Fishing Forum

Fished opposite ends of the reservoir this weekend with different results.

Friday we trolled the vicinity of Dutch John Draw and caught 20 rainbows and one mack. Most of the bows were smaller, 13-14 inches, the mack was about 4lbs. We caught fish on a variety of lures including Needlefish, Williams spoons, Serpent spoons, and Shad Raps. Most of the bows were caught at 35-55ft and the mack was caught about 60ft, trolling around 2.0mph. The water was like glass out there and the daytime highs were about 48F. Water temp was 36-37F.

Saturday, we headed uplake to try and find some safe ice. With the above normal temps we've had the last couple of weeks the ice is extremely variable up there. [#ff0000]Be careful!!!!! [/#ff0000]In the same cove, I found 7 inches in one spot and 4 inches in another. The top 1-2 inches was foggy, so 4 inches doesn't buy you much! A person could really get in trouble running a machine across the ice.[#ff0000] [/#ff0000]

[#000000]We fished a small cove near Upper Marsh and found the burbot really active. Six of us iced 50+ burbot. Big fish was 27.5 inches and the average was 18-20 inches. The bite peaked between 6-7pm. Grubs in glow, tipped with sucker, and scented in crayfish, worked deadsticked under tip-ups or rods. They were hitting hard and running, so tip-ups were really effective. We also caught fish while actively jigging using Buckshot spoons and Jigging Shad Raps. Most of the fish came shallow, 10-20ft. [/#000000]
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[#000000]Hope it helps and once again beware of the ice conditions out there, Ryno[/#000000]
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Thanks for the report. I have been considering takeing the drive up there and trying for some burbot. [angelic]
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Nice post thanks man!!!Did you see any large macs ?


Rapalas do the work so you don't have to.
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Good report Ryno
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Very cool! The info is appreciated. I am headed up this weekend or next for a couple days.
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Hey Ryno,
Thanks for the up date, Did you try longlining at all?
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What structure were you fishing over for the Burbot? Sand flat? Rock slide?

Thanks.
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I did some longlining behind planer boards, using a few different Shad Raps. No luck, at least for lakers, but the rainbows liked those too! It wasn't a real good day for us and lakers. I often wonder if the weather is too nice, do they just get tight lipped(?).
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Rocky habitat. If you're familiar with smallmouth habitat, that is what you look for. Rocky points, flats, and slopes that hold crayfish (which they're eating) is the key. I also think being close to the main channel is better than the backs of canyons or coves. Good luck, Ryno
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Thanks Ryno.
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