Rowland Lake 12/5/19 - 8.5# Monster Trout

I got an early start and watched the sun rise on my way east up the Columbia Gorge to Rowland Lake. Things looked promising as the reports from Black Friday fishing weren’t good which meant there are probably a few of the 2,000 big fish planted last week left. In addition, no wind or snow forecasted for the day which can make fishing miserable in the Gorge. Got Rowland Lake around 8AM and started rigging my kayak and discovered I had forgotten my kayak seat. :-(  There are ways to paddle a sit-on top kayak without a seat but none of them are great. I tried kneeling which quickly became uncomfortable then standing which was difficult for me to get much speed. Not to mention with a 65# Golden Retriever on board, there was a fair chance I would fall in sooner or later. Water temperature was 41 degrees so not an option.

I ended up laying on my back with my ditch bag as a pillow and found paddling oddly comfortable. There were 3 shore anglers who probably thought I was crazy or stoned. LOL So with Carli in the bow looking for fish and me paddling “low-rider” style we trolled a 3/8oz Killer Worm Spinner rigged with a 2.5” floating trout worm, natural color. I was trolling slow around 1.25-1.5 MPH with a 100’ setback to get a slow bottom presentation. Around 10AM, I got a slow lethargic takedown which didn’t stick. This was my first time using a custom Lamiglas trout trolling spinning rod which I built last month and really liked the flex on the rod even though the bite didn’t stick. I checked the lure and pinched off the tail of the worm to prevent short bites. Took another lap and hooked a fish in the same spot in the middle of the lake. It was a heavy fish which didn’t fight very hard but was shockingly big when I netted him. It was a monster, 8.5# and 26.5”. Carli usually licks the trout when they come on board but this one she didn’t want to get near. Ha ha That’s why we call her “Big Baby”. I liked the performance of the Lamiglas rod. It casts adequately but not great, but for trolling worm spinners it is awesome. My son and I started selling our Killer Worm Spinners on Amazon last month. Check it out.

Life is good, Scott

Dang!  That is a honkin' fish...  Love your pup's expression

Chunk of a fish. Glad you got a willing biter. That place can be night and day. Only fished it a few times  The problem is it's one of the few lakes in the gorge area and it gets hit hard, fast, alot and the fish see everything in a short amount of time.

Way to make it work too! I always had a spare canoe paddle in my trident when I owned it as a backup. One day I went to rock creek reservoir and I forgot to load my main paddle the night before. It was a little more work but I didnt have to turn around and go home