07-08-2019, 11:20 PM
Went to Scofield Friday afternoon July 5 with Catchinon. The water was so high that it was hard to find a place to fish from shore. Between the water up in the willows or abrupt drop offs into the lake, it took us a little while to find access. We finally found a spot along the east side south of the dam arm where the highway runs close to the lake.
We got poles in the water, initially fishing organically (night crawlers) and powerbait. I caught one rainbow on a worm, then a cutthroat on a powerboat, both fished off the bottom. I switched one rig over to a silver stBdRd size Jakes with no luck. I traded that for a gold Jakes and finally caught a couple more cutthroat. All in all, 4 fish in about 2.5 hours of fishing. Not what we hoped, but what I would call fair fishing.
All fish were in the 10-13” range. We did have a conversation about why we rarely catch any fish in or above the slot at Scofield. Is it because they get harvested before they get that big? Should there be some slot sized fish stocked? One would think there would be a fair mix of fish in sizes across the slot (15-22”), but we aren’t seeing it. Do we need to be more patient? Were we in the wrong place at the right time?
Does the DWR publish any science-based info on gill netting surveys? I mean ranges of lengths and weights by species?
Don’t mean to reignite the Scofield debate, but do want to catch some bigger trout. Thoughts?
[signature]
We got poles in the water, initially fishing organically (night crawlers) and powerbait. I caught one rainbow on a worm, then a cutthroat on a powerboat, both fished off the bottom. I switched one rig over to a silver stBdRd size Jakes with no luck. I traded that for a gold Jakes and finally caught a couple more cutthroat. All in all, 4 fish in about 2.5 hours of fishing. Not what we hoped, but what I would call fair fishing.
All fish were in the 10-13” range. We did have a conversation about why we rarely catch any fish in or above the slot at Scofield. Is it because they get harvested before they get that big? Should there be some slot sized fish stocked? One would think there would be a fair mix of fish in sizes across the slot (15-22”), but we aren’t seeing it. Do we need to be more patient? Were we in the wrong place at the right time?
Does the DWR publish any science-based info on gill netting surveys? I mean ranges of lengths and weights by species?
Don’t mean to reignite the Scofield debate, but do want to catch some bigger trout. Thoughts?
[signature]
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j.o.a.t.m.o.n.
jack of all tackle, master of none
j.o.a.t.m.o.n.
jack of all tackle, master of none