Planning Fishing Trips for the new season

To all,

So far I've seen posts about trips to Drano, Columbia for sturgeon, Moutcha for kings,...

Lets toss out a few other ideas... they don't have to be club "events".  All of us could probably have a good time with a couple of other avid kayaker fishermen.  The main thing is, especially this time of year, to daydream of some really cool trips, and maybe who knows, some of us will actually get together and try some new waters.

For example, I subscribe to F&H News and in the Feb. 7th issue there is an article about "Forgotten Waters.."  The article goes on to talk about Lake Omak which is a large lake in Eastern Wa. known for world class Lahontan Cutthroat trout.  Our state record cutthroat comes out of this lake.. some 18 plus pounds.  And yet it seems that few Wa. state residents are even aware of this fishery--most coming from Ore. and Idaho.

Hmm does anybody participating in the AOY know a better "trout" species to target for the most inches?  Just a thought.

Anyway, the whole idea is that with our membership there should be all sorts of great experiences or at least ideas for fishing trips!  I want to hear some..

Yakker    Happy Fishing.

Hmm does anybody participating in the AOY know a better "trout" species to target for the most inches?  Just a thought.

And give away my secret?  I'll give you a hint, "Cheboygan".

Anyway, the more possibilities to get together the better as far as I'm concerned.

Brian

I live about 45 minutes from Omak Lake. You're right that most of the anglers fishing it are from out of state. There are some good size Lahontans, and I'll spend some time there every spring. The downside to the fishery is that these fish fight like slugs, and if you're fishing for keeps, they're disappointing eats. Fishing is best from Feb-April.

Just a few miles away is Rufus Woods, where the triploids get even bigger, fight like hell, and are as greasy as any salmon you've ever caught. Fishing is good from Nov-March.

To the south of here is Lake Chelan, where Lake trout are caught to 30#. Fish start congregating in the south end around Oct., and stays good till the spring.

BTW, you can probably find some old posts about these areas.

Omak and Rufus I flyfish with a 4wt., in the shallows. Chelan is bottom bouncing in 100-250 feet of water, with conventional gear.

Grimes Lake is a great place for kayak fishing and adding up the "inches" on lahontan cutthroat.  I've fished there a few times from the kayak and many times from a small boat or canoe.  All fish are on a fly "spot" fishing with small nymphs.  The average size is 21-23 inches with occasional 26+.  Usually I catch 10-20 in a half days fishing.  A small lake, hard to bank fish, but perfect for the kayak, and not much pressure due to it's location.  June is best.

OK ... how about a spring panfish (perch, bass, walleye) bite in eastern wa, like potholes area.  Well, there should be some good trout in the seep lakes too.  It would be a nice family event (not that I have a family).

-Allen

Oh, I think Fishin-T is planning a trip back to the John Day.  Tom, start a discussion at some point, willya?   

-Allen

Pole,

Based entirely on the anticipated river flow rate, that trip is scheduled for either very late June or very early July this year.  I'm trying to hit the river at a time when the flow at Service Creek is somewhere between 2000 and 1000 cfm to try to optimize the fishing prospects but not run out of water to float on.  Hard to guess from one year to the next.

I have Okie Steve signed up at this time.  Couldn't get any of my brothers (as in blood relatives) to commit.  So far at least.  If anybody else is interested, I could go ahead and make my best guess on a date and open a separate thread.  One small heads-up... this year I'm hoping to float for probably a full 7 days which will be an 8 day trip from up here in Seattle.  In comparison, last year I only spent 3 days floating for a total of a 4 day trip.

Fishin-T

All,

Another trip that I consider to be "must do" for this summer would be to go back to Nootka Sound to try to intercept the kings before they reach Moutcha Bay.  Not to worry, I'll leave plenty for any Moutcha Tournament that might shape up this year.

Last year, Polepole, Snag-a-butt and myself all caught the Uchuck freighter to ride over to Freindly Cove to stay for 3 days.  This year I'm hoping to find a spot to car-camp from on the south side of Tlupana inlet, which streches from Bligh Island to Moutcha Bay.  Right now I'm thinking roughly Aug 20th area of the calendar, give or take a week.  I'm betting that this will be a really good chance to pick up a limit of 4 "brights" at 20# and up.  That would be 2 each day and 4 that you can have in possesion.

I'm seeing such a campsite on my maps of the area, but I've never been there and don't really know what to expect.  That said, do we have any other big time adventurers on the board that might want to throw in with me on such a trip?  I haven't contacted Snag about this one yet, but I'm hoping he'll see fit to come along too.

Fishin-T

OK ... how about a spring panfish (perch, bass, walleye) bite in eastern wa, like potholes area.  Well, there should be some good trout in the seep lakes too.  It would be a nice family event (not that I have a family).

-Allen

Allen,

Moses lake can be good for walleye and bass (Potholes area).  Here are some walleye from last May.

Mike

Hey Tom like your idea about the Nooka Sound trip count me in for that one so far.

Charlie

Charlie,

You bet!  I'll consider you "in".  The number of days is totally flexible at this time.  It'll depend on who I can get to go with me.  I'm wanting to make this trip a car camping one and not take the Uchuck over to Nootka Island.  That will save more than $100 per person compared to how we did it last year.

Our success could turn out to be closely linked to how well we can solve (or not) what Zee accurately calls "the downrigger conundrum", so be thinking about that one if you will.  I don't know if mooching just doesn't work for this situation, or if it's just that nobody ever tries it.

Fishin-T

OK ... how about a spring panfish (perch, bass, walleye) bite in eastern wa, like potholes area.  Well, there should be some good trout in the seep lakes too.  It would be a nice family event (not that I have a family).

-Allen

Allen,

Moses lake can be good for walleye and bass (Potholes area).  Here are some walleye from last May.

Mike

Mike, you get around to some good fishing!!!  Question for you (or anyone else really) ... for each month of the year, where are your favorite places to go kayak fishing?

I'd love to compile a calendar for NW kayak fishing, and would really like to hear what all of you guys have to say.

-Allen

Hmm does anybody participating in the AOY know a better "trout" species to target for the most inches?  Just a thought.

And give away my secret?  I'll give you a hint, "Cheboygan".

Anyway, the more possibilities to get together the better as far as I'm concerned.

Brian

bsteves,

Only thing I could come up with from your hint was mackinaw, perhaps a lake trout?, anyway its 26 degrees and snowing lightly in Cheboygan from my research-- a little too cold for my blood.

But oooh the possibilities-- there are some really good fishing trips out there - if only there were enough time
Thanks for all the ideas-- lots of planning to do!

Yep.. Cheboygan is the closest city to Mackinaw Island which is what the lake trout out here are named after.  No need to go to Michigan though as there are plenty of lakes in the Northwest stocked with Mackinaw (lake trout) and they get much larger than Lahontan cutthroat.

Yep.. Cheboygan is the closest city to Mackinaw Island which is what the lake trout out here are named after.  No need to go to Michigan though as there are plenty of lakes in the Northwest stocked with Mackinaw (lake trout) and they get much larger than Lahontan cutthroat.

bsteves,

So then for our AOTY... Trout category - it's Lake over Cutthroat for the most possible points.

Only problem I see is, as Pisco points out, the Lake Chelan trout like to stay damn deep.  I don't suppose that Oregonian Lake Trout are surface feeders?