I decided it was time to dust off the boat and check on the trout and kokanee, after that awful winter of no fishing. We launched at Spring Canyon at 9:45, joining around 20 other boaters with the same idea. We got some lines in the water right outside the launch, and immediately picked up a nice clipped rainbow on a chartreuse hoochie that was still just under the surface, waiting for me to drop the downrigger ball. Gonna be an easy day, we thought... Trolled down toward the dam and looped back up to the launch, six lines in the water (leaded, downriggers, planer board) covering depths from 5 to 25 feet and not a nibble. Trolled past the launch and headed toward Plum Point, and picked up another keeper on the hoochie. Crossed over after passing Plumb Point and went through Swawilla Basin several times, caught a couple nice wild rainbows, and a keeper. One more keeper on the way back to the launch, and a couple drive-bys that didn't stay hooked. Flat lined Rapalas (lime green/chartreuse and orange/gold) and the hoochie (one caught on the surface and one on downrigger around 20 feet) were the producers. No sign of kokanee, and 4 keepers for 9 hours of fishing 6 lines. Much slower fishing than we had expected, but a great day on the water.

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