ZOG'S Q&A MAIL BAG: The basics of kokanee: what, where, why and how
POSTED May 10, 2011 / 10:50 a.m.

Q - What are some common mistakes that guys/gals make when kokanee fishing?

Zog - No. 1 is trolling too fast. Toooo fast. You can go slower and still get bit, but if the conditions aren't right and you troll too quick, you won't catch anything. No 2, people use too small hooks. Guys use these No. 6 and 4 hooks and can't figure out why they lose so many fish, it's because they need a larger hook. A No. 2 or No. 1 Gamakatsu drop-shot hook isn't that much bigger, and you get more "bite" out of it. Less fish lost, kiddies.

Q - I'm brand new to kokanee fishing, and don't even know where to start. Can you offer some advice on a basic rig that I can use to fish several different lakes?

Zog - Everybody has to start somewhere, right? If you're new to this kokanee deal, this is where it all begins: a Wedding Ring spinner in red or green, with a plain silver or nickel blade. It's like a pink-pearl Corkie. If a guy's going to start somewhere, it's with the Wedding Ring and a 4/0 nickel dodger. There's your kokanee starter kit

ZOG'S Q&A MAIL BAG: What's the deal with Apexes for kokanee?
POSTED May 10, 2011 / 10:50 a.m.

Q - Why Apex lures?

Zog - Like a plug for steelhead, that wobble and larger profile attracts bigger kokanee. The biggest kokanee have almost always been caught trolling Apexes. Big, giant kokanee eat them. They're a trophy kokanee lure. If you suspect you have bigger kokanee around, use Apexes

ZOG'S Q&A MAIL BAG: OoooohOooh that smell! Can't you smell that smell?
POSTED May 10, 2011 / 10:50 a.m.

Q - Why GULP! maggots?

Zog - Only the Berkley scientists can figure that out. Whatever is in that, it apparently looks good to kokanee, it's the right size, and whatever the smell is, nothing can touch it.

Q - What scents do you use?

Zog - Anise is a big one. Kokanee love anise, No. 1. Shrimp and clam is a big, too. I still have some of the old Gel Krill that Pautzke discontinued - I put a little dabble of that on all my dodgers.

ZOG'S Q&A MAIL BAG: The nitty-gritty about my favorite kokanee gear
POSTED May 10, 2011 / 10:50 a.m.

Q - Why Rocky Mountain dodgers?

Zog - That style of dodger allows you to troll faster. A regular dodger has two waves, so if you troll faster than 1.4 mph, they'll start rolling over. The tear-drop style allows you to troll up to 2.t mph. Anytime you have to troll faster than 1.4, you have to use teaerdrop style dodgers.

Q - What are your three top combos and why do you use them?

Zog - I actually stick to two main combos. No 1 is The Holy Diver: A 5.5 Bahama Mama dodger, a pink glo squid, 12 inches of 12-pound leader, two no. 1 Gamakatsu drop shot hooks. No. 2 is the good old 4/0 nickel dodger, 24-inch leader to a green Wedding Ring with a silver blade. Those two setups are where I start in any new fishery.

Copyright © 2011, Northwest Wild Country Radio Network, All Rights Reserved