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05/01/2001
05/01/2001
0
304


I have fished this lake for a few years since I have moved to the area and have been pleasantly surprised most of the time. Even if that means losing large fish, which I have. This lake has made me upgrade strength on my fishing line several times while trying to keep the flexibility and action of less diameter lines to keep lure action at an optimum. I first started fishing this lake with Power Bait as it is a trout only lake but was skunked the first couple of times. Then, since the lake is fairly unfrequented, I decided to camp there just to get away. Of course I was going to fish...DUH!
Anyway, I brought my little raft (better than float tubes in my experience because you can really fine tune your trolling speed), and decided to slow-troll the old standby, tiny double bladed black rooster tails, that spin with almost no movement at all. I was fishing with 6 lb. Stren clear. I hooked several large trout (there are some Triploids planted here) and lost some very large ones. I also caught several 12 to 16 inchers. The larger trout would break off often even if I let them take line and tried to bring them in gingerly. Out of curiosity or just frustration, I decided to keep fishing this lake. As the weather warmed, I camped more and did a little more bank fishing with rainbow Power Bait w/ the sparkles in it off the bank. The nuisance of the smaller fish biting often was worth the wait as every once in awhile my pole would do what I can as closely describe as a "backward handspring" off my pole holder with a HUGE hit and pull from one of the big boys. It was almost beyond imagination that a trout could take and run like that.
It was after changing several lines and landing a few of the "smaller" fish that I landed a few of the "bigguns". I started using the Fireline off the bank. I wouldn't recommend using that stuff for trolling because it takes away from the natural action of your lures.
Ten came the big day. The lakes in the area had actually froze with a thin layer of ice for most of the winter (rare) and with a few forty degree days I decided to go to the "Refuge" (A hint). Most of the lakes still had a thin layer of ice on them but the one I was going for gets a good five hours of sunlight during the day. There was still a thin layer on 3/4 of the lake but where you drive down on one side was now open water. I fished off the bank for several hours with my rainbow w/ sparkles Power Bait and caught several small ones with lots of bites. It was about 4:30 and dusk was within a couple of hours when I decided to try casting lures. I started off with one of my favorites that you can cast without using weight, the Mepp's Syclops. Nothing. Then the rooster tails with weight. Nothing. Then I used a new lure (for me anyways), the WASP spinner. It looks like a little rainbow trout minnow body with an eye and a bucktail. I cast this little sucker for about 40 minutes. There was a weed bed about 15 feet off the shore that I kept getting caught up in. I would give 2 strong jerks, the lure would come free, and I would real it in and pick off the gunk. During one of, and just about, my last casts, I hit what I thought was the weed bed. I gave 2 strong jerks and started to continue retrieving. Then I got 2 monstrously strong jerks back. The initial yanking caused a reflex to loosen drag and I did, or so I thought. The fish took line big time. A few seconds later I realized I loosened the cap on where the reel handle should go if you wanted it on the right side. I fought that one in and out four times before he finally started to give. I didn't have my net handy so I even wedged my pole in between my lawn chair seat and back while I got my net from the back of my pickup. I came back (within about 6 seconds) to find him still tugging. I then held my rod in my right hand while I untied my shoes with my left. I was going to wade in to the freezing cold water to get this sucker.


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Available Guide

Available Fishing Guide:
Website: Darrell & Dads Family Guide Service

Phone: (509) 687-0709