Flaming Gorge 12-6-24

[Troutster]

Take this report with a grain of salt because it’s my first time with a boat to the Gorge.  22° and foggy when we launched! We were targeting big lakers…skunk.  We were marking them in every spot we stopped but getting them to bite is another story.  We mostly jigged for the lakers.  Tried everything, big tubes, little tubes, spoons, paddle tails, curly tail grub.  Had a few bumps but not good hookset. Caught a few pups and a whole bunch of rainbows.  I think I’ll go again in a week or so if it doesn’t freeze.  Any suggestions for larger lakers or even decent sized pups?

[Redrebel]

Take this report with a grain of salt because it’s my first time with a boat to the Gorge.  22° and foggy when we launched! We were targeting big lakers…skunk.  We were marking them in every spot we stopped but getting them to bite is another story.  We mostly jigged for the lakers.  Tried everything, big tubes, little tubes, spoons, paddle tails, curly tail grub.  Had a few bumps but not good hookset. Caught a few pups and a whole bunch of rainbows.  I think I’ll go again in a week or so if it doesn’t freeze.  Any suggestions for larger lakers or even decent sized pups?

I have tons of suggestions, it’s just about what you want to try and your favorite style of fishing. Welcome to the club of fanatics.

[Troutster]

I am game to try anything. Trolling is my least favorite but not opposed to trying. I don’t have a down rigger or leaded line so deep trolling is out for now. Jigging and casting and retrieving are my favorite methods. I also don’t have the Wyoming reciprocal or AIS sticker yet. Was going to get that in Jan for next year.

[Redrebel]

I am game to try anything.  Trolling is my least favorite but not opposed to trying. I don’t have a down rigger or leaded line so deep trolling is out for now.  Jigging and casting and retrieving are my favorite methods.  I also don’t have the Wyoming reciprocal or AIS sticker yet.  Was going to get that in Jan for next year.

My advice would be to get a fish n map. And if jigging is your thing, then I would book an appointment with Jim, who is the best jigging guide up there. In my opinion, you have to pay for your education and go with the guides who spend sometimes every day up there. This is what I did when I first learned the gorge. If you can’t afford the Guide or unwilling to pay for it, the map will give you good spots to check out and see if it’s worth jigging.

[Troutster]

I am game to try anything.  Trolling is my least favorite but not opposed to trying. I don’t have a down rigger or leaded line so deep trolling is out for now.  Jigging and casting and retrieving are my favorite methods.  I also don’t have the Wyoming reciprocal or AIS sticker yet.  Was going to get that in Jan for next year.

My advice would be to get a fish n map. And if jigging is your thing, then I would book an appointment with Jim, who is the best jigging guide up there. In my opinion, you have to pay for your education and go with the guides who spend sometimes every day up there. This is what I did when I first learned the gorge. If you can’t afford the Guide or unwilling to pay for it, the map will give you good spots to check out and see if it’s worth jigging.

Thanks, I picked up the map and have several spots picked out to try.  I’m headed up again in a week or so.  If the skunk continues to follow me I’ll look into a guide.  Even getting skunked on big lakers, the Gorge is a great place to hang out!

[Inkmanvan]

I am game to try anything.  Trolling is my least favorite but not opposed to trying. I don’t have a down rigger or leaded line so deep trolling is out for now.  Jigging and casting and retrieving are my favorite methods.  I also don’t have the Wyoming reciprocal or AIS sticker yet.  Was going to get that in Jan for next year.

My advice would be to get a fish n map. And if jigging is your thing, then I would book an appointment with Jim, who is the best jigging guide up there. In my opinion, you have to pay for your education and go with the guides who spend sometimes every day up there. This is what I did when I first learned the gorge. If you can’t afford the Guide or unwilling to pay for it, the map will give you good spots to check out and see if it’s worth jigging.

Thanks, I picked up the map and have several spots picked out to try.  I’m headed up again in a week or so.  If the skunk continues to follow me I’ll look into a guide.  Even getting skunked on big lakers, the Gorge is a great place to hang out!

I haven't jigged for the lakers for several years and it's hard to stay on them with my boat. But my best luck in the fall/winter was in Lynnwood bay where the channel starts to drop off. I'd use a good size glow tube jig with a treble hook stinger attached with a short piece of steel line tipped with some sucker meat.