One for the Record Books

By Mack's Lure Staff

Dan Avery Lands a 27-Inch Giant Kokanee at Wallowa Lake

Every kokanee angler dreams about catching the fish of a lifetime. For Dan Avery, that dream became reality on July 16, 2026, when a routine afternoon trolling session at Oregon's Wallowa Lake turned into one of the most memorable catches in recent kokanee fishing history.

Avery's massive kokanee measured 27 inches and tipped the scales at an incredible 8 pounds, 8 ounces on a certified scale. While the fish isn't a state or lake record because of the legendary giants Wallowa produced in 2010, Avery has been told it ranks as the fifth-largest kokanee ever weighed on a certified scale. More importantly, it's a catch he'll never forget.

"I Knew It Was Different."

The moment the fish struck, Avery sensed something extraordinary. "We were trolling along the southwest side of Wallowa Lake near the marina in 100 feet of water, fishing 41 feet down on the downrigger," he said. "The fish hit hard enough to pull the line out of my downrigger clip."

Unlike many anglers, Avery sets his downrigger release fairly tight, preferring to manually pop the line free after grabbing the rod instead of allowing fish to release themselves instantly. "When I picked up the rod, the weight was much heavier than a normal fish. Honestly, my first thought was that we had snagged something."

A glance at his fish finder confirmed otherwise. "We were still in 100 feet of water and only fishing 41 feet down. Then the fish made its first run." That run nearly ended the battle before it really began. The giant kokanee stripped line so quickly from Avery's Daiwa Lexa 100 LC reel that only about 20 feet remained on the spool. "I tightened the drag, which is something I tell people to never do, and finally managed to turn his head."

From there, the fish made several more powerful runs before Avery was finally able to bring it into view. "At first, I still wasn't convinced it wasn't a huge lake trout or rainbow trout. But when it came close to the surface, I could finally see it." His reaction was immediate. "That is the biggest kokanee I have ever seen."

A Family Team Effort

Landing the fish proved nearly as exciting as fighting it. Avery's wife reached for their Beckman Kokanee net, only to discover the fish simply wouldn't fit. "My wife tried to net him with my Beckman Kokanee net and the fish wouldn't fit in the net." As they carefully backed the undersized net away, Avery's oldest daughter quickly grabbed an Ego Slider net. "I was able to scoop him with one hand while holding the rod with the other." Only after the giant fish was safely aboard with part of it still hanging over the back gunwale did everyone finally relax. "We all breathed a collective sigh of relief."

The entire battle lasted just under five minutes, but Avery says it felt much longer with two major close calls: nearly being spooled early in the fight and almost losing the fish at boatside because it outgrew the first landing net.

Dialing in the Details

Avery has spent the past eight years chasing kokanee, and his attention to detail played a major role in landing this trophy. His setup included: Rod: Edge KDR-760 Reel: Daiwa Lexa 100 LC Line: 12-pound P-Line CXX Dodger: Mack's Lure Sling Blade in Orange with the Gold Fishbone pattern.

One adjustment he believes made a difference was running a much shorter leader than most anglers. "As the fish begin staging for the spawn, I think they need a little extra aggravation to trigger a strike." While many anglers run leaders longer than 12 inches behind a Sling Blade, Avery shortened his to just 7 to 8 inches, creating a more aggressive action.

Beating the Midday Odds

The conditions weren't exactly what most kokanee anglers hope for. It was nearly 90 degrees, the water was crystal clear enough to see bottom in more than 20 feet of water, and the fish struck around 1:30 p.m. For many kokanee fisheries, midday is considered the least productive time of day, with dawn and dusk typically producing the best action. That only made the catch more surprising.

Adding to the accomplishment, it was Avery's first visit to Wallowa Lake. "I had never been to or fished Wallowa before this trip."

Eight Years of Chasing Kokanee

Although Avery grew up fishing for king salmon in the Pacific Ocean, kokanee quickly became his freshwater passion. "Kokanee fishing is almost exactly like ocean king fishing just at a slower speed with smaller and lighter tackle." His previous personal best weighed in the high three-pound range, making this fish an enormous leap forward.

More Than Just a Giant Fish

For Avery, the day's biggest reward wasn't simply landing one of the largest kokanee ever recorded. "It is the most memorable catch of my life." The reason? "I was able to make it with my wife and both my daughters on board and helping. That really took it over the top."

The family decided to keep the fish. "Kokanee don't release well during the summer months, and the fish was very worn out after the fight. I'm not even sure it would have survived a release attempt." The fish eventually became dinner a fitting end for one of the rarest catches an angler could hope for.

A Balanced Fishery Creates Trophy Fish

Avery believes producing giant kokanee requires careful fishery management. "If the kokanee population gets too high, fish get limited in size because of available food. If the population gets too low, the fish may get larger, but there are fewer of them and anglers catch fewer fish."

Finding the right balance, he says, is never easy. "It's the age-old question would you rather catch ten small fish or one giant one?" His preference? "I tend to lean toward fewer fish, but larger fish providing the best experience." Still, he notes that reducing stocking numbers too much can backfire if events like mudslides or poor water conditions reduce natural reproduction.

Advice for Trophy Hunters

For anglers hoping to catch their own giant kokanee, Avery stresses realistic expectations. "You aren't going to catch a five-pound-plus kokanee in a lake full of 10- to 12-inch fish." Instead, he recommends researching lakes producing oversized fish and spending time there during June, July, and August. "When these fish are truly gigantic, there aren't going to be many of them. You have to grind it out and wait for the right opportunity."

He also encourages newcomers not to get discouraged. "There's a ton of great information available today. Learn the basics, keep practicing, and don't give up. Once you get it dialed in, most lakes will provide plenty of opportunities."

Looking Ahead

Although Avery now owns one of the most impressive kokanee catches in recent history, his future fishing goals are centered on family. "My biggest goal is just continuing to get my wife and children hooked on fishing and the excitement that it can provide." Someday he'd also like to take a long-range tuna and dorado trip out of San Diego, but for now, he's still enjoying the memory of an unforgettable afternoon at Wallowa Lake.

Before wrapping up, Avery wanted to recognize two people who helped shape his fishing journey: Marc Christophel of Christophel's Guide Service, who introduced him to kokanee fishing and helped him join the Mack's Lure team, and Bob Loomis, who has always believed great fishing stories come from everyday anglers not just professional fishermen. And Avery's story proves exactly that.

On a hot July afternoon, fishing water he'd never seen before, surrounded by his wife and daughters, an ordinary angler landed an extraordinary fish one that will be remembered for years to come.