I 'd like to make a 2-day trip this year to PAYETTE LAKE. I've never been there nor have I ever caught a lake trout. I own just a canoe and an electric motor so I don't have a downrigger system (not even a fish finder). Will I be wasting my time? Should I go somewhere else?
Any advice or any type of knowledge for anyone that has been there before would be very welcomed. Seriously....any advice would be great. I'll check back often to reply.
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You can catch lake trout without the downrigger or fishfinder. I've caught them in Payette Lake trolling around the big rocks in a 14' aluminium boat and 4 hp motor.
Check the regs. It used to be that Lake Trout were catch and release only in Payette Lake. It's been a few years since I fished there.
Until two years ago, we had a cabin on Payette Lake, and I have devoted much of my summers going after macs in the lake. After more than 50 years of fishing it, I would have to tell you it isn't an easy body of water to learn. I disagree about not having to have downriggers. Yes, you can use lead-core after ice-off, and yes, you can jig for them, but you need to be fishing in the 50-80 foot range most of the summer. They are also concentrated in a few areas. Yes, it is catch and release. There are some nice macs in there. My wife's last fish was the largest we have ever caught there: 33 pounds, weighed and released. Mike
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We never caught anything remotely close to what your wife caught. Everything we caught was between 5-10 lbs. I believe it was early June and we were fishing 20' - 30' down with flashing gear. We weren't fishinig for Lake Trout obviously.
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No, that was a rare one, for sure. She caught a 26 pounder the first day I took her out fishing, and my best at that time was 12 pounds!!. Most of the fish we catch today are between 5 and 15 pounds. We fish either with a large flatfish or hoochie/dodger combo. Mike
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Thanks a ton for the info. Is there any ice on the water still? (I doubt it)
I read that the macs often come into shallow waters in the first of spring. Is that still the case? For instance, would I do well this weekend by trolling 20-30 feet deep with some popgear? Would the rainbows take it if the lakers don't. How deep do you go to get Lakers right now?
The reason I'm so inquisitive is because I only have a very small handful of days to go this summer due to work and school. Thanks.
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I have lead core line. Would it not be worth my time in the summer? Are the other species of fish plentiful enough to make a trip worthwhile? Thanks for the information by the way, it was real helpful.
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Rather than pop gear, I would suggest either a large silver or silver with blue flatfish, or a dodger--size 0-- with a green hoochie. Drop it as deep as you can, even this time of year. Let out at least 5 colors of lead core. Troll slow. I like .8 to 1.0. Find out where you are with the lead core out, and then fish the contour, keeping your rig within 5 feet of the bottom. A good place to fish is on the north or east side of the island in the main lake. Pinch your barbs to make for a good release, and it sure helps if you don't net them. They have a significant slime on them, and it is best if it isn't disturbed. Gook luck. Mike
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Kodiak Were you fishing the main lake or the little payette lake!
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Main. There aren't any macs in Little P. Likewise, don't bother trying for rainbows in Big Payette. The F & G seem to have written off the lake as a water skiing lake. We used to be able to go out kokanee fishing in the 60's--80s and easily catch a limit, and the limit in those days was 15. No more. By the way, when I told you to troll slow for macs,make sure your lure or dodger is working. Just put it out beside the boat, and adjust your trolling speed to where the dodger is swaying back and forth at the lowest possible speed, assuming you are going at least .8. This lower trolling speed will also help you get your lead core down where it needs to be.
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