Going to echo bay next week

[TT600]

I am heading to echo with my boat next week. This is my first trip to Mead. Any fishing suggestions would be appreciated. I have a downrigger. I'd prefer not to have to chum but if that is the only way to have success I'd consider it.
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[lvfishingdude]

troll the coves... no reason to use the downrigger
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[wolfs4evr]

I'd be more concerned about safety and keeping your boat in one piece over anything else if this is your first outing on Mead. That is one SCARY lake if you don't mind your "Ps" and "Qs" out there. A Navionics chip is a must in your graph and one must look at that chart with a open mind since it doesn't fluctuate/change for water levels. I am thinking that lake was 20-40 feet higher when that mapping was done so everything on the chip is off that much. Just be carefull and when in doubt idle along verse cruise. You can go from 100+ feet of water to 1 foot in the length of a boat all over the place out there.
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[reellittlephish]

I agree with Wolfs4ever. Especially the upper-arm around Echo has many reefs and shoals just beneath the surface
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[TT600]

At least the water is clear. And I have an aluminum boat for a reason. Many scratches...no cracks yet.

Wish me luck.
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[BillyH]

We went out on Sunday to Echo, did more boating then fishing for the most part. But stopped up at the north end and sat near where the muddy river enters the lake just across from the old ramp, caught about 15 stripers in 20 minutes...it was fun. First time catching 6 fish in 6 consecutive casts without a boil directly in front of me. I caught everything on the Berkeley power bait swim shad. All the fish had bellies full of shad that were the exact size i was using, probably why we caught as many as we did. Nice day and only a couple other boats on the water.

As far as dangers go up there, the lake is up so if you keep a close eye on your graph you should be fine. Just careful not go go hauling ass within 150 ft of the shore line, a lot of shallow areas.
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[TT600]

Had great weather tues. and wed. Went downlake past the islands and camped. No luck on the trolling so pulled out the chum. After one hour chumming the stripers showed up. All were about the same size and half were too skinny to filet. Also caught a few catfish on worms.
Thanks to all for the suggestions.
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[TT600]

Went back to Echo this week. The chumming didn't work this time down lake. Maybe I got lucky last time in finding them with no electronics. The fact that there were no other boats around was probably a bad sign.
So I headed up to the Virgin Inlet where all the other boats were and caught largemouths and stripers trolling rapalas. Fish seemed much fatter up there. Must be where all the food is.
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[Erawk]

Thanks for reporting.
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