Wallowa Lake

I'm headed to Wallowa lake today and tomorrow for some trout and Kokanee fishing.  If anybody is in the area, feel free to join me.

Daily limit of Kokanee is 20 now on Wallowa.

Wallowa Lake

•Beginning May 24, 2013 the daily bag limit for kokanee will increase from 10 to 20 fish.
•Only five kokanee over 12-inches long may be kept.
•Additional background information about this regulation change is available here.

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From ODFW News release RSS feed I'm subscribed to:

Kokanee limits increased at Wallowa Lake
May 22, 2013

ENTERPRISE, Ore. – Kokanee anglers at Wallowa Lake will be able to bring more fish home starting this holiday weekend.  Beginning Friday, May 24, the daily bag limit will increase from 10 to 20 fish per day. There will continue be no minimum size limit but anglers will still be restricted to harvesting only five fish over 12-inches. For anglers visiting Wallowa Lake from afar, possession limits remain at two daily limits.

ODFW fishery managers announced the rule in response to a dramatic increase in kokanee abundance in recent years. According to Jeff Yanke, district fish biologist in Enterprise, the estimated population of kokanee in Wallowa Lake has increased from 70,000 fish in 2008 to over 900,000 fish in 2012.

“We’ve had a remarkable rebound in kokanee abundance, especially with younger fish under 12-inches,” said Yanke. “Just a few years ago the lake was producing much larger fish but overall the number of fish was much lower. “

“This rebound in the number of young fish is unprecedented for a kokanee fishery,” he added.

Wallowa Lake has gained a reputation for producing trophy-sized kokanee, breaking four state records and a world record from 2009 to 2010. However, history shows that the presence of trophy fish wasn’t always a positive sign, Yanke said.

“In several lakes in Idaho and Canada, the catch of trophy-size kokanee was followed by major population crashes,” Yanke recalls. “Wallowa Lake appears to have bucked this trend for now, and is hopefully in the process of stabilizing.”

The replacement of record-setting trophy fish with a bigger population of smaller fish means anglers will be enjoying a different kind of fishery.

“Angler expectations were certainly raised when so many record fish were caught in 2009-2010,” Yanke said. “Even today, many anglers expect to catch huge kokanee when they come to Wallowa Lake.”

Yanke said he hopes the increased bag limit will help offset the loss of trophy-sized fish.

“Wallowa Lake still has a great kokanee fishery,” Yanke said. “It’s just a little different from what it used to be.”

The increased bag limit was established under a temporary rule that will remain in place for six months. ODFW managers are proposing the rule become permanent in January 2014. To comment on the proposed rule change, anglers should call the ODFW Enterprise office at 541) 426-3279.

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Contact:

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Jeff Yanke (541) 426-3279
Jessica Sall (503) 947-6023


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I just drove through there on my way to McCall. No boat though

Fishing was pretty tough.  I caught less then a dozen trout and the biggest was maybe 11 inches.

I trolled from the Dam to the other end (3.48 miles each way).  The PBers I spoke with were not catching any Kokes either.

I did get to try out my downrigger for the first time.  It worked great.  I even had it around 125ft deep at one point.  Normal trolling was around 35ft.  I need to get a 2lb ball for it though.

Nice report! It amazes me though about catching smaller size fish up in those lakes compared to what was normaly caught back as far as I remember fishing them in the 60's.

Memorial Weekend I spent on Crescent. Although it was easy to fill your limit on Kokes, they were all small- like 8-10 inches. Anchoring up and jigging for them was the ticket. The ff would tell you when a school was swimming by and the action was on fire for 5 min or so until the next school of them came through.

I did catch this nice fat 33" Mac while targeting German Browns though. This guy fought me pretty good. Nearly spooled me! Caught on 12lb test in 8 ft of water.

Keep it up! you will find them!

Erik

Couple of shots, one facing north, the other south. a little blurry because my phone was in a waterproof protector.

That is a nice laker.

I really wish Wallowa was closer I really want to fish there, and that south view looks spectacular even all blurry. 

The "word" is that the fishing should really pick up in the next few weeks.  The water is still to cold i guess.

I'll be back.