Drano Lake ... the place to be this spring?

I got points harvesting on the mind for the weekend.  Going butt hunting on the Saturday (weather permitting), then road tripping down get some springers on Sunday.  Sounds crazy, but I'm booked up the next 2 weekends and I think April is the window of opp to get a butt, and I want to get some springer for the BBQ.

-Allen

Little early for the hali's isn't it?  Anyway, I'm sure you're getting lots of guys scrambling to clear schedules for the 13th-- me included!

Rob.

Halibut opens in the Straits on April 10.  They won't be in the Eastern Straits very long before they start migrating out.  They will start disappearing in the very Eastern parts quite early in the season and by the end of spring it will be all but over in that area.

-Allen

At this point, it looks like I'll be in for the 13th.  Maybe a day or two on either side also.

-Mark-

Going butt hunting on the Saturday (weather permitting), then road tripping down get some springers on Sunday. 

Me too. Now off to more WAF building!!

Z

PS. Here's an awesome article about Drano. Gotta love the University boyz!!
http://www.steelheaduniversity.com/DranoLake_Springers.html

At this point, it looks like I'll be in for the 13th.  Maybe a day or two on either side also.

-Mark-

Right on.  I was counting on some of you OR guys to do some scouting and set up camp!   

-Allen

Sunday the 13th sounds good to me.  Looks like I'll need to get a day license for WA.  Hopefully I can do that in Portland or in some early-early morning bait shop on the way to Drano.

Anyone up for a mid-week run as well?  I'm thinking about hitting it mid-week when the bite turns hot.

Sunday should be fun, but I just have this feeling we'll be spending more time dodging power boats then fishing, unless the counts over the dam aren't very high.  Seems like a 1000 a day over Bonneville is the magic number for a lot of folks.

Also, any ideas about where to launch?  It might be nice if we can find a place that lets us avoid the main ramp and possible lack of parking.  The main boat ramp/parking lot seems to be right off 14 on the causeway.

Okay, enough nay-saying on my part.. I'm excited to go fishing.
Brian

Count me in as tentative... also need to track down a license.

I'll be off work Apr 5-13, so we'll be up for some midweek fishing. Should be there the afternoon of the 13th as well.

there is a kayak put-in on the west side of the lake. follow the road leading to the hatchery, and you'll see a pull-out on the right where you can carry down to the water.

Sunday the 13th sounds good to me.  Looks like I'll need to get a day license for WA.  Hopefully I can do that in Portland or in some early-early morning bait shop on the way to Drano.

Anyone up for a mid-week run as well?  I'm thinking about hitting it mid-week when the bite turns hot.

Sunday should be fun, but I just have this feeling we'll be spending more time dodging power boats then fishing, unless the counts over the dam aren't very high.  Seems like a 1000 a day over Bonneville is the magic number for a lot of folks.

Also, any ideas about where to launch?  It might be nice if we can find a place that lets us avoid the main ramp and possible lack of parking.  The main boat ramp/parking lot seems to be right off 14 on the causeway.

Okay, enough nay-saying on my part.. I'm excited to go fishing.
Brian

Has anyone paddle drano before?  what kinda paddle condition are we talking about?  I guess I should start building up points with the wife since the 13th is her birthday!! she should understand right,   I mean we are talking springers!!

Carl

I'll be off work Apr 5-13, so we'll be up for some midweek fishing. Should be there the afternoon of the 13th as well.

there is a kayak put-in on the west side of the lake. follow the road leading to the hatchery, and you'll see a pull-out on the right where you can carry down to the water.

Thanks, I saw that little pull-out on Google Earth and wondered if you could park/launch from there.

Hopefully I'll be able to join you for some mid-week fishing as well.

I guess I should start building up points with the wife since the 13th is her birthday!! she should understand right,   I mean we are talking springers!!

Carl

Good luck Carl!  You'll probably be okay if you get back home in time to clean up yourself and cook up that fresh caught salmon for her birthday dinner.  Now if you get home late without a fish...    not pretty.

Brian

It looks like I might actually own a fishing kayak by then. My schedule of Sun/Mon off works too....yipppeeeee

Time to be a kayak fisherman after all

Jay

PS - Anyone know the closest place across the I-5 bridge to pick up a Washington license?

Jay,

If you don't actually own a fishing kayak by then, let me know and I'll bring an extra you can borrow.

Brian

WA Fishing License Agent Search
http://wdfw.wa.gov/lic/vendors/vendors.htm

Looks like there are couple places in White Salmon, Home Valley, and Underwood.

Lots of places in Vancouver and Stevenson seem to sell them as well.

I wish the tackleshops here in OR sold them.

Brian

It looks like I might actually own a fishing kayak by then. My schedule of Sun/Mon off works too....yipppeeeee

Time to be a kayak fisherman after all

Jay

PS - Anyone know the closest place across the I-5 bridge to pick up a Washington license?

If you don't have a kayak by then, I could bring you one to use.     Just let me know.

-Allen

Jay,

If you don't actually own a fishing kayak by then, let me know and I'll bring an extra you can borrow.

Brian

If you don't have a kayak by then, I could bring you one to use.     Just let me know.

-Allen

copy cat

Jay,

If you don't actually own a fishing kayak by then, let me know and I'll bring an extra you can borrow.

Brian

If you don't have a kayak by then, I could bring you one to use.     Just let me know.

-Allen

copy cat

Hah!  Whatever it takes for my NWKA braddahs and sistas.

These gatherings provide a great way for members to try out different yaks.  If you have a specific kayak model in mind, let us know and I'm sure someone has something that might be on someones list and would be willing to let them give it a test drive.  Just don't catch a bigger fish then me on a kayak I loan out ... unless you're not registered on AOTY that is.   

-Allen