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Fishing, Fishing Reports

Two Days of Kokanee & a Smoker Full of Fillets: 8/27–8/28/2025

Posted on by fishygary
Cooler full of freshly caught fish
31
Aug

Quick Recap

Two mornings. Thirty-five kokanee in the box. Same program both days with minor speed adjustments kept the rods firing. The catch was brined, dried, and smoked with applewood, turning out delicious.

Catch log

  • 8/27: 23 kokanee (3 anglers, ~4 hours fishing)

  • 8/28: 12 kokanee (2 anglers, short trip)

Trip Context

  • Water: Lake CDA – Beauty Bay / Wolf Lodge

  • Launch: Mineral Ridge Boat Ramp

  • Start time: 7:15 AM

  • Target depth range: 47–51 feet on the wire

  • Boat speed (GPS): 1.2 mph

  • Surface temp: 71°F

  • Weather: Calm, hot, no chop

The Program That Worked

  • Lines: Two rods, quick resets after every fish.

  • Attractors: Sling Blade dodgers

  • Leader: 8–10 inches, 8 lb fluorocarbon

  • Terminal: Micro-hoochie tipped with herring-scented corn

  • Setbacks: 15–20 feet behind the release

  • Rigger spacing: 11 feet apart

When the bite softened, a small speed bump (1.2 → 1.4 mph) brought fish back on.

8/27 – Hot From the Start

The rods lit up right away and stayed busy all morning. UV colors were strong early, and dropping the second rigger from 47 down to 51 feet kept pace as the sun rose. The bite never really tapered—every pass through the lane turned into more hookups.

Highlights

  • Best color: UV dodger (moon jelly) + pink hooche

  • Depths: 47–51’

  • 23 kokanee landed among three anglers in roughly 4 hours of fishing on 2 rods

8/28 – Quick Limit Pace, Early Exit

The kokanee were just as aggressive on Day 2, and the action was fast right out of the gate. Twelve fish hit the deck in short order between two anglers. Unfortunately, the trip had to be cut short due to an illness, ending what could have been another big count.

Highlights

  • Best depth: 49–51’

  • Adjustment that mattered: Speed variation

  • 12 kokanee landed quickly between two anglers running two rods before calling it early

Boat Handling Notes

Gentle S-turns helped vary lure speed and action, keeping fish engaged throughout the morning. The kokanee were aggressive and bit consistently regardless of direction.

Smoking the Catch

Once the kokanee were filleted and rinsed thoroughly (I do not scale them, as the scales don’t affect the end result), they were prepped for the smoker using this process:

  • Brine mix: 1 part sea salt to 4 parts light brown sugar

  • Soak time: 12–15 hours in the fridge

  • Rinse & dry: After brining, fillets were rinsed thoroughly, then dried for several hours until a tacky pellicle formed

  • Smoking: 1.5 hours with a single tray of applewood (local suppliers were out of alder)

The applewood gave the fillets a gentle sweetness that paired beautifully with kokanee’s rich, oily meat. The result was tender, flaky smoked kokanee that turned out fantastic.

Lessons Learned

  1. Speed variation matters. Small bumps between 1.2–1.4 mph triggered more bites.

  2. Color shift with sun. UV early, chrome once glare hit the water.

  3. Marks aren’t everything. Schools rarely showed on sonar, yet rods stayed busy.

  4. Applewood works. Even without alder, the smoke came out excellent.

  5. Scaling not needed. The scales don’t impact the texture or flavor.

Gear Used

Stats Block

  • Total kokanee: 35

  • 8/27: 23 kokanee (3 anglers, ~4 hours)

  • 8/28: 12 kokanee (2 anglers, short trip)

  • Best depth band: 47–51 ft

  • Best speed: 1.2 mph (occasional bump to 1.3)

  • Hot window: Steady bite all morning

  • Smoker: 1.5 hrs, applewood

Closing

Two mornings, thirty-five kokanee, and a cooler full of fish that smoked up beautifully. The program stayed steady on the water, and the applewood brought out the best in the fillets back home. Alder may be the classic choice, but this batch proved you can improvise and still end up with incredible results.

For more trip reports, recipes, and gear guides, check out FishyNW.com.

fishygary