How We Caught Kokanee Salmon at Kawkawa Lake Without Downriggers | Simple BC Fishing Technique Anyone Can Use

How We Caught Kokanee Salmon at Kawkawa Lake Without Downriggers

There are some fishing trips that feel heavily planned and technical. Then there are the days where you launch a small aluminum boat onto a quiet British Columbia lake with a buddy, a handful of hooks, some krill, and just enough confidence to convince yourself you know what you’re doing.

This was one of those days.

On a hot June morning under completely blue skies, my friend Mark invited me out to Kawkawa Lake near Hope to target Kokanee Salmon. I had never seriously still-fished for kokanee before, and honestly, I expected we’d spend half the day experimenting while pretending we had a solid plan. Standard fishing logic. Humans love driving hours into the wilderness to stare at sonar screens and debate whether tiny fish are “in the mood.”

But almost immediately, we realized something important:

The fish were there.

And they were feeding.

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A Simple Kokanee Setup Anyone Can Use

One of the best things about this technique is how simple it really is.

No downriggers.
No expensive trolling systems.
No complicated electronics required.

We were fishing in roughly 40 to 43 feet of water, dropping small hooks tipped with krill straight to the bottom while watching fish cruise beneath the boat on sonar.

Our setup was basic:

• Light action rods
• Braided no-stretch fishing line
• Small hooks
• Weights heavy enough to hold bottom
• Krill bait
• Sensitive rod tips for subtle bites

That was it.

The braided line made a huge difference because Kokanee often bite extremely lightly. Sometimes the float barely moved. Other times the rod just twitched for a split second before the fish spit the bait back out.

If you waited too long, you missed them.

That became obvious very quickly.

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The First Kokanee Strike

At first, we sat watching the sonar while fish moved slowly along the bottom beneath us. The lake was calm, skiers were beginning to appear, and we debated whether we should switch tactics and start trolling instead.

Then the float dipped.

Barely.

Another tiny movement.

Then suddenly Mark hooked up.

Instant chaos.

A bright silver Kokanee ripped through the water while both of us scrambled for nets and tried not to tangle lines. The fish fought far harder than its size suggested, which is one reason Kokanee fishing becomes addictive so quickly.

One bite changed the entire energy on the boat.

Now we knew the pattern.

The fish wanted slow presentations near bottom with subtle movement.

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Why Kokanee Can Be Difficult to Catch

Kokanee are strange fish sometimes.

They can appear in massive schools directly under your boat while completely refusing to commit to the bait. Other times they attack aggressively and hook themselves before you even react.

We noticed that slowly lifting the bait often triggered strikes. Too much movement scared them off. Too little movement and they would mouth the bait and spit it instantly.

This is exactly why sensitive rods and braided line help so much.

Several times we watched bites happen visually before we even felt them.

And several times we completely missed fish because the bite was so subtle.

That’s Kokanee fishing.

Tiny salmon with the commitment issues of modern internet dating.

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Surprise Coho Salmon

One thing we didn’t expect was the number of wild landlocked coho salmon showing up during the day.

At one point, I hooked into a fish that absolutely hammered the chironomid setup. The fight felt completely different from the Kokanee, and when the fish surfaced, we realized it was a beautiful little coho salmon.

Because these fish were unclipped wild coho, they had to be released.

Still, catching coho while targeting Kokanee added an entirely different level of excitement to the trip.

The lake clearly holds more variety than many anglers realize.

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Small Boat Fishing in British Columbia

One thing I really appreciated about fishing Kawkawa Lake was how accessible it felt.

You do not need a giant boat to fish here.

We were out in a small aluminum boat using straightforward gear and simple techniques. This makes it a fantastic option for families, beginners, or anglers who want an affordable freshwater fishing adventure in British Columbia.

For many people, Kokanee fishing seems intimidating because so much online content focuses on trolling setups and expensive equipment.

But this trip proved something important:

Sometimes simplicity works extremely well.

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🎥 The Best Part of Fishing Videos

One thing I’ve learned filming fishing adventures is that the unpredictable moments become the best memories later.

Not just the fish.

The joking.
The missed hooksets.
The floating theories about why fish suddenly stop biting.
The boat drifting in the wind.
The random equipment problems.
The complete confidence right before everything goes wrong.

At one point we even lost the front anchor temporarily while fish were actively biting.

Perfect timing, naturally.

Because fishing trips are rarely polished in real life, no matter how edited YouTube videos look afterward.

And honestly, that’s part of what makes them fun.

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Final Thoughts on Kawkawa Lake Kokanee Fishing

By the end of the day, we had landed multiple Kokanee, encountered several coho salmon, learned a lot about how these fish behave, and confirmed that simple bottom fishing with krill can absolutely work at Kawkawa Lake.

For anyone wanting to try Kokanee fishing in British Columbia without expensive gear, this is an excellent place to start.

A small boat.
A sensitive rod.
Braided line.
Krill.
Patience.

That’s really all you need.

And maybe a fishing buddy willing to remind you repeatedly when they’re outfishing you on camera.

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WATCH THE FULL VIDEO

Have you ever fished for Kokanee Salmon in British Columbia? Have you tried jigging instead of trolling?

Leave a comment below and share your favorite Kokanee lake or fishing technique!

If you enjoyed this fishing adventure, make sure to subscribe to The Fishing Doctor’s Adventures on YouTube for more BC fishing trips, techniques, underwater footage, trout fishing, salmon fishing, and outdoor adventures.

Tunkwa Lake Rainbow Trout Fishing Adventure: Underwater Strikes, Spring Chaos & Giant Pennask Rainbows

There are certain lakes that stay with you.

Not just because of the fish, but because of the memories attached to them. The drive. The weather. The people. The feeling of arriving somewhere familiar after years away.

For me, Tunkwa Lake in British Columbia’s interior is one of those places.

The first time I fished Tunkwa Lake was back in February 2015, shortly after moving to British Columbia from California. New province, young family, unfamiliar waters, and endless curiosity about the legendary rainbow trout lakes scattered throughout BC’s interior.

Now, 11 years later, I found myself making that same drive once again.

From the green valleys of British Columbia’s Lower Mainland, over the snow-covered Coquihalla summit, and down into the dry rolling hills surrounding Tunkwa Lake Resort, it felt less like a fishing trip and more like returning to a place connected to an earlier chapter of life.

And almost immediately, the lake reminded us why anglers keep coming back.

Spring Rainbow Trout Fishing at Tunkwa Lake

Early spring can be one of the best times of year to fish rainbow trout in British Columbia’s interior lakes.

As water temperatures remain cool, rainbow trout cruise shallow shorelines aggressively feeding on leeches, freshwater shrimp, chironomids, damsels, and other food sources waking up after winter.

The conditions during our first afternoon were almost unbelievable for April.

Temperatures reached nearly 19°C. Fish were surfacing everywhere. Birds filled the shoreline. The lake felt alive.

I joined Rod from Fishing with Rod, and within moments of making our first casts, the action started.

The first trout hit while my spoon was still fluttering on the drop before I had even begun reeling.

That set the tone for the entire trip.

Why Spoons and Leech Patterns Worked

One of the most interesting patterns we observed during this trip was how aggressive the trout were toward falling presentations.

Fluttering spoons, micro jigs, and slowly moving leech patterns consistently triggered strikes.

Many fish hit on the drop itself.

At times, trout were visibly cruising ridge edges and shallow transitions just a few feet below the surface. Reading those underwater contours became one of the keys to finding actively feeding fish.

As the days progressed, we experimented with:

• spoons
• pumpkin leech patterns
• black and red micro leeches
• float fishing techniques
• twitch retrieves
• fly fishing presentations

The trout responded differently depending on light levels, wind, and water clarity.

And then things got even more interesting.

Underwater Trout Footage with the SHINE CAM SC100

One of the highlights of this trip was testing the SHINE CAM SC100 underwater fishing camera.

Honestly, I was not prepared for how fascinating the footage would become.

For years, anglers imagine what trout are doing beneath the surface:

• following lures
• inspecting flies
• refusing presentations
• suddenly committing to a strike

But watching it happen underwater in real time completely changes your understanding of fish behavior.

The underwater footage revealed:

• how rainbow trout approached spoons
• hesitation behavior before strikes
• reaction distances
• competitive feeding behavior
• how water clarity changed fish movement
• how trout positioned themselves in shallow structure

For someone deeply interested in fish behavior and trout fishing strategy, it was one of the most educational experiences I’ve had on the water.

Day Three: Surviving Extreme Wind on Tunkwa Lake

British Columbia spring weather can change fast.

Very fast.

By day three, the calm conditions were gone and replaced with brutal wind gusts reaching 50 to 60 km/h across the lake.

Anchoring became nearly impossible.

Every time we set anchor, the boat would get blown off position within minutes.

But the trout were still jumping.

So naturally, instead of making intelligent life choices, we improvised.

We spotted a massive shoreline rock, looped a rope around it, backed the boat out roughly 50 feet, and pinned ourselves into position using a second anchor.

And somehow…

it worked perfectly.

Almost instantly after stabilizing the boat, the trout bite turned back on.

Sometimes fishing success comes from advanced strategy.

Sometimes it comes from tying yourself to geological formations and hoping physics cooperates.

Trout Behavior, Wildlife & BC Interior Beauty

Beyond the fishing itself, one of the most memorable parts of the trip was simply experiencing spring in British Columbia’s interior.

Every morning the lake came alive with:

• geese
• ducks
• loons
• cranes
• songbirds
• rising trout

The contrast between snowy mountain peaks and dry interior grasslands created incredible scenery throughout the trip.

Even during slower fishing periods, the environment itself made every moment worthwhile.

That’s one of the reasons Tunkwa Lake remains such a special destination for trout anglers across British Columbia.

Logan Lake Spawning Channel

Before heading home, we made one final stop at Logan Lake’s spawning channel.

Every spring, wild rainbow trout move into the channel to spawn, creating one of the most incredible wildlife experiences available to freshwater anglers in British Columbia.

Laying quietly beside the stream and watching these fish battle for position in crystal-clear water was a powerful reminder that trout fishing is about far more than simply catching fish.

It is about understanding ecosystems, seasons, migration, and the natural rhythms that drive these lakes year after year.

Final Thoughts

This trip reminded me why I fell in love with fishing British Columbia’s interior lakes in the first place.

The changing weather.
The friendships.
The experimentation.
The underwater discoveries.
The challenge.
The beauty of wild places.

And of course, the incredible rainbow trout.

Huge thanks to Tunkwa Lake Resort for hosting us during this adventure and to SHINE CAM for providing the SC100 underwater camera that captured a perspective most anglers never get to see.

If you would like to watch the full video adventure featuring underwater trout footage, spring fly fishing tactics, and giant Pennask rainbow trout, you can watch it below.

And if you enjoy fishing content focused on trout behavior, underwater analysis, fly fishing, stillwater tactics, and British Columbia fishing adventures, there will definitely be more stories like this coming soon.

Crazy Spoon Fishing for Coho Salmon How to Fish

https://youtu.be/REgiaS1bhbU

Amazing Vedder River Fishing for Coho Salmon using a Prime Lures 18 gram Glory Spoon in Copper and Orange Stripe, this is how you catch coho on a spoon. While the early run coho seem bigger, these late ones seem super plentiful and eager to bite. They rolled in again this year right on time. They inhabit the lower river for a short time as a big storm caused a high water event, and the fish vacated the lower runs pretty quickly this year. I never chased them, but I'm sure they're still in the upper river slowly changing color. A great way to target these coho salmon is spoons. This copper and orange striped Glory Spoon really did an amazing job this morning. I started using them a few years ago and have been very satisfied by how effective they are on the river. I arrived shortly after 8 am in the rain. Found a spot and got to casting. The first spoon I tossed and then a spinner did not trigger any bites. As I was walking in you will see I pass a gentleman who already had a couple hatchery coho on the line using a copper and orange spoon. After a couple failures I went back into the box and dug out my copper and orange stripe spoon. In no time, I was hooked up! By 9 am, I had landed 3 wild coho and 4 hatchery. A WILD one hour of spoon action. Always nice to have a crazy bite once in a while! Since I finished up early, I headed to the Cabelas to see if I could find some heavier leader line for Chum fishing. Ended up finding a new Ugly Stik as well. This is the problem with an early limit... time to shop. I hope you guys have had a great season and caught some salmon. If not, keep at it. They are still around. If you want to hear my tips in this video fast forward to @7:10 when another angler came up to chat and see what exactly I was doing to have success on the water. I figured he had questions that many anglers who have never caught a coho on a spoon might want to ask. So I included our little discussion. I hope you find it helpful. I can't recall his name, but thanks for inspiring the little discussion on the water. Not sure if it was luck or our little talk, but something clicked and he started pulling in coho one after another as well. Sometimes being in the right place and the right time does help out a lot as well, as long as you are getting the lure in front of their faces. Check out Prime Lures if you're interested in using spoons like I was in the video. Check out this link. https://primelures.com/products/the-glory-spoon?srsltid=AfmBOopGNuEq1tv-klFNTJDevt3zmz3pzIaxYFgW0v_B_2KMRrUbthnX Thanks for watching! Let me know if there is anything I left out in the comments below? How do you fish a spoon? Any questions, just fire me a comment and I'll get back to you! Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE if not done already, hit the LIKE and SHARE with a friend. All very helpful and makes me feel like doing more editing of content if people actually like this stuff. God Bless your Adventure! #vedderriver #cohofishing #cohosalmon #thevedder #chilliwack #chilliwackriver #spoonfishing #primelures

Ice Fishing Tactics Best Jigs and Lures

BACK TO ICE TACTICS... WHAT JIG or LURE???? This is a vast topic otherwise I wouldn't have tackle cases loaded with lures. But after years of fishing all sorts of lures there are two I most consistently go to through the ice! In this topic we will cover the Tungsten JIG!

If you are new to fishing and see the price tag attached to tungsten it may make you shy away and go for a cheaper lead jig. Understandable and I did it for many years. It wasn't until several years ago when I went fishing with @chriskindraka that I for once saw the AMAZING properties of TUNGSTEN.

Number ONE most panfish and even mini submarine sized trout are often filled with small aquatic insects. If you want to get things down to near natural size the Tungsten is your friend.

Number TWO usually a 1/32 or 1/52 jig is so small you can barely even feel it on the end of your line, rendering it very difficult to find bottom, jig or feel bites. Tungsten is quite a bit more dense than lead and always gives you a good thump on the end of your line no matter how tiny. You'll underestimate how shocking this is untill you actually have one on the end of your line.

Number THREE hundreds of colors to chose from but take it from me that more often than not the HOTTEST color seems to be CHARTREUSE. So if you want to dabble in Tungsten prior to becoming a HARDCORE FANATIC then pick up a few chartreuse. They have amazing visibility in low light and bright sun and for some reason fish seem to love it.

Number FOUR use bait! But use tiny pieces of bait! Shrimp, bugs, meal worms, maggots, worms. Whatever you use keep it small and keep the hook exposed. This is a FINESSE presentation so don't mess it up with a big gob of bait.

Lastly these can be jigged, deadsticked, and put under a flasher spoon. Super versatile and super fish catchers!!!

I hope you enjoyed that, follow me for more tips on ICE FISHING this season.

#tungsten #tungstenjigs #icefishing #icenation #howtoicefish #fishingbc #fishingtips @circle_tackle #gofishbc #fishingbc #troutfishing #rainbowtrout #trout #icejig #customjigs #customlures

ICE FISHING LINE!!!!! WHAT TO USE and HOW TO CHOOSE???

ICE FISHING LINE!!!!! WHAT TO USE and HOW TO CHOOSE??? People often ask me what type of line I use.

Most anglers underestimate the importance of the fishing line during ice season. This probably leads to more frustration and less productive days.

The number one mistake is over testing. This is a major factor and the colder it gets the more of an issue. For monofilament lines the heavier test you use the worse the memory will be in cold weather. The coiling memory in the line is more noticeable underwater, affects your jigging action and reduces your bite detection. Imagine fishing with a coil in between you and the fish absorbing all the shock. NO GOOD. SOLUTION: go lighter and fish 4 to 8 pound monofilament ice rated lines. I find these are much better and once you pass the 10 pound mark you will find the MEMORY becomes a significant issue. Use your drag more and line test less to manage your fish. Lighter lines also are less noticeable to pressured fish and provide a more natural active presentation that fish love.

What if you need a higher test line or fishing BIG FISH in Deeper water. Well then you may want to consider an ICE or other Braided Line like Power Pro. These should be combined with a fluorocarbon leader attached to the lure. They have no memory until absorbing water on cold days when the line freezes, no stretch and super sensitive. Super tough and won't break on the ice. I love braid to be honest especially lake trout fishing in deep water. WARNING: if you're spooling a metal spinning reel with braid tie the line on then wrap some electrical tape over the line, otherwise the whole spool of line will spin on the spool when cold. Very frustrating when you hook a big fish.

Fluorocarbon is not great for a mainline since it coils worse and is stiffer than mono. I do use it sometimes, but only go as high as 4 to 6 pound test. If you want to use anything else heavier then just use it as a leader. You can attach the line with a small swivel or a uni to uni knot!

I hope this helps you chose!

#fishingline #icefishing #icenation #howtoicefish #trout #troutfishing #howto #fishingline #powerpro #fluorocarbon #monofilament #ice

ICE FISHING EXTRA LINES - HOW TO CAPITALIZE

ICE FISHING EXTRA LINES!!!! Ok so here is the low down, unfortunately in BC you are only allowed one line through the ice and I wish they would change that to two. Around the rest of the icy North of America you are allowed a set line, extra lines through ice. So check your regulations and if you can use one then this post is for you!!!

Dead sticking is one of the oldest in the book. Just set up an extra rod and drop it down. Sometimes this "no action" bait will get all the action.

@jawjackerfishing has taken the dead stick to a whole new level by creating a loaded dead stick waiting to be triggered by a fish below. The trigger can be set super light or any range of tension you choose. Once the fish touches the bait the rod tip is released and the hook is set by the loaded rod. The fish can fight the rod while you run your butt over to reel it in.

Leveling up as pictured is the Jigging JawJacker! Now this rig basically fishes for you and will catch more fish than you! Don't feel to bad, happens to me all the time. There are three different wheels for different jigging actions. I've caught perch, trout, whitefish, kokanee, lake trout, pike and walleye on these. Excellent device.

Tip-up is a flat based device with a spool and a flag. Usually used with larger baits for pike. When the fish takes the bait the flag goes up and the fish can pull out the braided ice line. Run over and haul them in.

@ifishpro is another unit that turns your rod into a tip-up. Any rod becomes a tip-up and you get to set the hook and reel it in on your rod. So if you think the Jaw Jacker does to much then maybe this one is for you. Check out my pike videos using it. Pretty sweet how to video.

There are other things you can do like tieing line to a pop bottle or stick. I've seen all sorts of custom dead sticks so get creative. Most catch fish.

If you have any questions or suggestions for people let me know.

#icefishing #fishing #setline #deadstick #tipup #jawjackerfishing #jawjacker #ifishpro #eskimo #howtoicefish #howto #jiggingjawjacker #rainbowtrout #trout #troutfishing

How To Chose Ice Fishing Rod

ICE FISHING RODS 101... so you're new to ice fishing and you want to know what kind of rod to get. This has to be one of the most common questions I receive by message.

What are you fishing for??? Is my usual reply. You see just like the open water season these rods are made to meet the requirements for any fish you're after.

The first is weight - heavy, medium, light, ultralight and everywhere in between. Then there is length from short to almost as long as your summer rods.

So how do you choose?

Well consider the behavior and size of the fish. If they're smaller go light, larger go medium or huge go heavy. But for fish like trout, I still like a light or ultralight tip even if they are larger fish. The reason is they sometimes take the lure very light and a soft tip will help you detect bites. This can be the difference between catching fish and not even knowing you're having bites.

Length is impacted by your situation. In a shelter you may have to use shorter rods. Outdoors a longer rod will help you get a better Hookset and make it easier to stay pinned to the fish. A long rod will load up better giving you more ability to keep a constant pressure on the fish. A short rod you'll find it either doubled over or straight with every headshake.

So I think a decent practical rod length is in between 28" to 36". Once they start getting longer than that you'll need special carrying cases. Sure for big lake trout and pike guys are now using 40 to 50 inch rods. If that's your jam then you may want a longer rod as well.

I hope that has and if you want a flat ultralight tip rod with a solid backbone like the 29 inch rod pictured go check out the Alpha 029 rod by @circle_tackle.

#icefishing #icerod #ultralight #fishing #fishingrod #gofishbc #fishingbc #howto #fishingtips #icenation #howtoicefish #trout #troutfishing #brooktrout #rainbowtrout #circletackle #alpha029rod