Merwin Kokanee: Where it all started...
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- Опубликовано: 6 сен 2024
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Almost 10 years ago I started Kokanee kayak fishing. Those early days where I honed my craft all started on Lake Merwin in southwest Washington. I had not been back to Merwin in almost 5 years so it felt time to return to my old homewaters. Not only was the fishing excellent but it gave me time to reflect on my growth as a Kokanee angler and how important these landlocked salmon have become to me.
Best Tackle Line-up:
- Paulina Peak Big I 5.5" Teardrop Glow/pink stripe dodger: paulinapeaktac...
- Paulina Peak Micro Minnow Spinner Glow Pink:paulinapeaktac...
Other Tackle Featured:
- Berkley Gulp Maggots: amzn.to/3s4R1Et
- Snaps: amzn.to/38c2tEz
- Assortment of Lead Free Weights are Great!: amzn.to/3MXmH3L
- Cannon Uni-troll 5 Downrigger: amzn.to/3oYX4Jp
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I, for one, am glad resources were lacking back then, and that it frustrated you enough to remedy that, for all of us!
Thanks for your Admission at KA
I wondered your obsession !!!
Thanks for all your movies, even though we have no Kokane down here !!!!
Great seeing you fish Lake Merwin. I have learned a lot watching your videos and have tried to take my AP 136 out every Sunday for Kokanee. Thanks for the detailed content and suggestions.
My kokanee obsession all started at causey reservoir in Utah. I used to only fish from the shore back in 2019 and never even knew there was kokanee in there. Until one day I was fishing from the bank for some trout at causey. Some other guy rolled up and asked if he could fish next me. I said "yeah no problem". First cast he caught something and I asked "What the hell is that?" He then answered while smiling back "it's a kokanee salmon." I yelled back "a salmon?!?!" Ever since then I pursued them and I don't think I'll ever get tired of it.
Great video makes me feel the need to dust off the tackle and the OT 120
Best fishing channel around. I love the tone of your videos, as well as the depth and breadth of knowledge shared. Very welcome change of pace from the fish bro circus.
Haven't been up there in a couple years, now don't have a boat to go....need to get myself a Yak SOON!! lol
Your commentary on kokanee fishing is a true reflection on my feelings as well. Thank you for this video!
Lake Samish is where I caught my first Obsession for Kokanee fishing 👍🏽
Great to meet you at Merwin last week. Thanks for the tip on where to find bigger kokanee in Washington. Going to head over there this week and give it a try. I have learned a lot from watching your videos. Thanks
Sounds like Loon is still your best bet for big ones.
Good thing it is right next door 🙂 Thanks
Merwin is my home lake also. Such a quiet, interesting place!
Thanks, Tyler for all you share
Crazy! I was waiting for your next video so I could ask you about Merwin and where I should focus my attention on the lake? Very new to Kokanee fishing and everything I know has come from you. Love your videos and really appreciate all the knowledge.
Looks peaceful
I went to Merwin for the first time in mid-July this year, was on the water by 6. Another kayaker I trolled by and that had got started an hour prior already had 5 Kokanee using one rod, so I was optimistic, but outside the launch bay my downrigger was 100% neutralized by constant Northern Pikeminnow. Finally started getting some Kokanee (4) during the "second bite" up by a nearby point and also caught a 20" Rainbow. I am going to try Merwin again but I will have to leave a bit earlier. The only place I ever limit at is Alder but the Merwin Kokanee seemed just a tiny bit larger on average and a change of scenery is always nice.
Always pick up great tips from your videos. Getting different colored grubs to produce with different scent is an example.
Caught my first Koke yesterday, 19”, Thank You for all the videos, it’s because of what you’ve shared that I learned what to do.
Damn 5-6 oz is a lot. I wonder if an Eagle Claw could even handle that much. Getting that deep requires lots of weight. Awesome to see you using different dodger+lure to see what else is effective. After using hoochies so much, must feel good to get stuff on spinners and minnows.
I’m sure it can handle it.
Can confirm it can handle it. Limited last week. Using the eagle claw rods with 5 oz clip on weights.
Wow. Good to know. Thanks@@elstunar
I caught a Kokanee while fishing in a u-boat like 10 years ago and didn't know what it was. We ate it (lol) along with all the trout I caught that day but I had never forgotten how good it was compared to the rainbows. I think two years ago or so I ran across your channel and found that the fish I had caught was a Koke so I've been watching your content, hoping for the day I could get out again. Earlier this year, my brother dropped off his pedal kayak (needed the space more than the kayak) and last weekend I finally got a chance to get out and use it. Running a dropper and a pink hoochie I caught my first Kokanee--on purpose. This last week I found a good deal on a set of down riggers so mounted one of them to the kayak and went out this morning. I limited out. I can't tell you how much I appreciate your content and all the work you've put into this. I've learned so much from watching this channel! Using the fish finder that came with the kayak I was able to see the downrigger ball, and the fish, so could put the lure right about where they were. Twice I saw fish move from more than 10 feet up and down the water column to come inspect the lure. It was pretty freakin cool to see. Thank you, Tyler.
That’s awesome! It’s so exciting to see them rise up to the ball and then watch the rod start dancing!
Merwin is where I also got the Kokanee bug.
I’m not anywhere near kokanee but enjoy watching your vids!
I never, and i mean never troll up reservoir towards the sun at Merwin. Admittedly easier done in a power boat.....
Love to see you out where you started. Wondering what rods you were using? Fish on and safe boating
Paulina Peak rods
Thanks for the great information! My brother and I had a great couple days at Merwin last week after watching the video. As you found, the fish were still favoring spinners by a large margin. Luckily my brother had some. I placed my order with PPT a couple days ago! Their selection of Moon Jelly Spinners was somewhat limited, however, and I couldn't find the orange-chartreuse you were using. Do you know if they have limited quantities of certain color combinations, or was yours a custom-made lure? Thanks again.
I’ve always appreciated your content and will continue my support.
Question: I get big lulls in a few lakes when the sun rises, especially targeting to-be spawning Kokanee closer to the inlets. I am using my hand tied hoochies and dodgers. I see the fish look at my gear on the graph, but no bites after sunrise. Is there a good color/ different lure I should use in those cases?
They tend to respond more to heavier action lures like spinners, cut plugs, spoon etc in the late summer fall
@@spiltmiltI’ll try next week! Thx
Merwin has gotten crowded lately. Even on weekdays in spring it is hard to find parking nowadays. Mis, the days I could go on a Saturday and easily find a place to park.
It was not busy at all both times I went last week
@@spiltmilt well that fills me with hope. Might go and jig spoons for some this week.
Gotta get there early!
@morganmotorsports4220 I live 20 mins away. I'm usually there 5 mins after sunrise.
Good Morning! We have enjoyed all your video. Went to Flaming Gorge last week but Kokanee fishing was pretty slow. What do you think of going to Fontenelle this time of year or wait until spring?
Fontanelle fishes more consistently in early summer. In spring high flows from the Green dirty the water and keep it cold. This time of year the fish are beginning to move up to spawn and get more challenging to catch. I've heard several negative reports recently but then again I heard those same reports prior to going there this year and we did very well.
Thank so much @@spiltmilt
Hi Tyler, question for you on if and how you are setting the hook on the droppers. Are you speeding up when you see the first strike or two? I’ve been missing some fish lately so am wondering. It seems you are picking up the rod and doing a slow and steady retrieve. I do that too but sometimes as soon as I start reeling they are gone. Last week, if I let them nibble at it some hoping they would hook themselves, that didn’t work at all. 😂
If they are light biting like they were yes its best to speed up on the first bites
@@spiltmilt Thanks for the tip. Had my Old Town Salty out in the Sound for the first time today. Landed two humpy’s which I am pretty stoked about. Basically took what I learned from you on kokes and upsized it a bit. Your channel has made me a better fisherman
Hi. Love your fishing videos! I'm wondering if you experience a list in your kayak while fishing with a downrigger?
I just bought a Hoodoo Tempest 120p pedal kayak.
I tried using my Brocraft downrigger, which is rail mounted. It has a 4lb ball,and I've used it on my Lifetime 10 ft Tamarack Angler kayak for the last couple of years and never noticed a list.
The Tamarack Angler has a flat hull, while the Tempest has a tunnel hull.
I imagine that it's the different hull shapes that makes the difference.
Is there anything that I can do to correct the list,beside adding a pair of stabilizers?
What do you think?
Thanks!
I don't get a list in my kayak but you might try redistributing the weight a bit in your kayak. Cutting down the arm length on the downrigger might help too.
@@spiltmilt Thanks for the reply!
Love your channel.
I've learned a lot about kokanee fishing from you.
Please keep the great videos coming.
I contacted the seller of the Hoodoo Tempest 120P,and was referred to their warranty department.
Just waiting for a reply from them now.
I can't wait to see what they have to say!
I really think that it's likely a hull design issue causing the issue.
That , and a higher seat than their previous model had in it.
My Lifetime Tamarack Angler 100 is ultra stable.
The only time it became a little tippy was when I installed an Ascend kayak seat (which I recovered from the bottom of Pinecrest Lake in California last summer!) in that boat.
At 10 feet in length, the Tamarack Angler is much smaller, and 2 inches narrower, than the Hoodoo Tempest is.
I'm more than a little nonplussed as to why the Tempest is so tippy!
Just left Fountenelle in Wyoming but didn’t have the kind of results you did. Did you go all the way north by the river?
Fish will be moving up to spawn this time of year.
We fished the whole north side of the lake. Started on the surface and then varied every five feet. Do you think they are in the river already. Water temperature was 71.
I'm looking for a lightweight net - what net are you using?
The Frabill Ultralight Conservation Slide Net is a great option for powerboat and kayak anglers alike. You can buy it through the links below:
Buy on Amazon here: amzn.to/477roTB
Buy at Bass Pro here: bassproshops.vzck.net/GmgLq6
for Merwin, what set up do you recommend for this time of the year? Also is it worth to fish in the rain?
I always did better with spinners or cut plugs in winter for Kokanee. Yes u can catch them in the rain
@@spiltmilt Thank you, I am heading there next weekend
Do you have a link for those clip on weights?
Found it thanks 👍👍
What camera are you using?
How long does the battery last in the camera you use?
DJI Osmo. I use an external battery it lasts about 11 hours but the card fills up way before that
@spiltmilt It would be great to see how you have it set up. Do you have a wireless mic? Maybe you can do a video on how it all works?!
can you please give a source of the kayak that you got? thanks, looking to get one but not sure which one is as good as yours
Its an Old Town Salty 120 PDL
@@spiltmilt thank you!
Merwin is the only place I've ever fished kokanee and all my Info came from you. I've been pretty successful and even got some limits. Really appreciate your videos.
Are you going to fish Yale and Swift?
Not this year
First!!!
If you could catch one 20lb king or 10 2lb Kokanee...
I haven't tried Merwin yet, looks nice! Have you seen the Chamberlain downrigger release yet? I just picked one up a couple weeks ago as it looked like it might work well for me and so far it has. It has two different tension adjusters, one for the rod and one for the fish release. So far I've only used it for Salmon but am eager to give it a go with Kokanee. I posted a short video showing it, not a great quality vid, but it gets the ponit across. ruclips.net/video/SohDGtHAUxQ/видео.html
I've played around with them I like the simplicity of the Scotty releases.
I fish Merwin a lot are used fatal attraction Cokenee Cut plug it fishes 4 to 1 outherbaits
Yes those and the Tasman cut plugs seem to produce well on that lake