05-09-2019, 12:47 PM
With reports that ice was off the SC side of Strawberry, had to go up and try things out. Three of us headed up about 7:00 not knowing what to expect. Strawberry appeared to be ice covered. Road to SC ramp was mostly clear, but had narrow opening plowed thru drifted areas. No problem getting thru. Parking area and ramp was clear. No docks. As reported, no ice and there were three other trucks/boat trailers there already. Weather calm, partially sunny, temp 35, some light fog on the water.
Rigged up Santa’s two new Lamiglass Red Kokanee rods, one with pink spinner squid and other with yellow orange sparkle behind a matching 5” trolling blade and a TBTT 4” low-drag Fish Flasher and connected to downriggers. Put two other rods out with divers and slow-death spinners and Fish Flashers for trout. Off to find fish ...
Water temp 39. Fish were hard to locate. Found some half way to narrows in 65 fow and down at 60’. Were in tight schools right on bottom. Also, a few scattered single marks at 35 to 40. Expected to find kokes over deeper water but nothing there. Tried shallower water near shore for trout but hung up a couple of times, so tried to stay on the 65 contour line. Got a couple of kokes to hit with lures at 55’; Light hits that didn’t release from downrigger. Dragged one Koke around for some time before discovering he was on! Picked up one cut and had several hard, but short hits on the divers which were around 20 to 25’.
Wind came up about 11:00 and called it a day. Returned to ramp to find crew there. I think they were getting ready to put the two aluminum docks on the ramp. By the time we got back to Strawberry Bay and Ladders, the ice had already cleared there. Just some floating ice left.
It was a great first trip of the season and looks like there’s some kokes still there! Sorry, pictures are still on iPhone. Good fishing!
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Rigged up Santa’s two new Lamiglass Red Kokanee rods, one with pink spinner squid and other with yellow orange sparkle behind a matching 5” trolling blade and a TBTT 4” low-drag Fish Flasher and connected to downriggers. Put two other rods out with divers and slow-death spinners and Fish Flashers for trout. Off to find fish ...
Water temp 39. Fish were hard to locate. Found some half way to narrows in 65 fow and down at 60’. Were in tight schools right on bottom. Also, a few scattered single marks at 35 to 40. Expected to find kokes over deeper water but nothing there. Tried shallower water near shore for trout but hung up a couple of times, so tried to stay on the 65 contour line. Got a couple of kokes to hit with lures at 55’; Light hits that didn’t release from downrigger. Dragged one Koke around for some time before discovering he was on! Picked up one cut and had several hard, but short hits on the divers which were around 20 to 25’.
Wind came up about 11:00 and called it a day. Returned to ramp to find crew there. I think they were getting ready to put the two aluminum docks on the ramp. By the time we got back to Strawberry Bay and Ladders, the ice had already cleared there. Just some floating ice left.
It was a great first trip of the season and looks like there’s some kokes still there! Sorry, pictures are still on iPhone. Good fishing!
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