I troll for kokes, and don’t fly fish the bigger lakes like stump, bridge and horse that have a mixed bag of troots and kokes. It also Depends on time of yr, prior to mid- June before algae blooms start - no, kokes taste too good so I bonk them. After mid- June I don’t target them as I don’t find trolling around w/ sling blades and mini-hoochies for 10-17” fish (size range of Monte Lk Kokes) as sporting as all the other fly fishing opportunities avail to me. Once the blue green algae blooms and filter feeding kokes start tasting like mud due to the geosmin in the algae I’m off kokes, and focus on the small interior flyfishing lakes in June. By July small interior lakes go into the doldrums and I take my holidays to fish the chuck and/or flyfish the East Kootenay streams for westslope cutts (my fave!)
In contrast to Kokanee (which are great to eat but only so-so sport imho) an ocean-brite Chinook caught w/o a flasher is a great sportfish and a ton of fun to catch. Do I like to eat spring, of course, I love it (though the wife prefers Sox and coho), but still a fun enough time to chase and catch them even if C&R’ing. Plus, anytime on the Ocean along our beautiful coast is worth it to me regardless of the hauling, ferry and fuel costs.
Cheers!
Ukee