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Wanted more fish for the smoker, but didn't want bigger water again and having to fish fighting the constant rocking from pleasure craft, away from the crowds. So decided to hit up Ketchum because it's close by, no combustion engines allowed, and I usually catch fish there.

Started fishing about 7:30. Within the fist few minutes got a takedown that didn't stick. I had an awful lot of takedowns today that didn't stick. Good thing is that those takedowns keep your interest up. It went on like this the whole morning. A lot of takedowns, a lot of fish on. Released some, plus kept my limit. I don't know how many I caught, but there was something on my line at least every 10 -15 minutes, usually quicker than that.

I messed around first thing in the morning trying a few different things. I did have some success with the Elgin Fishing God's Tooth spoon in Brown Trout with 1/4 ounce of lead. I tried some others, but Brown trout seemed to be the better of them for me. Of course I also ran a green Doc Spratley with a Mack's double D dodger and 12-14 inches of leader. I ran both size 6 and size 8, thinking if I went a bit smaller the fish might stick better... it didn't matter.

One fish I caught had green line coming out of his mouth. When I looked, it was obvious he had been gut hooked and someone just cut the leader (clean snip). When I got it home to clean, sure enough hook actually stuck in his gut, and a power egg in the intestinal tract. Looked like a recent release as the hook was still a shiny gold and the power egg hadn't puffed up too much yet like I have seen before.

Fun day. A couple of boats came and went while I was out. Didn't pay attention too much to how they did. One guy I spoke with sounds like the did ok with largemouth.

First clip on the video I decided to hook up 1 line to the downrigger. It's too small an area that runs 17-18 feet to make running a downrigger worthwhile, plus I was catching fine without it. But in the first clip after landing the fish and getting read yto release it, it self released the hook right up to my hand. I almost had an issue!

ElginFishing

5/29/2017 5:57:45 PM

Great report and video. Brown trout has treated me very well this year:)

JoshH

5/30/2017 3:15:50 PM

30 seconds in I got a hard takedown on it that didn't stick... another 30 seconds later, another takedown on it. I filtered though a few others, but brown trout was the one that got bit. I want to figure them out for Goodwin one of these times. I've only messed around with them there a bit trying off the downrigger. I wonder if running them off the dodger would help there. I've only tried without so far.

ElginFishing

5/31/2017 9:29:36 PM

So, I've only fished Goodwin maybe 4 times in the past 12 years. I did fish it I believe two times last year. I found the perch pattern worked the best with a quarter oz. split shot above the swivel. I was probably 10-15ft down. I have used a dodger with the God's Tooth before while experimenting and did catch trout with it. It might be worth trying with a dodger as you suggest. If you want to run the spoon just off bottom, I do that a lot. I just cast out and when weight hits bottom, start the electric motor (start peddling:) ) and proceed forward letting out line until about a 40 ft set back is achieved then start trolling. The spoon should be about 2-3 ft above the bottom once trolling speed is achieved. Also, I highly recommend only using a pattern for 5 minutes. If no action then do a change out using the duo lock snap. I usually will try 3 patterns if needed all going fast or slow action and if no bites, will try opposite action for a couple of patterns or so. Hope this helps:)

JoshH

6/1/2017 10:35:05 AM

I may be rigging them wrong. I have 1 leader tied up, about 3 feet, then on the end of the leader a snap swivel. I attatch the snap swivel to the split ring on the lure. So it goes snap swivel on the main line, 3 feet of leader to another snap, then lure. Should I replace the snap swivel on the end of the leader with a duo lock?

JoshH

6/1/2017 2:47:29 PM

I may be rigging them wrong. I have 1 leader tied up, about 3 feet, then on the end of the leader a snap swivel. I attatch the snap swivel to the split ring on the lure. So it goes snap swivel on the main line, 3 feet of leader to another snap, then lure. Should I replace the snap swivel on the end of the leader with a duo lock?

ElginFishing

6/1/2017 1:39:20 PM

I would replace the swivel with a duo lock. I think the snap swivel affects the performance of the spoon by making it too easy for the spoon to rotate reducing the erratic behavior of the spoon. It also weighs more than a duo lock and is more visible to the fish. Get 5/8" long duo lock or close to that. I run 4' of leader when trolling too. I think making these minor adjustments will increase performance:)

JoshH

6/1/2017 3:18:56 PM

Thanks tons. With the snap swivel the action was more of a barrel roll. Now I just have to decide if this weekend is Goodwin or Stevens... decisions, decisions!

ElginFishing

6/1/2017 5:43:03 PM

The fast action setting on the spoon (hook on wide end) will result in a very fast barrel roll rotation. This is my preferred setting for the perch and shiner patterns but I certainly use it on any of the patterns. I just let the fish tell me what they want. The slow action is the wobble action. I think the swivel will affect the slower action more than the fast action. I know Stevens has been very slow a day ago...just fyi:)

JoshH

6/1/2017 6:29:02 PM

Thanks for the info again. Been watching the kokanee pages for the latest on Stevens. No mentions of it is usually not a good sign :(

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