Fishing Forum

Random post with a deceptive title, but I wanted answers/theories.

Heard Strawberry's been on fire so decided to hit it. How do you think it went? (Stop and think because I want this answered)

Got there around one and boats were leaving, said they hoped we did better then they did. Fished with needlefish among lots of other things with not much success. Other boats said the same thing (except one by a beaver dam). I'm curious why or how does a place that is seemingly going nuts Saturday, what happens (besides me) that shuts down the fishing?? What factors am I missing? My guesses are:
1. It was a cloudless clear sunny day
2. Weather was cloudy Monday so it's slower
3. We spend most of the time in the narrows
4. We were a ways off shore (but there were fish on the fish finder 20-60 ft deep)

Those are my guesses, I have no idea why they could have a negative impact so any explanations insights or ideas would be helpful.

I did get a cutthroat in the slot, he didn't fight well and when I reeled him in the hook had gone through his eye from the inside and it was blood red. I generally don't keep fish, but wanted to since I didn't know if he'd make it. Did what I could and didn't want to get caught with him so I had to let him go. Hope he makes it. Was a beautiful day though and those spawning kokes are something to see. (Can't figure out why there were so many dead ones)
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Justin, fyi kokes die after spawning. They are landlocked sockeye salmon.
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All I can say is welcome to Strawberry reservoir!! I've heard many people say that Strawberry is a love hate relationship. Although many lakes can turn on and off, I think Strawberry is a little bit more extreme. You could probably add to your list.

1. The fish being very selective on what they are eating.
2. The fly/lure/bait is moving too fast and doesn't appear real.
3. The fish bit is so light that if you aren't paying really close attention, you would miss it (although I love Strawberry how those cutthroats really smack the fly sometimes).
4. I've found a lot of times that if I get a little frustrated, you do a lot worse. It especially gets me sometimes when I hook several fish in a row and the fly pulls loose when I'm bringing the fish in. Maybe a little tube relaxation exercises might help. Just kidding.
5. I've heard someone say that the really big fish (not sure what exactly constitutes a really big fish though) only eat every 3 days. When they eat they really eat.

You could name of 100's of reasons why one day at Strawberry is really good and the next day is seems almost dead.

Of course if we really understood the fish, everyone would be having 100 fish day's and that lake would be shoulder to shoulder. Kind of like Henry's lake on the opening.

Anyway, good luck.
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[quote JiggyJus10]

1. It was a cloudless clear sunny day
2. Weather was cloudy Monday so it's slower
3. We spend most of the time in the narrows
4. We were a ways off shore (but there were fish on the fish finder 20-60 ft deep)

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Catching is sometimes just slow without explanation. I will give you my best shot -- but it is just that.

1) Fish will still bite under these conditions just that typically few will be caught near the surface.
2) This would have no impact unless it also meant that a front had just passed through. Even with a front passing through, at Strawberry, one should still catch fish, it just might be a little slower.
3) Some like to fish The Narrows. I have had had minimal success fishing there. I would have fished Renegade area or the north end of the reservoir.
4) This time of year closer to shore is often the place to fish. If you were seeing fish 20 - 60 feet down you were out in some deep water. Especially this time of year, I would be trying water 25' and shallower. Any time during the year, at Strawberry, I rarely fish water deeper than 45 to 50' in depth. The fish at Strawberry seem to school up in rather tight schools in the fall. If one isn't catching fish one needs to keep moving in search of an active school of fish.

It appears that you were trolling and perhaps you needed to get the lure at a different depth or at a different speed [one can catch them trolling up to at least 3 mph (using lures meant to be trolled that fast) this time of year up there]. You might have mixed it up with some vertical jigging with some tipped jigs.

Also, sometimes the catching just shuts off in the afternoon, and that is why I prefer to arrive early in the morning.
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Like Kent said get there early and fish in shallower water. I like to throw rapalas toward the shore until about 9AM, and then switch to vertical jigging tube jigs tipped with minnows close to bottom. Around Noon the lake usually slows down or shuts off for fishing, with a few exceptions. Paul
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This time of year, GO SHALLOW! (5-20 feet).

I sent you a PM with lots of good info for fall fishing the Berry.
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The most successful days I have on Strawberry are when I vertical jig. Find a school of fish, and then bounce some jigs tipped with chub or sucker meat. Drop to the bottom, bounce it 3-5 times, crank on the reel 2-5 times and bounce at that depth again. Repeat until the jig reels up out of the water. Don't stop bouncing even if on your upward pull you can see the jig. Sometimes a fish has followed it all the way to the top and that is just the ticket.

Try 1.5 - 3 inch tube jigs. Variety of colors.

Better luck next time []
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I'm going to hit it tomorrow [fishon]

Hope they turn back on []


I'll let you guys know
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Nice info all around. Argh - the suffered "lockjaw syndrome". I think I've made the mistake of fishing the "wrong time of day" too many times. Dusk-Dawn seem to be key times for a lot of fish, but not all (cats are all day creatures, right!).

But a lot of fish get active, or move into shallower feeding zones at the off-light times. Though I saw muskie thrashing around ALL day long at Newton. They don't care! They've got TEETH!

I dunno - shallower at morn/night, but deeper during the day seems to be prettty common. Though the deeper ones may be less inclined to take. I'm SURE I've missed plenty of takes, or attempts, especially during "moments of distraction".

OK FISH!!! I'M DIGGING INTO THE COOLER NOW!!! YES NOT WATCHING MY TIP _ I CAN'T SEE - DISTRACTED - DON'T BITE NOW, OR YOU MIGHT GET FREE BAIT!!!!!!

that's it alright! Want a bite? Look down!!!

I wanna hit the "dads at the Strawb! Do they have a season?

Wanted to thank everyone for the comments. Very helpful and encouraging. Funny seems like the less fish you catch the worse of a fisherman you become (for the time being) What's really bad is when you catch one then and have NO CLUE what technique you were using because you quit paying attention.

Thanks for the info and for the theories and agreement. Old Coot thanks for the PM!
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Hit the berry yesterday.

It was an extremely foggy morning.Visibility was only 30-40yrds.

Launched and was able to navigate my way by staying close to shore.Fish were very tough to locate.Moved all around the lake and didn't locate any till almost noon.Caught a few slot cutt's and one 25" cutt.A lot if planter rainbows as well.

The water was veerrry soupy and green.And the full moon might have affected them.But there was no hot action going on for me and any other boat I seen out there.




My little girl likes to fish with a good old bobber and worm.She pulled this fat little guy in...


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