Detroit Reservoir Kokanee

Took a leisurely day trip to Detroit Reservoir yesterday -- sunny, no wind, and hardly any boats!  We caught 4 fish for the 2 of us and had a few bites that didn't stick.  We were using spinners and fishing about 20-30ft with downriggers.  I think we were in the wrong area most of the day (not many fish on the sonar), but once we found the fish they were pretty interested to bite.  Kokes were 13".

Awesome!  Looks like a great day on the water.  Haven't fished for kokanee before, is it a trolling game?

Looks like great conditions.

Awesome!  Looks like a great day on the water.  Haven't fished for kokanee before, is it a trolling game?

we got all our bites trollling.  I did bring my jigging rod, but it stayed in the rod holder.  I kept looking for a good school to deploy a jig, but that didn't happen this trip.  I'm also not very skilled at jigging kokanee, so I have more confidence in trolling.  Hope to try again soon when the water warms up a little more.

how can I rotate the car picture in my original post?  The original image is portrait orientation, for some reason NWKA posts this in landscape orientation.

I have to ask... What is the rod you're using on the left hand side? Homemade DR maybe?

I have to ask... What is the rod you're using on the left hand side? Homemade DR maybe?

yes, homemade DR.  Just a butt section of a stiff rod and using a linecounter reel with 60lb braid with a 4lb ball.

I have to ask... What is the rod you're using on the left hand side? Homemade DR maybe?

yes, homemade DR.  Just a butt section of a stiff rod and using a linecounter reel with 60lb braid with a 4lb ball.

Good deal, I didn't think you would be jigging for tuna out there 

Sorry, but no photos, no fish.

You did have a fine day for trying to catch photo-less fish.

Sorry, but no photos, no fish.

You did have a fine day for trying to catch photo-less fish.

Kokanee, it's what's for dinner!

how can I rotate the car picture in my original post?  The original image is portrait orientation, for some reason NWKA posts this in landscape orientation.

Tapatalk had it right. Web does not.

I have nothing further to add.

Sorry, but no photos, no fish.

You did have a fine day for trying to catch photo-less fish.

Kokanee, it's what's for dinner!

Please to provide details of preparation/recipe.

We are camping at Detroit in another month or so and this year I will fulfill my ambition of trolling for kokanee from my kayak. Oh yes, I will fulfill it.

I had the same idea for a homemade downrigger. I cut off a yard sale stiff rod, put a roller eye on the end and have 65 lb. braid to put on the reel. Haven't used it yet but glad I'm not the only one to think of it.

We did a marinade of miso/mirren/sake and put the fillets on the grill. Oh my, delicious!  Must get more...

Any salmon recipe works well with Kokanee, but here's a favorite easy recipe: Sprinkle the fillets or whole kokanee with black pepper, slather them with peach mango salsa or pineapple salsa, and bake them at 400 until they're done.