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Had an opportunity to fish yesterday, but was truly up to my fishing partner whether we went. She worked Friday, then went in at 10pm Friday night to cover a night shift. She pulled in the driveway at 8:30 Saturday morning and I had everything packed and ready to go, so we hit the road. She napped almost to Seven Bays.

Was foggy when we left, and drove through very dense fog west of Airway Heights all the way to Hume Road, about 60 miles worth. Haven't seen fog like that, that dense, and that far in a very long time. Usually drive out of it on Hwy 25, but not yesterday.

We arrived at the lake about 10-ish, so Debbie took a nap while I did some chores, then we loaded the boat and headed for the launch shortly after noon. We launched and headed downstream intending to fish the area around Sterling Point, but decided to make a pass down the north shore across from Lincoln. Turned out it was a good decision.

Yesterday was one of those days where the activity was so fast, it was difficult to get the gear out. I had just set one rod in the holder and was starting to send the 2nd one out when it was Fish On with the first. Debbie fought it to the boat, I scooped it up, and one in the cooler in less than 5 minutes. And so it was for the next hour or so. It probably took me 30 mins just to get all 4 lines in the water.

Debbie was fighting one, when I had a solid hit on a long line, so I grabbed the rod and start fighting that one, net hers, then the other leaded line got hit. Meantime, I had a jumper making aerial displays 175' behind the boat. I couldn't net her 3rd fish because the other was still in the net so told her to "swing it in", which she did. She cleared the net and got ready to scoop mine, but it had other plans. Must have had it within 15' of the boat half a dozen times only to have it make a dive or run, stripping 30' feet or more off the spool. As always, when a nice fish gets that close, you can see it and know it's a good one, the fear of hooks pulling out becomes a real possibility. Alas, not to be yesterday. Those Owner hooks on my Rip'n Minnow stayed buried and Debbie slid the net under our first decent fish this season. Nice 2lb, 15oz native. Sweet. :-)

We continued on with our troll, and put a couple more in the cooler for a total of 6. Then it seemed the bite stopped. We stayed on 6 for awhile then I changed directions and we managed 2 more, so we both had 4 each. Yesterday was my turn to limit first, with Debbie taking her 5th shortly after. All but one were nice chunky 15" - 16" 'bows. Just like a couple years ago, we had several to the boat only to have them spit the hook. Many came to the boat with ease, exploded once they caught site of the boat, and that was how they came undone.

Beautiful day on the water. Sunny, warm, light winds of maybe 10mph, just enough to chop the water up. We saw the Bighorn Sheep on the north shore and enjoyed watching them run along the rocky wall like strolling a neighborhood sidewalk. What a site.

Yesterday's hot setup was a Frisky Jenny Black Ant fly tipped with worm. Seems it was hit as fast as I could get it in the water. I was sure I had a second one, but not to be, so I swapped the perch pattern fly on the other rod with a Fire Ant which was very close color wise and was almost as good. We were pleased to finally see some action and interest in the plugs, and the Rip'n Minnow accounted for our best fish yesterday. IIRC, plugs put 3 in the cooler, but the flies outfished them many times over. Leaded line out 155' and long line 195'. Trolling speeds ranged from 2.5 - 3.1mph.

Dinner at Two Rivers Casino with friends and then headed for home.

nvan

10/28/2013 9:56:00 AM

Another great report. We will be heading out next weekend for our annual "guys weekend". We hope to have the same great results as you and others have been reporting.

MotoBoat

10/28/2013 11:46:00 AM

The biggun must be (+ or -) 20". Not knowing that, the picture does not do justice to the 15-16 inchers. What kind of fight do you get reeling them in on the leaded line outfit?

nvan

10/29/2013 7:45:00 AM

can anyone tell me how long of a run it is from Two Rivers to buoy 5 up the Spokane arm?

hewesfisher

10/29/2013 8:07:00 AM

Moto - Big fish was 19.5" and the fight on leaded line is not much different than the mono, especially with 50' leaders.

nvan - Two Rivers to Buoy 5 is probably a 10 - 15 mile run on the water. If that's an issue, consider launching at Porcupine Bay and running to buoy 5 from there.

1996Monark

10/29/2013 9:33:00 AM

Great report.... Thanks for the in-depth information.
I am just getting into this boat trolling fishing and your information helps.....
Thanks.

nvan

10/29/2013 10:13:00 AM

Hewes- thanks for the info, we are launching and staying at Two Rivers. Day one will be Sterling point or White rock and the next day may be buoy 5. Not sure yet.

MarkFromSea

10/29/2013 10:41:00 AM

Great report! Very descriptive!

jpack

10/30/2013 8:44:00 PM

were do you find the rip'n minnow ?

hewesfisher

10/31/2013 7:55:00 AM

A tackle store. ;-) Don't know if you're in the Spokane area, but I used to buy mine from White's Outdoor, until they closed, then Sportsman's Warehouse and their successor Warehouse Sports until they closed. I think White Elephant carries them (haven't checked) and if the drive is worth it, probably Cabela's in Post Falls. I imagine Black Sheep in Couer d'Alene would have them too. Cabela's is an 80mi round trip and Black Sheep is 100 miles, so it has to be something well worth my time and gas to make the drive. Online ordering and home delivery is so much easier and saves me at least an hour or two driving time no matter where I go.

nvan

10/31/2013 10:14:00 AM

I saw Rippin Minnows at White Elephant at the valley store the other day. They do not carry Frisky Jenny's though. :(

jpack

10/31/2013 1:09:00 PM

thanks for the info. was at cabela's the other day and looked but didn't see any?.

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