Echo 5/1/2015

[Blackham]

Went to Echo Saturday afternoon fished from 3-7 p.m.

Fishing was amazing, landed 12-13 fish, and was generous to 6-7 more with some LDR's Highway side to the the reservoir about 1/4 mile from the dam.

Did really well with brass (because it was overcast) pop-gear and a worm. Then switched to my homemade down rigger using a silver and green sling blade with a green squid. fish were so active that I often couldn't even hook into the down rigger before the fish was on.

Fish were all about the size of the ones in the picture with one really big one i left for the next guy, about 3 lbs. The pan they are in is 17" so these are all about 16", but a fat 16".

This was only the second time in my life going to Echo, because entrance fees are ridiculous, but with the number of fish caught the 15 bucks was worth it.
[signature]

[albinotrout]

Good job!
[signature]

[TiteLines]

Looks like one Brown in the mix. I get one now and then up there. Time to go fishing...

TiteLines
[signature]

[Gemcityslayer]

[quote Blackham]Went to Echo Saturday afternoon fished from 3-7 p.m.

Fishing was amazing, landed 12-13 fish, and was generous to 6-7 more with some LDR's Highway side to the the reservoir about 1/4 mile from the dam.

Did really well with brass (because it was overcast) pop-gear and a worm. Then switched to my homemade down rigger using a silver and green sling blade with a green squid. fish were so active that I often couldn't even hook into the down rigger before the fish was on.

Fish were all about the size of the ones in the picture with one really big one i left for the next guy, about 3 lbs. The pan they are in is 17" so these are all about 16", but a fat 16".

This was only the second time in my life going to Echo, because entrance fees are ridiculous, but with the number of fish caught the 15 bucks was worth it.[/quote]

Thanks for the Echo report. I've spent more time on that body of water than any other in Utah, by far.

With the dam repairs and low water years before that even.... Echo lost a lot of its appeal as a place to go fishing....

I have very fond memories catching coolers full of big catfish out there with my dad. Memories of 30-40 crappie a day. Plenty of perch, and big smallies too if you target them.... The crappie are long gone, its been almost a decade since I've caught one or heard of one caught. The catfishing seems to have died off over the years too...

It was 3-4 years ago at least, but I contacted a Utah fisheries biologist and he noted that they planned to start stocking catfish in the reservoir again.... and he suggested there was a chance of crappie being introduced again. Those two steps would go a long ways in reviving this lake! But I haven't heard anything since???

Guess there are always trout[]
[signature]

[smittyts]

Awesome report. I have fished Echo only three times; two of those were ice fishing. I caught my first bass ever there. Thanks for the great pic too. Could I pm you for more info on your DIY down rigger?
[signature]

[Blackham]

My boat is a 17" maxum, not really designed for fishing. i can mount Scotty pole holders on the boat, but there is not enough side rail to mount a down rigger. So I Frankensteined this together to mount in a normal pole holder.


36" 1/2" pipe with cap. a few eye bolts, 45 deg copper elbows for guides, wrapped with line (Preventing down rigger line with weight from slipping off). One mounted on the 1/2" pipe the other on the cap. misc fittings to turn up and size up top 1.25" pipe, to hold my fishing pole pole. i have a cabela's depth master reel spooled with 80 lbs. braid. could use any heavy duty reel with depth markers. i just happened to have one. (I don't like right hand retrieve reels)
[signature]

[smittyts]

Holy brilliant ideas Batman! Thanks.
[signature]

[Troll]

Well they certainly are stocking trout again.

[url "https://dwrapps.utah.gov/fishstocking/Fish"]https://dwrapps.utah.gov/fishstocking/Fish[/url]
[signature]