[size 2][font "Comic Sans MS"] For those of you who are familiar with the Gorge, which of the spring or summer months would you say are the most productive for jigging for mackinaw at Flaming Gorge? Or, even better, which are the most productive weeks?[/font][/size]
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All the "spring and summer" months are very good, and jigging success is most directly related to how calm the water is. I figure your odds go down 5 percent for every one-mile-per-hour of wind. From May-August, boat wakes also affect your lure presentation. For larger fish, April-July is my pick. April and May bring lots of wind, while June and July bring more boat traffic, resulting in boat wakes moving your fishing platform. Fish can be harder to find in April and early May. By June, all the fish are down on most of the regular humps and very easy to locate. August and September are excellent for catching numbers of small, 2-10 pound fish, and catches of 20 or 30 per morning are common then. Those little guys are easy and plentiful.
To pick one week? That's the week with glass calm water, and less-than-normal fishing pressure. Avoid weekends if you can, and especially Memorial Day, 4th of July, 24th of July, and Labor Day. Its not that you can't catch some then, but less-crowded weekdays are better. Fishing pressure affects these highly-educated fish, especially the ones over 15 pounds that have been caught and released over and over again.
If I had to pick only one month to fish, it would probably be June--right in the middle of the season, pretty good weather in the mornings (when the fish bite best!), seasonal temperatures about 2/3rds of the time, lots of calm mornings, and easy to find fish. For me, it's the most consistent month for both weather and good fishing for the larger fish.
My advice: Catch your fish from 8 am 'till noon, fish humps that aren't being fished by other boats, pick calm mornings to get serious, and stand up and fish hard. Get as focused as a brain surgeon on your boat control and lure presentation.
"You have 4-6 good hours to catch some big lake trout at the Gorge, which leaves you about 18 hours of the day to watch other boats, eat, drink, pee, snack, tell stories, and all the other stuff you need or want to do in a day. When you're fishing, just fish!"
Presentation, Presentation, Presentation!!!
(BTW-this applies to ANY type of fishing)
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As I agree with Jim for the most part december and january have also been great jigging month's for my family in the past, If you can bare the cold weather and if the weather itself cooperates. I would also have to agree that June is one of the best month's bar none as I am a Kokanee fisherman I love what June seem's to bring every year. The one thing I will say about Kokanee fisherman is we can multi-task ...meaning we can be telling a story, drinking whatever it is we drink at the time and reeling all at the same time..much more relaxing I must say.
But if jigging is what your after then TarponJim would be at the top of the list of Gorge brain's to pick!!
Jared Johnson Shasta Tackle Company.
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What colors/sizes seem to work well through the ice? Do you ever guide through the ice or just boat fishing?
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I just boat fish. I can't cover enough water in a season ice-fishing 12-18 inches of hole at a time Besides, there's 100 lb. tarpon in warm, sunny Florida calling my name!
In the depths I fish, colors are not important. The jig is either light or dark in deep water, so I use mainly black or white. Sometimes green tubes, which turn a dark gray in deep water. I've caught macks on every color of jig I've tried. As for sizes, tubes from 4-7 inches, and I make some swim baits that range from 3 inches up to sizes you wouldn't believe. Remember, macks in the Gorge eat 12-24 inch kokanee and rainbows regularly. Bigger baits keep the 10 pounders from hitting, but when the big fish get moody, often they'll only hit the shorter baits. I've also caught some of my largest fish from 35-45 lbs. on 4" tubes and 2-inch marabous. You just gotta use trial and error. I haven't found a pattern on either size or color, so each morning I just go with my gut or what I last used successfully, and adjust based on what I see the fish doing on the sonar.
Ice fishing shouldn't be any different than open water. Presentation, Presentation, Presentation. On top of fish, of course.
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