bought a boat. I live in Kenmore, WA so I fish North of the 520 bridge, usually launching out of Magnuson Park. In April I caught my first Kokanee and it was a hair under 18". Haven't caught any that big since, but they're in the lake obviously. Edit: In Lake Washington, Kokanee can't be kept if over 18".
Those are some of the lakes I have heard that will most likely produce a 20"+ Kokanee. I live in CA and have a cabin at Shaver Lake. (I caught a 5lb. rainbow there last Monday. C&R) The biggest kokanee caught in California in 2024 was 19.3 inches long, caught by Brian Thomas at Shaver Lake. It's starting to kick out some big ones.
Thanks for the info. I live in California but would rather chase Big Kokanee in Idaho at Anderson or Hayden or even Payette. Wyoming also sounds appealing. California is too touch to fish for monsters, New Melones is heavily trafficked and Whiskeytown probably the best but only up to 17” fish there.
Fish Odell early September top mini fish over 16 some next year's fish at around 12 I'm excited for next year I think the fires last year released nutrients the water was very green more than usual
@@smthcrmnal26 don’t get discouraged. It took me years of grinding away to finally consistently get on the kokanee at 11 mile, the amount of pressure the mile regularly receives has resulted in an extremely finicky bite most of the time. If you want success for good size kokanee, go to green mountain reservoir. During the ice season, fish the channel on the western half of the lake, towards the dam, during the soft water season, just leave the boat ramp and head east towards the inlet, fish the surface until surface temps reach 63 or higher. Green (not chartreuse!) absolutely slays. Good luck to you.
Try Middle Thompson near Kalispell. It use to produce consistent 20+ fattys when I lived in the 90’z -2000?? I left there in 08. Moved to Ak, now live in NC Washington. Middle Thompson was a treasure, do not know if it still is? Also, ice fishing produced big fat perch 13-14” class.
My experience with Middle Thompson is that the Kokanee fishery has gone downhill. I had lived in Libby and ice fished that lake years ago but after I moved to Butte Montana in 93, I occasionally stop in there at Logan State Park and troll with Kokanee being my primary interest. Somewhere in the last 20 years, someone illegally introduced Pike in all the Thompson chain of lakes and it seems to have taken a "death toll" on Kokanee. Beautiful lake, beautiful scenery from a boat, but unfortunately, not even close to a top notch Kokanee fishery anymore.
Do you know ant fishing guides in Holter lake and need to come to central California to shaver lake caught my personal best a this year at 19in 2.5 pounds
It’s all over the delta. I’d be surprised if they aren’t already in the lakes. California water management is doing a poor job regulating ships from Asia and South America dumping their ballasts in our waters.
I want to get on some very badly. I’m located in Atalanta and surprisingly one lake near here in North Carolina has experimented with stocking them. Lake Nantahala. The fishery seems hit or miss. Ever heard of it?
![Trophy Kokanee: Lake Roosevelt [4 lb Kokanee!!!]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/K2l21amJ45w/mqdefault.jpg)
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Man you hit the nail on the head regarding Colorado. 11 mile by far puts out the largest Kokanee on average here, and you are correct, it can be a very tough lake to figure out. It took me two years of grinding away to dial it in, and unfortunately our culture in Colorado is not one in which we anglers share what we’ve learned with other anglers. I will however share with my fellow Colorado anglers one lake that has rebounded well and is once again putting out Kokanee of a consistently large size, and that is green mountain reservoir. If you’re looking for a good day of fast action, easy fishing and large kokanee, go to green mountain reservoir, most of the four year old fish this year were 18-19 inches, and I personally caught several 20 inch kokanee out of there before they ran up the blue river. The lake has been through some rough times thanks to our incompetent fisheries management, but despite that, it has rebounded quite well.
Green mountain definitely is starting to grow some large salmon just looking at the spawners up the blue rarely seeing any fish under like 16 last couple years. We’ll see how that holds up since colorado kinda feels like they don’t ever really mange for em. And there is a lot of predation in that lake with lakers and pike. Could end up being size and not numbers fishery but really good to hear your also catching lots of em. Im usually a fly fishing guy but I love to keep tabs on the reservoirs since I do deploy the kayak from time to time and partake in ice fishing on those same reservoirs.
Gill Lice have decimated the Kokanee in 11 Mile….yes it definitely can produce large fish but the vast majority die off from the gill lice. Huge die off 75+% back in 2016 I believe and it has never recovered.
Caught my first kokanee at Flaming gorge this year over that 20" mark too. Learned a lot from your videos
Thanks for an update and prediction for 2025. I've found your videos to be very accurate. The 2024 season found me at Fontanelle twice and once to Holter. Phenomenal fishing at both reservoirs. Planning a move from SE Idaho to Helena to be closer to grandsons in Bozeman and be closer to the terrific fishing opportunities.
Nice. Those Helena Reservoirs are superb for trout, kokanee, and walleye. That's a great combo.
Utahn here. Just hit my pb Kokanee two days ago. 20.5” 3lb 2oz.
Great video Tyler! I'm hoping to try Kal & Wood lake in 2025. You'll need to update your map to include the Yukon and Alaska (although they will probably be coded as red/bad chance). Yukon has 8 stocked lakes and a few watersheds with wild fish. I think Alaska you can fish for them in Copper Lake.
This year 2024 is my first year Kokanees fishing. A huge Thank you goes to you and, a with the help of my fishing knowledge i was able to continuously catch 16-19 inch Kokanees, and yes always catching full limits every Kokanee fishing trip. Much respect Thank you, your the #1 Kokanee fisher in my book.
That's amazing. I am so glad to hear that my content helped with your success on the water.
Thank you for this forecast. Will factor into my 2025 plans for sure.
My 1st trip to Fontenelle was a huge success. Thanks to your video of that lake put me on to a limit of 20" to 22" fish. I've never see a kokanee hit that hard on a take down. Fabulous.
Naw, it sucks nobody should go there. It’s terrible. Middle of nowhere no shade. 😊
Wickiup Rez here in central Oregon we caught a few just around 20” this spring!
look forward to you members video! I look forward to getting some kokanee next year.
Got my PB in Hayden! I was at college in Idaho and got the kokanee itch. Made do with minimal tackle and found one dang near 22”!!
Thanks for your videos! Got into trolling Kokanee here in Utah and have grown a new passion for it
Thanks for the info! I live very close to Holter and I didn't realize it was such a good Kokanee fishery. I'll be sure to give it a try. Holter and Houser lake have Kokanee, but, Canyon Ferry which feeds the other two has no Kokanee. Maybe the rainbows are them all 🤷
Nice work on this video Tyler. Very informative and inspiring for me since my boat is "winterized" until ice off in the Spring. Can't wait to get back on the water. I have fished Wallowa, and of course, since I live nearby, I have fished and caught some dandy Kokanee out of Holter and recently a 19 inch Koke out of Hauser. I'll be pulling a few more out through the ice when we finally get cold enough temperatures to give us "safe" ice. My goal this Spring is to hit Roosevelt (a first time for me on that lake) and I'd really like to head South and try out some Wyoming lakes too. Gotta see how the pocketbook pans out tho...
As someone who lives in SE Idaho, I’m definitely planning on hitting Wyoming and Montana over the summer, maybe even make a trip down into Utah. At least 4 days of fishing for each as well. Fingers crossed and tight lines to all!
Remember Wyoming has a 1 day possession limit so 3 or 4 fish (depending where they set it for 2025) for the Gorge. Not saying you won't eat your fish every day but stuffing the cooler with 4 limits could land you a big ticket.
Wyoming has more than two res. 20 plus inch live in. Lots of fish in the middle of the state. G&F has done a very good job in introducing them. Desmit, Alcova, Pathfinder, Boysen not yet sure but could be a sleeper. Fish on!!!
Yeah I know Alcova/Pathfinder can be really good.
Sleeper is Boysen Res, WY where GF stocked 100000 Kokanee and no one is fishing for them!
I’ve been hunting for that trophy Kokanee at Wallowa for a few years. They are in there but just haven’t found it yet. Have caught some really nice fish though.
I wish I lived closer to try and do this but I got the great Lakes main fish mn, wi, and mi. This would be an amazing trip to get out west. Love kayaking in my big water. 6ft4in tall guy here.
I've caught exactly ONE Kokanee and it was by accident while fishing for big cutthroat trout at Strawberry Reservoir Utah.
Jordanelle and Fishlake in utah have some decent kokes, but are smaller than FG and Strawberry so not as high output, but still beautiful lakes and have a good chance of connecting
You need to try Lake De Smit between Sheridan and Buffaloe Wyoming. They are catching some good ones.
Dworshak is my home Koke fishery. I'm just excited that due to the abnormally small surveyed 2-year population we might see them coming in around 12" instead of the more typical 9". 😂 They'll be harder to catch, but then I won't limit out (25) in 2 hrs like can happen most years. Next year ('26) has a big population so we'll be back to normal. 😢
Maybe I'll head up to Hayden one weekend and try for something bigger.
I caught a 21 inch Kokanee in January on Lake Washington. I know there is a sockeye run though, but not in the winter. Either it was a leftover or a Kokanee.
Independence lake that’s hidden we in the mountains north of Truckee is loaded with Kokanee. It’s a lake used as a backup home for Lahontan cutties. No personal craft allowed on the lake and they rent little boats every other weekend. You can guess what those Lahontan cutthroat are eating. I’m sure there are big Kokanee in there since it’s gets very little fisherman. Fishing that lake would be an adventure.
I fish Spirit Lake in Idaho. I recommend it. They haven't been that large, but they are so numerous that the daily limit is 25. They are getting bigger, and as we start to thin them out, they will will come into their own. Hayden lake is not very productive, but they are larger when you catch them.
I just started to fish for Kokanee this year, mainly because I finally bought a boat. I live in Kenmore, WA so I fish North of the 520 bridge, usually launching out of Magnuson Park. In April I caught my first Kokanee and it was a hair under 18". Haven't caught any that big since, but they're in the lake obviously.
Edit: In Lake Washington, Kokanee can't be kept if over 18".
Those are some of the lakes I have heard that will most likely produce a 20"+ Kokanee. I live in CA and have a cabin at Shaver Lake. (I caught a 5lb. rainbow there last Monday. C&R) The biggest kokanee caught in California in 2024 was 19.3 inches long, caught by Brian Thomas at Shaver Lake. It's starting to kick out some big ones.
This is my year to finally catch one👍🏾
Make it happen!
Thanks for the info. I live in California but would rather chase Big Kokanee in Idaho at Anderson or Hayden or even Payette. Wyoming also sounds appealing. California is too touch to fish for monsters, New Melones is heavily trafficked and Whiskeytown probably the best but only up to 17” fish there.
Hayden and Payette are heavily trafficked as well in the summer months. Payette is a friggin zoo with its limited boat ramps
I caught a 3.10 lb 22 inch buck on the last day of the season at strawberry in 2023
Nice! That's a biggin!
The Caribou region of BC have big Kokanee up to 4 pounds
Have you fished Arrowrock, and Lucky Peak reservoirs? I've caught large 2-3lb kokanee from both reservoirs.
blue mesa is the best option for a 20" koke in colorado, but i just got a 16" at the mile this past saturday
I would say Blue Mesa used to be the best option. It hasn't been lately.
Lake Kachees WA kokanee is amazing
I've never heard anyone say that. Lots of small fish is what I've heard.
Fish Odell early September top mini fish over 16 some next year's fish at around 12 I'm excited for next year I think the fires last year released nutrients the water was very green more than usual
I am 2 hours of 11 mile. Struggled last year to get on the Kokanee. I am def. Gonna plan a trip to Utah and Wyoming through this spring.
@@smthcrmnal26 don’t get discouraged. It took me years of grinding away to finally consistently get on the kokanee at 11 mile, the amount of pressure the mile regularly receives has resulted in an extremely finicky bite most of the time. If you want success for good size kokanee, go to green mountain reservoir. During the ice season, fish the channel on the western half of the lake, towards the dam, during the soft water season, just leave the boat ramp and head east towards the inlet, fish the surface until surface temps reach 63 or higher. Green (not chartreuse!) absolutely slays. Good luck to you.
@ thanks for the tips. I am not giving up I know I will figure it out.
Been fishing there for years and have yet to get one
Gill Lice have decimated the population there.
Wish there was a good big Kokanee fishery in western Washington 😢
There could be but WDFW plants too many. Lake Washington and American Lake can kick out a few fish in the 17-19" range.
Try Middle Thompson near Kalispell. It use to produce consistent 20+ fattys when I lived in the 90’z -2000?? I left there in 08. Moved to Ak, now live in NC Washington.
Middle Thompson was a treasure, do not know if it still is? Also, ice fishing produced big fat perch 13-14” class.
My experience with Middle Thompson is that the Kokanee fishery has gone downhill. I had lived in Libby and ice fished that lake years ago but after I moved to Butte Montana in 93, I occasionally stop in there at Logan State Park and troll with Kokanee being my primary interest. Somewhere in the last 20 years, someone illegally introduced Pike in all the Thompson chain of lakes and it seems to have taken a "death toll" on Kokanee. Beautiful lake, beautiful scenery from a boat, but unfortunately, not even close to a top notch Kokanee fishery anymore.
Same with Flathead Lake…. Used to be great Koke fishing until they F’d it up with the mysis (spelling) shrimp.
Sorry, I commented in the wrong section. Holter for the “WIN”.
Damn, spilt milt ragging on my Nevada........
Do you know ant fishing guides in Holter lake and need to come to central California to shaver lake caught my personal best a this year at 19in 2.5 pounds
Check out "Kit's Tackle Outfitters" for Holter Lake
We'll see how the golden mussel situation develops here in CA for New Melones.
Its crazy that they even got in there.
It’s all over the delta. I’d be surprised if they aren’t already in the lakes. California water management is doing a poor job regulating ships from Asia and South America dumping their ballasts in our waters.
@@spiltmiltthere not in there yet and they shut the lake down
Holter for the “WIN”.
What is your favorite lake to fish in Bellingham wa for Kokanee? Lake samish/whatcom ?
Never fished them.
Sorry to break the bad news. Hayden doesn’t have big Kokanee anymore. I caught all the 20”+ last spring and summer.
😂🤣😂
I want to get on some very badly. I’m located in Atalanta and surprisingly one lake near here in North Carolina has experimented with stocking them. Lake Nantahala. The fishery seems hit or miss. Ever heard of it?
Yes I've heard of it. It was consistent a long time ago but collapsed after they introduced herring.