Made it up to the big lake for a few hours this afternoon. Fished at Big Elk on the main lake. Ice was five inches and clear. Good hard stuff. Edge was crappy but was able to get on without the plank. Fished for four hours and ended up with seven fish and missed a bunch more. All browns and one cutt. All fish were over 18" with the biggest brown going 22". Not bad for the dead part of the day. I usually fish it early and the bite is much better. White tubes with a mealie worked pretty good. They wouldn't touch my dead sticks that had crawlers on them. Not sure on the ice conditions anywhere else on the lake but it all looked good from the highway. If you head up be careful driving in Swan Valley as there is a ton of deer migrating across the road.
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I appreciate the report my son and I second everything you said based on our Saturday trip.
OvidCreek
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Thanks for the report. I need to get up there. Unfortunately no time until next week.
Windriver
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I can't believe you keep going fishing to that lake. I think you must have caught every fish there. Shouldn't you be at work on a Tuesday?
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I worked a half day before I left. Did you catch a perch on that new rod?
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I knew you couldn't stay away too long!
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Only caught a few perch but I nailed the trout. Its a nice little rod thanks! Hey I heard that Southforksly Guy doesn't know how to fish.
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Zip it Utah boy! Come up again and we will see who is the reel master!
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So, when you say you were fishing Big Elk, you were just on the opposite side of the road from Big Elk? Can you fish on the Big Elk Creek side? I know these may sound like dumb questions, but I've never fished at Pali
es before and am really interested in going. I'd love to know where some good spots are. I don't really care what I'm catching as long as I'm catching fish. Any pointers would be awesome. [
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Yes, you can fish up in the canyon where the creek comes in. It is the only place on the lake that I have got into schools of smaller kokanee like you see at Ririe or Mackay. Good spot to find a laker too. If you have a snowmachine ride up the road and get on the ice at the boat ramp. We have done very well just off the open water where the creek comes in. Just be careful as the ice is never as thick around the creek mouth. My bro about lost his dog one year.
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There were guys doing really good on the small kokes earlier this year on the Big Elk Creek side of the road. They were right by the road, just not on the reservoir side, the other side ie. Big Elk Creek side. Not trying to sound like a D-Unit, just don't want to be misunderstood.
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Awesome, thanks for the info, I'm hoping to get up there this weekend maybe.
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