Previous Next

Arrived at the lake about 7:30 this morning. Started unloading the Jeep and noticed that I forgot to load the downrigger. Crap! Decided to head back home, pick up the downrigger, and head back. Ugg, got in the water about 8:45. Not a good start to my day.

On the downrigger I had a Mack's Double D Dodger followed by a size 6 olive Woolley Bugger. On the other line I had 1 1/2 ounces of lead, Double D Dodger, and a size 6 green Doc Spratley. Trolled the trench for a bit as I was marking quite a few fish sitting right on the bottom, so I set the downrigger to 42 feet. Stayed there for a bit, adjusting the downrigger to keep it close to bottom, but nothing was biting. Headed over to the southwest side of the lake, set the downrigger line to 25 feet to stay close to bottom. Nothing. By now it's almost 11am. Was thinking about packing it in, then decided to lengthen my leaders a bit. I had been going 8-10 inches, lengthened them out to 18 - 20 inches. Bingo!

Got one on the Doc Spratley line (it was probably around 15 feet down with 1 1/2 ounces of lead) just as I am getting it to the kayak, I see out of the corner of my eye the downrigger line bounce, then stop. As I am bonking the fish, I swear I see the downrigger line bounce a little again. Put the fish in the cooler, and see a slight bounce again, sure enough, fish is still on. After about 2 1/2 hours of nothing, a double! Landed it, set the downrigger back down, and just as I am about to let out the other line, the downrigger goes off. 3 fish in about 10 minutes. Got 2 more in the next 20 minutes or so to finish my limit.

As I was leaving, talked to another guy trolling with no luck. Gave him a 1 1/2 ounce lead and a Doc Spratley to hopefully change his luck. Fish today were holding in about 32 feet of water and I was marking them from bottom up to about 15 feet down. Speed to get the strikes was between 1.3 - 1.5 on the gps. Sizes were between 15 1/2 inches to 17 inches on the biggest. Decent trout, and they cut nice once again. Fish are still loaded with nymphs. Every one of the was stuffed with them.

DeanSmith

10/24/2016 5:00:00 PM

What size weight do you use on your downriver?

DjButler

10/24/2016 5:00:00 PM

those are cutting real nice sir!! makes it all more worth it

DeanSmith

10/24/2016 5:01:00 PM

Downrigger.

riverhunter

10/24/2016 6:48:00 PM

Oh boy you make me miss trout fishing out on the local lakes. I usually hit shoecraft with just about the same technique you speak of. Either flat line dicknite dodgers with woolly buggers or set them on a downrigger. Lately I've been to lazy to inflate my pontoon but looking at those fish just might have to work up some energy and pump it up and skip the rivers. This year has been a bad year on the rivers for me as wdfw decided to open after they reach way beyond their escapement goals. Thanks for the report

JoshH

10/24/2016 7:30:00 PM

DeanSmith - I normally use a 4lb ball with braided line replacing the downrigger cable. I want a small ball and small diameter line so I am not always having to fight turning right. I do also carry a 6lb and 8lb ball if I need to fish deeper ( like those times at Stevens when the fish are below 60 feet) 4lb seems to be fine most times.

Thanks DJ, they are cutting nice and are smoking up nicely too.

Riverhunter - yea this whole coho season has been a bummer. I was really looking forward to taking the Hobie out in the salt to chase them this year.

Leave a Comment:

Login

Flag

×

Why is this comment inappropriate?

Close Submit

Delete this comment? Provide reason.

No Yes

Edit

×

Cancel Save