Last saturday, feb. 13, we had a great day on Lake Koocanusa. We boated 9 fish, 5 rainbows, 4 bull trout. Largest rainbow was 12 lbs., biggest bull was 14 lbs.. The ice went out early on Rexford Bench, that allowed us to fish the north end of the lake earlier than any previous year. The fish were very active and we had a steady bite all day long. All the fish were caught on Lyman Plugs and Rapala’s. We had a very calm day so I did not even try flies, we were doing good on what we had out there so I did not change our presentation. If it works don’t fix it! There was only one other boat on the lake. This is truely a under fished resource. Get up there and give it a try before the run off starts. The most recent pictures will be up on the home page shortly. By the way this is a huge body of water, lots of fish, there is plenty of room for locals and visitors alike.
See ya on the water
Hi Randy,
I would be very willing to share my techniques and experiences with you. Lyman plugs have a very erratic action in the water and I believe it is that action that creates the bite. In choosing a lure it is shape, size, color, in that order. Also keep in mind none of this is written in stone. Bottom line it is still fishing, and what works today may not work tomorrow, I guess that is what keeps us challenged to to be successful in the fishing world. I use the 4″ Lyman plug 99% of the time. I believe that size duplicates the size of the bait fish that the rainbows are feeding on. I fish Lake Koocanusa, here in N.W. Montana for rainbows, and bull trout, the fish are feeding on small kokanee salmon. Colors will vary from day to day. Remember shape, size, color. Color is a trial an error. It depends mostly on the amount of sun light, windy or cloudy, early or late in the day. I fish with 8 lines in the water. 3 lines on each planer board and two lines straight back. I feel this gives me a good cross section of what the fish might want on that given day. On one side I will fish 3 streamer flies. On the other board I will put 3 Lyman plugs and the 2 straight back I will also put 2 lyman plugs. Never mix flies with plugs on the same board. The flies have to have action put to them by the board set up. The plugs have their own action so you pull the board very smooth. The 2 plugs straight back are my experimental plugs, try different colors more often. I start the day putting the plugs 300′ behind the boat then attaching them to the boards. The flies I put 200-250′ behind the boat. Keep in mind the closer to the boat you put your set back the more action the plugs, or flies, will have. I fish all mono line and it has a lot of stretch. The stretch in the line also helps my clients get the fish to the boat. Another rule of thumb is on dark cloudy, windy days=dark lures. Bright sunny days try bright lures. Colors, you try and match the bait fish. Although one of my best Lyman color is a black over purple plug? I don’t know why the fish hit it so well, but I never argue with the fish. The rougher the water the closer you can run your plugs to the boat. I use 12lb mono, tie on a duo snap then attach it to the plug. I never tie the line directly to the plug as there will be some line wear tying directly to the plug. Colors, I like are black/silver black/purple. Mostly black back over different belly colors. I have at least 30 to 40 different combonation colors and I will fish many different colors each day until the fish tell me what they want.
Downrigging is a different story. I usually drop the Lyman plug back at least 40′ remember the deeper, the closer to the ball you can put the plug. On the shallower areas I will put it maybe 100′ behind the ball. That is why when fishing the surface I put them 300′ back. When the boat goes over the fish they move out to the side and there are your planer boards pulling the plugs out to the sides. I fish downriggers anywhere from 30-40′ down to 300′ down. A big difference is that I use braided line on my downrigger rods. No stretch is very important fishing that deep. I always say it is a test! Do not get locked into one presentation or just one color or even one area of the lake. Stay flexible keep trying different colors and speeds. If it is not working why would you keep doing it. Keep fishing until you figure out the presentation for that day. Some days we never seem to know what the fish want, but that is why it is called fishing. Remember you are trying to stimulate that fish into a natural reaction bite. Kinda like a cat swiping at a ball of yarn. I troll the plugs at 3mph for the rainbows/bull trout, and 1.8 to 2.3 mph for the lake trout. One big advantage the Lyman plugs have over many other lures on the market is that they can be fished at different speeds.
I hope this has helped? I often tell people there are fishermen, then there are guys that just go fishing! We never stop learning. I hope this helps. If there is anything else I can help you with please do not hesitate to ask.
Sincerely;
Bob Orsua
Mo Fisch Charters
Timing is everything, when it comes to catching big rainbows. Yesterday on Lake Koocanusa a very nice 9lb’r female rainbow that went to Steve at Cabin Fever Taxidermy. We also caught 5 more rainbows in the 5 to 7lb range and one smaller bull trout. Being at the right place at the right time applies to this fishery.
keep a tight line
I fished Lake Koocanusa today. The fishing is just I thought it would be. Getting better and the fish are getting bigger. We put 3 rainbows in the net, the biggest at a nice 9lbs. We also netted 2 bull trout, the biggest 6lbs. Toady’s weather was perfect. The surface water temp. was right at 52.0 degrees. The fish were caught on Captain Andy Flies, and Lyman Lures. silver/black always a good color.
See ya on the lake
I took my boat up to Lake Koocanusa yesterday and decided to fish since I was up there. I only fished for three hours. Boated 5 rainbows biggest at 7.5lbs but they all were in the 5 to 6lb range. Also one bull trout at 8lbs. Lyman lures and flies one on a Rapala. It sure looks like it is going to be a great November. Remember timing is everything with these fish, so don’t waste any time, get up there. Remember it is only going to get better.
Tip of the day: if you’re not tangled, you’re not trying
See ya on the water
I fished Lake Koocanusa yesterday. We caught one rainbow at 3lbs. and one bull trout. The lakes looks good, the water surface temp. was 56.0 degrees. I think in about 2 or 3 weeks it should really start fishing very well. Remember this is a surface presentation, we need those fish to come to the surface and feed, that takes 52.0 degrees or colder surface water. I did mark a lot of fish on the finder at 50 to 60ft. Thetwo fish we caught both hit a Lyman Lure. We also had 3 releases, one on a fly and 2 on Rapalas.
Keep the boat going forward!
I am having a lot of calls about rainbow fishing on Lake Koocanusa. I tell people to start fishing for them on Halloween weekend. What we are looking for is the surface water temp. to get down to 52degrees or less, then the rainbows will come to the surface and feed all day long.
I guess it would be good advice to tell you to start getting ready, it could be a cold November and get your Lyman Lures and your flies before all the local stores run out of them, be prepared.
See ya up north
We are starting to book many charters for Lake Koocanuse for this November. If you are interested call early as I only fish the month of November for the rainbows.
See Ya on the water
It is time to get out on Lake Koocanusa for some nice kokanee salmon. John put 75 nice salmon at 10 to 13″ in the boat in a couple hours. Also it is time to get in the jet boat and hit the Kootani River for some big rainbows. The river has dropped and that puts the big fish in the deep holes and they are very hungry.
keep a tight line
My guide up on Lake Koocanusa had 50 fish limits for the past 3 days on Lake Koocanusa. The kokanee range from 8 to 11″, nice fish and there are a lot of them. John has been fishing just up from the dam trolling with dick knight spoons and wedding rings. He says he is finding schools of kokanee a mile long and then just turning around and just keep catching them. The river below he dam is starting to drop and the fishing is staring to pick up. The best fishing below the dam for the big rainbows will be later in July and August.
Give us a call of you want to try this great fishery