Lake Koocanusa Camping (and fishing)

[Bemoredog]

Heading up to Koocanusa this Friday to camp and fish. None of the reservable sites are available, so it's all first come first serve sites. Both at Kikomun and the various rec sites scattered around the area.

Does anyone know if the first-come, first-serve sites are usually packed as well? Do we have any hope of finding a spot? I'll call Kikomun on Thursday and see if they can tell me what the status of the non-reservable sites is. Just wondering if anyone on the forum has experience doing this and if I'm on a fool's errand.

If yes I might be setting up camp somewhere along the beach.

As for fishing:

Kokanee: wedding bands tipped with pink maggots, snubber and some kind of smaller dodger/flasher. Trolled from my medium spinning rod with a planer board anywhere from 5 to 20 FOW.

Rainbows/Bulls: various rapalas in trout patterns, little cleo spoons, flatfish, freedom spoons, panther martins and vibrax spinners on a planer board with 27 lb ledcore and 20 lb mono leader. Not sure if I should add a dodger/flasher.

I'll bring bottom bouncer hardware too in case I need to go deeper.

Most people seem to say north of the bridge 1 or 2 kms, and south of the boat launch 1 to 2kms is a good area for fishing.

Any other tips or advice are welcome.

[Dave P]

Without giving my exact Kokanee slaying position away, we usually fish here.

2-3km south of the bridge. If you have seen the houseboats you are to far down the lake.

I find the best stops are where the natural bays or inlets hit the "lake"

Rig sounds about right.

If you see a big bearded guy with a stupid straw fishing hat in a Tracker, fee