Fishing report first, then the closed launch issue.

Water surface temp at time of launch was 66° and we motored downstream near Whitestone to try our luck. Put 3 in the cooler in 20 mins, but all were this year's net pen fish and all were in the 1lb range. Decided to head further downstream to try for some bigger fish. We stopped at the mouth of the San Poil and I took the lake's temperature. Surface temp was 64.8° and temp at 75' was 64.4°, less than a half degree difference between the surface and 75', no wonder the carryovers are hard to find, the temps are not to their liking.

I dropped the downriggers to 25' and ran Rip'n Minnow 50' behind the ball. Also ran leaded line with Frisky Jenny flies out 155'. Had one downrigger release, but no fish. Was on Debbie's side of the boat so don't know if it was a strike or simply pulled out of the clip. Had one other strike on a leaded line but it didn't stick. After 90 minutes of working that area, I decided to head back upstream near Sterling Point.

Ditched the downriggers and trolled with leaded line and long line mono. Completed our limits in about an hour.

Standard gear setups, leaded line and Frisky Jenny flies with a piece of crawler out 155' and long lined mono out 195' with Rip'n Minnow plugs. We caught our limits on the leaded line rigs, not a single hit on the mono. Trolling speeds varied from 2.3 - 3.1mph.

We had some winds at times that produced a nice chop, but mostly calm by mid-morning.

FYI - All the launches on National Park Service managed lands are closed. This means every launch not on reservation land is closed to the public. The only usable launch available in the Porcupine Bay/Ft. Spokane/Seven Bays/Lincoln area is the one at Two River's Resort marina and only as long as the lake elevation remains above 1280'.

Barricades at Seven Bays, Jones Bay, and Hanson Harbor were simply painted sawhorses with homemade 8x11 paper signs stating all NPS facilities were closed due to the shutdown. I drove down to the launch at Seven Bays, and the barricades did not block the road at all, plenty of room to drive past them, even with a boat trailer. Though tempted to, I did not launch there despite the fact I have an annual pass for all NPS managed launches at Lake Roosevelt.

We did see a wind surfer on the water near Hanson Harbor and noted the barricades were gone. I suspect the wind surfer removed them in defiance of the "closure".

Another tidbit of info regarding the closure. There were park officials at points along the south shore flagging boats down by turning on their sirens and flashing lights. Friends of mine were told by these shore-bound officials that they could not fish the water along the south shore and that they had to fish, quote, "The Indian side" unquote of the lake. There are no such boundaries in the main body of the lake, all water below the 1310' line is public water.

Seems odd there is money available to pay NPS officials to sit on the shore and flag people down, but no money to keep the launches open. Just remember, these are PUBLIC lands and waters, the GOVERNMENT doesn't own the lake or the park, WE do.

Anglinarcher

10/7/2013 11:37:00 AM

It is interesting because all water in the state, including the land, from the high water line and lower, belongs to the State of Washington, not the Feds. The two exceptions are Crab Creek and the Little Spokane River, which by exceptions to the laws done many many many years ago, and that belongs to the adjoining land owners.

I suspect they get away with it because no one knows how, or has the money, to challenge them in court.

hewesbob

10/7/2013 3:02:00 PM

In my opinion and this is only my opinion and it don't matter if anybody agrees with me, The only thing(while fishing)that I hate worse than paying the state or federal government money to use our own land to camp on and access our waterways is Tribal politics. I refuse to use the launch at Two rivers as I refuse to buy anything on any reservation. These tribes are responsible for the ruin of our fisheries. With the over funded and bias studies to the over use of gill nets. I don't blame any 1 Indian in particular, I have several Indian friends, my late wife was indian, as well as my step daughters are indian. I also believe that anybody that supports an indian casino is supporting the tribal politics and is to blame for decline in our fisheries. My second complaint is the lack of fish management at our Hydro dams. I worked as a supervisor at Rocky Reach dam fish bypass system for close to a year during construction and bring the system online. Very few people involved cared about the fish. The entire project was about how much money could be made by not having to draw water levels down. That project cost 127 million dollars and Chelan County forecast to recoup that money in two years. This project was a huge design success and could have been built at every hydro dam on the Columbia by now but its a low priority for the federal idiots. As for the boat ramps closed right now some body(maybe I will do it) needs to use a closed ramp, get a ticket, and then take about 500 fishermen to court with them. I'm sure folks would come from far and wide to show support for some body using OUR OWN property. Thanks for the chance to rant.

Hewes15

10/7/2013 3:36:00 PM

I am going to use whatever launch I please all winter long screw these guys launch your boat and park truck somewhere else. The Casino launch works great though used it until December last year with the high water.

buc

10/7/2013 7:31:00 PM

drive by the signs if you can pass them without any regret ?

downriggeral

10/7/2013 11:33:00 PM

As long as we are ranting I too have an annual launch permit. The whole thing with the feds from the top down chaps my hide! Who owns all the public land anyway? You and me last time I checked. I'd join the protest if anyone ended up getting a ticket and going to court.

1996Monark

10/8/2013 10:01:00 AM

Hewesfisher,
I am just getting into boat fishing and trolling down on Roosevelt as I live in Davenport and just purchased a boat last year. I am learning the ropes slowly but surely. I would like your opinion on your Frisky Jenny Flies if you would share your knowledge.
I looked on their website and they have many options.
But, they have Roosevelt Flies, about 7 of them.
Is there any one color you like to use or would you suggest getting one of each for starters?
Also, do you tie any mono onto your leaded line or just go with straight leaded line? Right now I have set up both ways but seem to have better luck with straight leaded line. I landed a nice bow Saturday up the Spokane arm out about 150 on line counter with a wedding ring and pink powerbait balls. it was 19.5" and went 1.13 lbs.
I would like some of your insite in the Frisky Jenny flies and colors.
Also, do you buy directly from them in CDA or is there another place that carries them like the White Elephant or someplace in Spokane?
Thanks for your time in advance.....
Greg

nvan

10/8/2013 11:05:00 AM

Hi Spectrum,
Not Hewesfisher, but I would be happy to throw in my 2 cents worth. My favorite fly pattern is a perch pattern either the Lenny Special or Frisky Jenny. I am pretty sure both can be purchased at White Elephant. Other faves are Rippin Minnows #65, in green or orange. As far as mono onto leaded line, I have been using 50' in front of the leaded line. Hope this helps. Good fishing.

downriggeral

10/8/2013 9:34:00 PM

Hi nvan...I'm not hewesfisher either. I like the Frisky Jenny Lenny Special (perch) or the Trick R' Treat ( a strange color of burnt orange/red with black) in the Lake Roosevelt series. I troll 18# lead core with 60' Berkley Vanish 8# leader. Tie the flies on directly ( Palomar knot) and tip with worn or whatever you like.

White Elephant does not carry them (they should). Black Sheep in Coeur D' Alene is the only one left that sells them and does not always have those two colors. You can buy them on line too. Hope that helps

hewesfisher

10/9/2013 7:20:00 AM

As to flies, I use the Frisky Jenny "Lenny Special" every time out, it is my default go to fly. I have more of them than any other fly in my box. My second favorite is the Trick r Treat. I will typically send a Lenny Special out on one rod and a Trick r Treat on the other. I always use a 50' fluorocarbon leader in 6lb test tied to the end of my leaded line and use a coast lock style swivel on the leader. I have a hard time tying knots, especially in colder weather, so I don't tie my flies direct to the leader.

Just got my order of Frisky Jenny flies yesterday. I order direct from them and if you buy a dozen you get one free. Half my order were Lenny Specials, the balance was split between Trick r Treat and Fire Ant. I like to use dark flies in bright, calm conditions. Not worth it to me to drive to 100 miles round trip to buy flies and the cost savings per fly is very small anyway.

I also long line 12# mono with Rip'n Minnow 65 plugs in perch and black pearl, usually 195' back.

That 19.5" rainbow should have been close to 3lbs. The net pen fish we caught last weekend were smaller, only 13" - 14" and our best was 1lb, 5ozs. Hope the info helps. :-)

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