My initial thought is that if your downrigger wire is making a humming noise, your trolling way too fast for kokes. Standard speed is around 1.1mph but be sure to vary your speed and note how fast your going when you do get a strike. On Lake Washington I regularly get kokes to hit at 1.8mph but even at that speed one shouldn't experience wire hum. Was it blowing hard while you were out this morning as sometimes the wind will cause the hum. Thanks for the report and better luck in the future.

I switched to the braided downrigger line. It is very quite and easy to re tie if you need to refresh the last couple feet of cable.

I've heard braid is the way to go, some people use a heavy mono too but there is too much stretch in my opinion. Also, buy yourself one of those blue rubber snubbers you see on everyones downrigger, they are pretty cheap and go between the wire and the ball this will dampen any hum and stop it from traveling all the way down to the ball and out to the lure. I run them on both of my rigs. The hum alone should NOT stop you from catching fish, I have caught plenty of fish of many species while my downrigger wire was singing.

I had the same thought as G-Man that you were going too fast but the wind could have played part in that too. I havent fished but a couple times for Koks but I have done my share for salmon in the sound and have had many hookups with the wire humming. The braided downrigger line is very nice I have a friend that uses it as well it cuts down and alot of noise. I highly recomend those rubber snubbers they even come in green. I was fishing for kings in the sound in a friends boat who was not running with a snubber and useing cable. We snagged something on bottom and lost the whole downrigger with a loud snap/bang. I would rather loose a 20$ ball than a 400+$ downrigger. I hope you have better luck next time thanks for the report. Tite Lines

Thanks for your input everybody. This is such a great website!!!