Drano Lake 2010?

anyone even thinking about Drano for springers this year? 2 years ago, a small group of us met and paddled our collective butts off. it was my very 1st time, so i wasn't up to tackling the mileage the others put in, but i met a great group of folks.

 i think steelheader even caught a trout that day.

I would love to give it a try!
It would be my fist try for springer's in a kayak!!

I'm trying to get March 4th and 5th off!

Would love to tag along and take some instruction!!

SD



 

Early March is too early for best fishing at Drano. Half the run (50% passage)  at Bonneville doesn't happen until late April.

http://www.nwd-wc.usace.army.mil/tmt/agendas/2009/1211_Spring_Chinook_BON.ppt

yuh, was thinkin the april time frame too. would be a weekend cause i's fresh out of vacation and sick time at work..

will keep this one on the back burner and someplace on a calendar... don't be discouraged, swift draw, we;'ll get there.

Is that this lake? http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Drano+Lake&sll=47.010357,-123.653022&sspn=0.003731,0.006877&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Drano+Lake&t=h&z=14

Yep, that's Drano

That's quite the haul, but myself and the lady would go - she's itching for a King sooooo bad.

Anyone up for the weekend of April 10th or April 24th? 

Is it always this busy? http://www.fws.gov/gorgefish/littlewhite/index.html

That link is just showing the White Salmon Hatchery page???

Drano does get very busy. Don't expect solitude.

There is a picture at the top that is labeled "Sport Fishers on Drano Lake"  Looks like a lilypad field of boats   

The good thing is that all those boats are moving between 1 and 2 MPH.  Put a flag on your yak and make your spot in the Merry-Go-Round.

Mainstem temps are higher than the last couple of years so you can expect that more than a few springers will be cooling off in the Drano pool before heading upstream.

Solitude and Springer fishing are a rare mix.

Crap. it figures. i start making fishing plans and my employer sends me out of town during that same time frame.

anyways; Lee, was going to send you this via PM but the more i thought about it, the more i think it can fit in public since it's such a popular fishery.

so here goes:
it's gonna be racetrack style trolling like it is every year. definitely you want a flag on your yak cause all of us who went in '08 almost got run over by inattentive boaters, tho i admit to being guilty of not paying attention either. [ my very 1st time out, ever] take a whistle or a small warning horn, too, just in case.

it's not that big a place, maybe 30 acres, and you can actually go back farther than the motor boats.

also, just as you get to the western edge of the lake on the highway, make a left and follow the road back about a mile. there's a small turn around /parking area, and a slight downhill portage to the lake and an easy launch. this puts you back within 300 ft of the "no fishing" buoys for the hatchery. and there are several places along that side of the lake where you can bank it too if you want.

anyways; http://www.fishingworks.com/lakes/washington/skamania/mount-defiance/drano-lake

and;  http://www.gorp.com/parks-guide/travel-ta-gifford-pinchot-national-forest-los-padres-national-forest-fly-fishing-goleta-sidwcmdev_055345.html

and, here's a campground suggestion; http://timberlakecampgroundandrvpark.com

LeRoy and staff are great people. we used them the other year, and had zero issues. even the drive back into the campground is nice. we had to stop for wild life several times [ wild turkey flock, bear and deer]

as you get back on the road and make that , uhhhmmm, LEFT to go to Drano, in home valley, there's a little red restaurant sitting on the left side of the road called the Home Valley Cafe. the food is excellent and the 3 person staff are very attentive.

and of course you can go into Stevenson and take your pick of the local pubs and eateries. at the western end of town there is a small general store/grocery store. well stocked and clean. across the street slightly, is a coffee shop that you have to experience to appreciate.

also, our member, Alkazasi lives either in the town or nearby, so he might be able to give you a whole 'nother, locals perspective of things than i ever will be able to.

hope these help.

Too bad there are not that many kayak fisherman in the Gorge who participate in this forum.

Too bad there are not that many kayak fisherman in the Gorge who participate in this forum.

It's up to you Ronnie. Get the word out!!

Z

Too bad there are not that many kayak fisherman in the Gorge who participate in this forum.

yeh, that is strange isn't it? tho i do recall seeing a few fishing yaks along a flat stretch someplace between Stevenson and the turn off for the campground. they were kind of close to the road in a small backwater, probably trying to deal with current speed issues.