By Captain Pete Rosko
Lake Sutherland is 15 miles west of my home in Port Angeles. It has been my Kokanee fishing destination for almost 40 years.
My very first introduction to this lake was in 1986 when the Crippled Herring was the new metal jig on the market. I had no idea how good the jig might be since I never fished for Kokanee before.
There were two of us that day in my boat, my young buddy Gordon Thomson and me. We were two greenhorns. The day was sunny with a slight breeze. I did not like the sunny part but I liked the gentle breeze for the slow drift it provided for vertical jigging the Crippled Herring.
About the time we started jigging, a troller was approaching from my left. As most of us know, sound easily travels over water. There were two old-timers in that boat, both talking to each other. The operator of that boat was asked by his passenger, “What are those two guys doing?” Oh, the boat operator answered, “They’re chugging (I have no idea what chugging means) but they won’t catch anything that way!” I never forgot those exact words to this very day.
Almost on cue, we had a double hook-up of Kokanee. Double hook-ups happened in quick succession while that same boat kept trolling within earshot of us. I think it was after the fourth double hook-up that the boat operator said some words, that are not worth repeating here. That boat then sped off into the distance without boating a single fish.
After all those years, almost everyone still trolls on Lake Sutherland. I am one of those few that jigs. It has been a long time since I jigged a Crippled Herring on Lake Sutherland.
Ever since the Sonic BaitFish was created, about 15 years ago, it has been my go-to Kokanee and trout lure. It is my opinion that a Glow Orange Sonic BaitFish has no equal for Lake Sutherland Kokanee, especially in September and October.
Watch this video to see Pete Rosko's Kokanee jigging tips in action on Lake Sutherland.
Where do I like to jig for Kokanee on Lake Sutherland? Early in the season, I do well on the east end of the lake and outside of the buoy line toward the east end off the south shore. Many of the Kokanee will be near the bottom where the lake flattens out in 79 feet of water.
Pro Tips:
In several of my previous articles, I stated that the most difficult fish to catch are those that are suspended. Is that why so many anglers troll instead? While trolling with downriggers will get your lure to the correct depth of those suspended fish, the boat is trolling in and out of those fish marks that are displayed on the fish finder. There is an old saying in fishing that you never leave fish that are biting.
There is only one technique in all of sport fishing where you can, “have your cake and eat it!” It’s vertical jigging with a line-counting bait caster reel!
By matching the depths of the fish marks on the screen of the fishfinder, to the footage on the level wind reel, you can stay on those biting fish without ever leaving them. Part of the joy in jigging is feeling the strike on a hand-held rod. A strike on the rod, sitting in a rod holder while trolling, is not quite the same. It is very personal! It’s your hand-held rod, and your jig, directly communicating with the fish. It’s the closest thing to fly fishing. This is how you can catch more Kokanee than you ever did in your life!
With the invention of the line-counter reel, the Kokanee troller now has no excuse for not giving jigging a try. It is the most precise presentation ever achieved in sport fishing. Your presentation is now based on science, not luck. The next time someone says, “Good luck fishing”, you can say, no thanks.
As a youngster, I grew up trolling. I never disliked trolling and enjoyed it to this very day. But, if you want to catch large quantities of fish, including Kokanee, no other technique can compare to jigging. Why is that you say? It’s because once you locate where the fish are, you never leave them as you do when trolling through and out of them. In life, there are always exceptions to the rule. That includes those rare times when precision vertical jigging is either difficult or impossible to stay on the fish in open water.
That’s even when a bow-mounted electric motor cannot hold your spot. Your last resort is either fishing behind windbreaking structures, trolling, or going home. Wind and fast currents are your enemies in any fishing technique, especially when fishing for suspended fish. Even on the PGA golf tour, wind is the greatest unknown factor in getting that ball to its target.
For jigging, I like drifting on cloudy days with little wind on both fresh and salt water. In salt water, I also like a moderate incoming tide. When drifting, you are moving with the natural flow of water. It is the ultimate presentation of your lure or bait.
One distinct advantage I have, when it comes to jigging in saltwater, is the kelp beds in the western Strait of Juan de Fuca. I use kelp bed edges and pockets for salmon jigging and protection against the wind and strong currents. A quick-release line system is used with a jump start battery clamp on one end and a marker buoy on the opposite end to connect my boat to kelp. This is a high-priority item I always have on my boat. It not only helps me catch more fish but also serves as another anchoring source for attaching to a kelp bed in case my boat loses power. I always have somewhere to hide and somewhere to fish when I am in the vicinity of established kelp beds. I do not have that luxury on many lakes unless it has islands where I can fish and shelter on their leeward sides.
Until our next time together, take a kid fishing and practice safety on the water. Life preservers were meant to be worn and not stashed away.
Why do I love fishing? It is the anticipation of the next strike…Capt. Pete
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