I thought I would share how I prepare for a kokanee fishing trip in anticipation of BSS4!

Hoochies

Materials:
Leader material: I prefer 8lb
Hooks: Size4 Gami octopus
Hoochies/Tubes: Radical glow tubes
Beads: Should fit snugly inside of the tube/hoochie
Needle for threading tubes (unnecessary with most hoochies)



Step 1

Snell two hooks leaving a 1 inch tag and 12-16 inch leader (it will get shorter).
Snell knot: http://www.animatedknots.com/snell/index.php?Categ=fishing

At this point you can stop, attach it to a dodger and tip with some shoepeg corn.  You will have what is referred to as the "invisihoochie", which is surprisingly effective.



Step 2

Thread in the following order:
Bead (this bead tends to flair the skirt on the hoochie)
Tube/Hoochie
Bead (optional)




Step 3

Tie a perfection loop on the dodger end, leaving a 6-10 inch leader. The closer the hoochie is to the dodger the more action it will have. If the hoochie has inherant action (spinner blade etc.) then lengthen the leader.

Perfection loop: http://www.animatedknots.com/perfection/index.php?Categ=fishing

Attach it to a dodger, tip with corn, and you are ready to catch kokanee.



Bait preperation:
There are many ways to do this.  Here is one of them.

Materials:



Shoepeg corn (accept no substitute)
3 or 4 seal-able containers
Pautzke's fire brine
Procure: I typically use Predator or Anise/Krill OIL (not gel) because they add color.


I start by seperating the corn into 3 or 4 containers.  One will remain uncured, the next one I mix with one spoonfull of fire cure, and the third I mix in one spoonful fire cure and procure or dye (usually a red or blue).



While I have the cure out I sometimes take the opportunity to cure any other bait that has been lying around.



Refrigerate or freeze.


The last and final step, and one which I frequently forget is to clean up my mess.  I do this step to avoid this..........................................................






 

Nice Adam.  Now, about those dodgers ... tell me about the different styles, colors, etc., and what I should be looking for.  Thanks!

-Allen

Nice Adam.  Now, about those dodgers ... tell me about the different styles, colors, etc., and what I should be looking for.  Thanks!

-Allen

I can tell you what I use for trolling hoochies: 

Rod: Shakespeare Agility 7ft 8-12lb Ultralight action ($30-$40) I use these for work and in my opinion it is not worth getting the higher end rods unless you kokanee fish a ton, have a rod fetish, or make buko bucks.

Reel: any baitcaster.  Some like a clicker, but I use low profile bass reels.

Dodgers:  I prefer cheap dodgers.  I have experimented with lots of dodgers, and haven't noticed much of a difference in hookup rates, so I go cheap and traditional.  I'll sometimes use a slingblade for other bait applications, but for trolling hoochies I like the gold star dodgers as shown in the above photo because they are inexpensive and shiny .  Common colors are silver, silver/pink, watermellon, silver/green, silver/blue.

For those of you who are not sure how to tie a double snell here is a super easy way.



Can't get any more simple.


My random act of kindness for the day!

thanks for the vid. What ya think about a egg loop knot.
I used the snell from vid all last season but was concerned with it loosening up. Egg loop knot seems tighter.

I prefer slingblade style dodgers, not much reason for that, but they work fine for me.

as for the corn containers, the perfect containers are old powerbait jars if you have them lying around.

I prefer slingblade style dodgers, not much reason for that, but they work fine for me.

as for the corn containers, the perfect containers are old powerbait jars if you have them lying around.

I thought you called it a Kaiser blade. 

Thanks for the the great info Adam.