The latest word from Eastern Washington is that Lake Roosevelt is putting out some of the best kokanee fishing anglers there have seen in some time. And even better, the fish are among the largest kokes in the state.
“I’ve seen them to 19 inches and heard of fish to 22 inches,” said Jeff Korth, the fish program manager at the Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Ephrata office.
The action currently is centered around Keller’s Ferry, some 20 miles upriver from Grand Coulee Dam, according to Alex Garcia at Coulee Playland Resort in Electric City. Closer to the dam, the launch at Spring Canyon puts you within range of often-good fishing off Plum Point and on up through Swawilla Basin. Use downriggers and start at about 30 feet, moving up and down from there to find the depth where the fish are holding. Fishfinders are a major asset in finding wandering schools.
Try a small dodger or gang troll followed by a short (about 12 inches, Korth said) leader and a Wedding Ring spinner tipped with a piece of worm, a maggot or corn, dipped in scent. Garcia said small Apex and Krocodile spoons also work, in trout pattern or silver, and pink or blue mini-squid.
And there’s always the chance of ending up with a mixed bag of kokanee and big rainbows.
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