My Odell Lake Mac

I haven't had a lot of noteworthy fishing experiences in a while as my AOTY posting to date will attest. However, my wife and I just got back from our first camping trip in nine years and fishing was part of the itinerary. In the campground we saw that we had one of the more modest, humble set ups compared to the big RV's. Can anyone say Beverly Hilbillies?



After a few days of hiking, fishing day rolled around and we hit Odell Lake for about five hours primarily targeting kokanee but hoping for a mac. I have been trying to learn the art of kokanee jigging and, so far, it's been a bust. I got the jigs, measured my "pulls", got a good fish finder but so far not much success. There were plenty of schools of kokes around but none willing to bite. I was practically bouncing the jigs off their heads.  After about an hour, I let  my jig down to about 75' and before I could even start jigging, I had this on the line. I don't even remember setting the hook.



24" and therefore undersized, hence, no AOTY points   Very pleased nonetheless, my first ever mac. and on light tackle. The lip gripper came in handy. I was trying to go without a net for the kokanee this time but needed a contingency in the event of a larger fish. I was able to tether it to the kayak while my wife came for the picture and I unhooked it with  minimal handling.

We spent about two hours at Cresent lake today on the way home and caught a single koke for dinner. Lots there but not in a biting mood again.

 

I need a shave.

I love fishing Lake Odell.....not uncommon to bag a lake trout while jigging for kokanee as they feed on the kokes.
Buzz bombs work well jigging, and if you down rig a wedding ring with white corn on the hook, that usually works too.
For kokes, the timing is important......usually the hour before sunrise to 9 am for best results.....then after 4pm to sunset..........lake trout any time of the day and if your troll the south shoreline...railroad tracks area.... off shelter cove, trout are easy pickings.....as long as the wind is not too strong, Lake Odell is super.

Nice!  I'm hoping to get over to Odell before the month is over, there is a Kokanee tournament on the 17th, would be fun to see how the PB crowd do. 

We were over at South Beach last week camping, we tow our trailer with the Honda CRV, then one of those BIG coaches pulled in to the camp and their toad was a CRV!  I think our trailer would fit in their storage compartment under the bus.  Camping means different things to different people!

Nice Mac.  I love Odell.  My wife and I camp there every year. 

Great fun Mac, Went to Odell Lake this past June camping at Shelter Cove.  Of all the 50 plus boats I was the only kayak on the lake fishing.  Fishing was incredible and always I miss the bite.  As for camping water pump went out in my trailer and the last day my converter went, but still had a great time. Wife wasn't to happy. A local guide that fishes the lake showed me how to rig up for different ways to fish he tied me up some gear.  He did good, got me on track.  Lord willing be back over to Odell lake next June or July 2014.

Yep, tents went out of style but no one told me. Some of those guys in the big rigs never even get out. It's funny how I've lived in Oregon all my life and never made it to Odell even though it's not that far from home. We toured a bunch of those high lakes and I'd love to go back and fish them all.

I think we got too late of a start  both days to catch the good morning bite. I've noticed the same thing at Green Peter trolling in the spring. It's good fishing real early and then it's scratch fishing later on and then gets good again if you stay all day.

Sweet, nice fish Chris!