Downrigger Kokanee Fishing: Trolling for Kokanee With a Downrigger

Fishing for kokanee is a challenge, and there are really 2 types of kokanee fishermen- those who fish with downriggers and those that wish they did. This article will explain what a downrigger is, how they work, and how they can really improve your trolling for kokanee.

How to use a Downrigger for Kokanee

A downrigger is a fishing tool that is used for kokanee or trout. They were originally used for deep sea fishing. However, they are also used in freshwater fishing for kokanee, rainbow trout, brown trout, and other fish. Fishing for Kokanee salmon is a popular activity around the world, but there are many different approaches to the sport, depending on the water temperature, the body of water, and what gear you have. A downrigger, while I wouldn’t say its absolutely necessary, is certainly incredibly handy for getting consistently into the kokanee on any body of water.

To use a downrigger for trolling up some kokanee, you hook your line into the downrigger, lower the downrigger to the depth of the fish, then when you get a bite, the fish pulls the line off the downrigger and the fight is on.

What is a Downrigger

A downrigger is a fishing tool used to lower fishing lines or baited hooks into the water. It is used for both sport and commercial fishing. It consists of a pulley system that is used to lower and raise weights attached to fishing lines or baited hooks. The weight can be moved up and down in order to reach different depths within a body of water.

Downriggers are used to keep the line at a constant depth. This enables fishermen to fish in deep water, where most fish live. The depth of the line can be adjusted by raising or lowering the weight on the downrigger, which allows fishermen to target specific depths and types of fish in different bodies of water. Paired with a fish finder, a downrigger allows you to fish with extreme precision, making it possible for you to present your lure right in front of the fish.

What Depth for Kokanee

Kokanee generally like to hang out in water that’s 50-54 degrees. In our experience, we’ve found kokanee from 10 feet all the way down to 60 feet, and we’ve read reports of kokanee going even lower. Best case scenario- you’re not using guess work, reading forums, or asking your local fortune teller what depth you should be fishing out. Hopefully you can just look at your fish finder and have it tell you what you want to know.

A good fish finder will help you locate the fish, measure temperature, see the contours of the ground below the water, and provide a host of other data. I started out kokanee fishing by following other boats, which works well when there are plenty of boats on the water to follow. You go to the cluster, and trial and error until you find the right depth. If you’re the only one on the water, or you’re following someone who’s clueless or following another type of fish, you’re SOL. If you want to get serious, with or without a downrigger, pick yourself up a fish finder.

Garmin ECHOMAP 7″ Chartplotter

The Right Kokanee Rod

You want a light rod for kokanee fishing. Why? A kokanee salmon is a smaller fish. You’re not going to find a kokanee over 10 pounds. The current world record is just over 9 and a half pounds, so you don’t need the same pole you’d use for a Chinook or a Shark. In fact, because kokanee have a soft jaw, getting a jerk from a heavy rod will tear the hook right out or through the mouth of the kokanee. You’ll lose the fish. Especially because the rod is set under tension on the downrigger. Once a fish is on the hook, it releases the tension to set the hook. Too stiff of a rod just isn’t the right match.

We put together a great guide on the best rods for kokanee fishing at various price points. You can invest quite a bit on these rods and the bells and whistles to go with them. I won’t deny, the more expensive rods perform better when you’re trolling for kokanee with a downrigger, but I’ve also caught kokanee on a $20 rod and reel from Walmart.

Electric Downriggers vs Manual Downriggers

There are several different varieties of downriggers available, with both mechanical and electric models available. Both are precise, you just have to hand crank one. Most serious kokanee fishers run multiple downriggers, and often multiple lines on one downrigger. There are also ways to fish for kokanee without a downrigger as well, but a downrigger is the easiest way to put your setup in front of the fish.

As far as brands go, we like the Scotty downriggers. They’re the best bang for your buck for either option. It’s a high quality brand for a fraction of the price of the competitors. We’ve been really impressed with everything we’ve bought from Scotty.

When to Fish with a Downrigger

I’m trolling with a downrigger once fish are below 10 feet deep. When fish are around 10 feet deep, you need a larger set back because they’re more disrupted by the boat. Because of that, your sending your rigs back quite a ways (we’d recommend 100 feet at least). At that length, and at kokanee speeds, you should be pretty close to 10 feet in depth, and you can add a split shot weight or two if you need to drop another foot or two.

What Size Downrigger weight for Kokanee

Trolling for kokanee is slower than a lot of other types of trolling at speeds between 1-2 mph. As I mentioned above, most weights for downriggers are generally 10-15 lbs. With kokanee you can safely go down to an 8lb weight. We’d recommend a 10 or 12 lb sized weight, which is more of a one size fits all weight. We also love the flash weights because instead of alarming the fish, they can actually work to attract the kokanee.

Cannon Downrigger Flash Weight, 12-Pound

Kokanee Setup with a Downrigger

The basic setup has a kokanee dodger or a flasher, about 8-18 inches of leader, then a lure or hoochie, that has the back hook baited. Some add scent gels and sprays as well. For more information, if you’re new to kokanee fishing, you’ll want to check out our article, the Basic Kokanee Trolling Setup

In conclusion, you should try trolling for kokanee salmon at some point, and you really ought to pick up a downrigger for the job. You hook a kokanee, and you’ll be hooked on the species. Kokanee salmon are fun to catch and they’re certainly more enjoyable than fishing for trout. With a new kokanee salmon rod, some bait and a downrigger, you’ll be ready to experience the thrill of catching these silver and red salmon and enjoy a great meal with family and friends.