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.

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

After Dark Ice fishing for Trout

 DON'T PACK IT IN EARLY!  The great thing about short winter days is two prime time fishing periods in relatively close proximity.  Meaning you can hit first light and last light without having to wait too long in between. 

Growing up fishing for walleye I am used to staying out till it is too dark to see your rod tip any longer.  When moving to British Columbia I noticed most guys pack it in during the afternoon right before the bite picks up again.  Usually I'll be the only guy out when the fish start to feed again.  Especially early ice where fish often feed very shallow.  I find the last light bite also brings in the larger fish and some of my biggest trout of the day are taken in the dwindling light.  It's like they go on a feeding frenzy and forget about being cautious when biting a hook.  This may be because they can't see as well.  Whatever it is I'm telling you if you don't mind leaving in the dark then by all means stick it out a bit longer. 

I usually use the help of a jaw jacker or jigging jaw jacker at night.  Put it in a shallow hole 3 to 5 feet where the trout will cruise.  That way I can pack up my gear and still be fishing.  The night I caught these two after dark I had about 6 hits on the jaw jacker and landed three brook trout while packing up. 

I have to say the nightshot mode on these newer phones is crazy.  These pics were taken when I could barely see the fish. 

@jawjackerfishing

@circle_tackle

#nightfishing #brookie #brookchar #BROOKTROUT #trout #troutfishing #icefishing #bigtrout #easternbrooktrout #earlyice #firstice #britishcolumbia #gofishbc #fishingbc

Hermitage Park Rainbow Trout and Jaw Jacker Review

Fishing Hermitage Park Pond rainbow trout that lurk under ice is something I enjoy trying when home for Christmas.  Unfortunately this year I didn't make it to the lake until later in the ice season after Christmas. You see this small pond is only about 12 feet deep and stocked with 3000 rainbows a year.  As the winter lingers on oxygen levels plummet and the trout are left struggling to survive.  Sadly nature wins out and the lake consistently winter kills leaving the remaining trout dead under ice.  No one can predict when this will exactly happen as a lot of factors come into play.  For example live weeds add oxygen and dead weeds consume oxygen.  Regardless I always go out to give it a try.

The forecast was for a rapid change in weather throughout the day.  It started out on the cool side, overcast and calm.  By the end of the day it was freezing cold and blowing snow. 

I tried a faithful point on the lake in the morning, but there was no trout activity on the radar at all and no strikes on the awaiting Jaw Jacker.  I decided to pack up and walk across the lake to a deeper section and see if there were any fish around.  I drilled holes starting from a shallow bank and out every 20 feet into the main lake basin.  Shortly after I set the Jaw Jacker in shallow water it went off!  I ran over and lost the first nice rainbow in the hole.

I reset the line and returned to jigging with my rod and MarCum VX 1P.  I noticed that there was some action on the flasher half way up the water column.  I raised my Kastmaster with dropper fly to mid water column and soon had something that felt like a bite.  Then the Jaw Jacker went off again and I landed a nice rainbow at 15 inches.  I returned to the jigging rod and started to have more hits and landed another rainbow.  The trout were ON which was unusual after Christmas. I attributed the action to a rapid fall in barometric pressure which sometimes turns the bite ON!  Regardless the cause I was just happy to be the one experiencing it.

Things slowed down mid day and I moved to another hole.  I decided to try a few inches under the ice in 12 feet of water.  In no time I had a strike and then another.  I got down on my belly and stared down the hole.  In no time a rainbow was staring back at me inches from my face.  They were swimming back and forth right under my nose.  This was so cool I thought.  Turns out this is typical behavior as the oxygen levels fall in a lake.  The fish start to swim closer to the ice where trapped air pockets and cracks are the only way oxygen enters the lake late in the season. 

I quickly drilled another hole and dropped the GoPro down to see if I could get any footage.  Turns out they weren't camera shy and even though it was getting dark the footage is still pretty neat.  Check out the video links below. 

I continued to catch fish on the Jaw Jacker and rod right under the ice.  Turned out to be one of my best days on Hermitage Park Pond.  I saw several other groups of people on the ice and nobody else was catching.  Just goes to show you can't always stick with what usually works.  The fish were not on the bottom and unless you moved around and fished mid water column and up to the ice there was no catching going on.  So don't forget the rest of the water column when you are out on the ice.  Also having a MarCum Flasher can really help you understand how fish are using the water column and put your lure in the high traffic area.

I've been very impressed with the Jaw Jacker on ice.  I set it up with three small ice jigs or flies about a foot and a half apart and tip with pieces of meal worm.  Drop the set up down and wait.  More often then not when it goes off there is a fat trout on the end of the line waiting to be brought in by you.  If you are allowed a set line in your province or state I highly recommend investing in some of these.  

I previously used tip downs which I built, but usually by the time I ran over to grab the rod the fish had dropped the bait.  The Jaw Jacker actually sets the hook for you increasing your odds of catching more fish!  

If you'd like to see the action from this day click the links below.  I also do a demonstration of my Jaw Jacker rig for those of you who are curious.  

Till next time - Tight Lines!

The Fishing Doctor

Trophies of the Past - Fishing Seibert Lake

The sun was just cresting over the horizon as dawn promised a beautiful day. I was in the back seat of my uncles Chevy listening to the stories of old exchanged between my uncle and his father in law. We were headed off ice fishing and spotting dear in the never ending glistening snowy fields of northern Alberta. Now this may have been over 20 years ago, but I still remember the stories they told about fishing Seibert Lake. That famed Trophy Lake where you weren’t allowed to use bait and the monstrosities of fish would just cruise on by.

Over the years I’ve fished Pinehurst and Spencer, but never stopped to see if the fish were biting at Seibert Lake. That is until this summer.

We were visiting family in Canada and were fortunate enough to have a neighbor lend his fishing boat to us for a few days. I had been researching all the lakes north of Edmonton and decided that the one I’d most like to explore was Seibert. I’d never been there and the chance to keep a walleye for dinner had me excited to go.

Now considering I have a 6 month pregnant wife, a daughter who’s a few months from two, a 15 year old brother and the parents along I wasn’t expecting to leave at the crack of dawn. So we got a late start and headed out to Seibert Lake. If you’ve never been there the last 20 km of road is a sandy forest road. We pulled a 16 foot aluminum Lund behind my Dad’s Escalade and needless to say it was a little muddier than when we started.

The sun was shining, the wind was blowing and the fish awaited us. We launched and headed up to the north side of the lake where I hoped to find some structure. We trolled a drop off with deep diving crankbaits in 20 to 30 feet of water. The fish finder was marking some very nice arches. The only problem was that all these arches (sonar fish) were right on the bottom and were refusing to take our offerings of Rapala and Reef Runner. There didn’t appear to be any suspended fish either which are usually more likely to hit trolled crankbaits.

This predicament required a change in attack, so we sped around to the other side of the lake and found some weed beds. My Dad was the first to hook up. It seemed to be a pike on the line and dragged him right down into the thick of the weeds. We had to position the boat against the wind in order to try and pull the fish out. When we finally got the line free there was only a fishless crankbait covered in weeds at the end of the line.

Nearby a gentle point on this very featureless lake beckoned me to give it a try. I decided there must be some walleye hanging around, so we stopped and anchored off the point in 20 feet of water. We selected lures and started casting. I went with a personal favorite to use on bait ban lakes, the chrome and glow Cicada blade bait.

I started my fan casting pattern to cover the water by tossing it as far out as I could. Let the lure free fall to the bottom with a semi taught line. Using this technique you can tell when your bait hits bottom or a fish takes it on the drop. When the lure contacts bottom pull the rod tip 1-4 feet and let it flutter back to the bottom under light tension. This method may imitate a feeding or wounded baitfish.

It wasn’t long before one of those pops off the bottom led to a subtle tap. Without hesitation I loaded up the
rod and sunk those barbless hooks into a nice fish. After a short battle a fat walleye was in the boat. It measured over the 50cm size limit and went into the ice chest for dinner. After the success my dad and brother switched over to the Cicada and started catching walleye as well.

Soon the afternoon sky darkened as large rain clouds headed our way. We thought they might miss us, but then the down pour came rapidly. We pulled the anchor and headed straight for shore to hide under some trees until it passed. We weren’t even under the trees for 5 minutes when the rain subsided. You have to love Alberta afternoon showers! The sun came out and the lake was glass calm.

We decided to have a little shore lunch since we were already on solid ground. After finding some dry wood we started our fire, dried off and ate some yummy hot dogs before heading back out on the water.

The rest of the evening was spectacular and we continued to cast blade baits for a walleye here and there. It wasn’t fast and furious action, but we did manage to release a bunch and take home a couple for dinner. Good fishing considering we were exploring a new lake in August. What a great way to spend the day with family.

Another great adventure, creating my own story fishing the Trophy Lake of Old.