Kokanee Cut Plug – Brad’s Killer Fishing Gear

Kokanee salmon are a very sensitive sense of smell. Why does that matter? In kokanee fishing, you’re not actually trying to imitate the food source of the kokanee salmon. Kokanee salmon eat krill, plankton, and other really really small things. You can’t really put any of those things on a hook. Instead, you’re trying to irritate and upset the kokanee in an attempt to get them to strike out of aggression. Kokanee are especially aggressive to competition fish that are trying to go after their food source. Scents can help either make you smell more fishy, or to just smell different and irritating to the kokanee. How can you get this whole package? Enter the Kokanee Cut Plug.

What is a Cut Plug?

A cut plug is a fishing lure that has a compartment inside that allows you to fill it with “cut bait” or other scent. It also generally is shaped in such a way that it has some action in the water, so that it both looks and smells fishy. Cut plugs have been used for many different fish species, but the smaller version, Brad’s Kokanee Cut Plug, made by Brad’s Killer Fishing Gear, hit the market specifically for kokanee salmon. These are 2.25″ long and come in a wide variety of colors and color combinations. They work the same as the other cut plugs, but on a much smaller size.

The plug comes apart and has a pad or a sponge inside. You can put gel on that sponge, or you can remove the sponge pad and load the interior space with your scented corn, shrimp, or cut bait. The kokanee cut plug has been tested all across the country, and I haven’t read a single review that said it doesn’t catch fish. That said, it all depends on what the fish are biting that day. Its really nice to have another tested and true tool in your tackle box, and this is one of those tried and tested tools. They work. They put fish in the boat.

Buy Brad’s Kokanee Cut Plugs

Available in 12 colors and patterns

How to Rig a Kokanee Cut Plug

These are rigged up by using glow beads and hooks, wedding ring lures, or your favorite hoochie. There are 2 holes that you can select from to run your lure through. This is run with a leader that’s about 3 feet long, which is longer than most leader lengths than most kokanee rigs. The reason you want it longer, is because the cut plug itself has an action, and you want it to work with a dodger, if you choose to use one. You can use a Kokanee cut plug can be used by itself, or in combination with dodgers or flashers. They can also be trolled with a downrigger, dipsy divers, or clip weights.

How does a cut plug compare to a Dodger?

The kokanee cut plug is designed to mimic a minnow or fingerling salmon, specifically a wounded one. It then has usually a wedding ring type lure that’s a part of the system. Unlike using such a lure with a dodger, the cut plug sits right with the wedding ring or hoochie lure, with little to no leader (see the video below for an example leader length and action). Like a dodger, it does give action, but its a quicker and smaller action than most kokanee dodgers.

The kokanee cut plug is a two-way trolling bait that has been around for decades. The best way to use this plug is by opening the plug and attaching it to the line via a split ring, or you can just cut the line off of the lure and use it as a free-swimming bait.

Best Baits and Scents to Put In Your Kokanee Cut Plug

As I mentioned, there are a lot of different scents that you can use with the kokanee cut plug. Minnows, cut bait, shrimp, or shoepeg corn. If you want to make use of the sponge scent pad, we strongly recommend using the gel scent. People report that the gel scents work really well.

I’d recommend also putting a Pink Gulp Maggot or some Shoepeg Corn on the hooks as well. Kokanee don’t necessarily eat them, but it both puts off scent, and gives a real scent and taste when they strike at the lure.

These cut plugs also work well for Walleye, Perch, and Crappie, as well as other salmon species.

See It In Action at Lake Chelan

Brad’s Kokanee Cut Plug Review

In our testing, the kokanee cut plug stands up and is a good viable option for catching kokanee. It works especially well when the kokanee are being extremely scent sensitive and you can load that baby up. I will say that it isn’t my top choice for a kokanee rig. I like things that are low maintenance, like a kokanee hoochie or spinner. That doesn’t mean that I don’t keep some cut plugs in my tackle box. It’s earned its spot. Kokanee can be temperamental, and the cut plug offers another option to throw at these fish. That’s my personal review of it, but as I mentioned earlier, there has been a mix of reviews and reports from using one of these plugs.