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After spending the past 3 weekends Kokanee fishing, I just couldn't see myself getting up at 3am again, so instead I decided to hit up my home lake this morning

I ran 2 lines today. One rod with 1/4 ounces of lead before moving it to the downrigger to scratch around the bottom. This line had a size 6 green Doc Spratley paired with a Mack's Double D dodger and about 16 inches of leader. The other line was off the downrigger all morning scratching around bottom with a size 4 olive Woolly Bugger, Macks Double D dodger and 16 inches of leader as well. I was running 50 feet back off of the downrigger clip.

First fish of the morning came from sniffing around bottom. Fun on the Tica UL Kokanee rod. Fish was just over 20 inches and just under 4 lbs. Picture of the flesh above is from that fish. 4 weeks or so ago I landed a nice hunk of carpet. Today, I landed what appeared by be Terry Cloth Wrist sweat bands. I haven't seen terry cloth since the 80's. These things I think have been down there awhile. Thinking about checking into Taxidermy for them.

In all I landed 4, and actually lost quite a few. Fish just didn't seem to want to commit this morning. 2 of the fish, including the big one, came off in the net. Felt like I was still Kokanee fishing. I didn't see any type of hatch. Normally this time of year something is coming off the water. I talked to quite a few other people today, not much happening. Sounds like the fishing has been pretty good though, up until today. I gave today 5 stars, mainly because anytime I can get a 20+ inch fish, that makes my day right there. I also did have quite a bit of action, just not quite a limit made it in to the net. It's a different lake and I usually have expectations of needing to put some time in on the lake. Most times it's pretty rewarding.

While it was sunny most of the morning, the wind did pick up which makes thing extra difficult pedaling a kayak. Speed they seemed to want was about 1.5 mph. Surface temp was just under 59. If you have never check the stomach of a Goodwin fish, you will be amazed. Fish are almost always completely full of aquatic insects and little blood worm. No shortage of food for them. The big fish had a few pieces of rubber worms (he must have messed around with someone bass fishing at some point) and I think what looked like an old power egg that had puffed up a bit. I also saw what looked like part of the shell from a small crawdad. This thing was a real garbage gut. But the meat cut fantastic. The picture above is from that fish. All of the fish cut a deep orange to a dark red.

Video shows fish I landed, plus the 2nd clip I explain my Lake Goodwin set up. If you replace the Woolly Bugger with the Doc Spratley, you get what's on the other line. Most time I run both to see what they like better. Today it was pretty even.

ElginFishing

5/8/2017 4:41:38 PM

Great report and awesome video! What an impressive fish that is, looks like your shoulder needs some treatment:). Way to stay dialed in on this lake.

JoshH

5/8/2017 6:52:26 PM

Thanks. Not sure about dialed in, but I never mind pulling a 20 inch 4 lb rainbow :)

Lewk82

5/16/2017 8:37:04 PM

That monster you caught is a dream fish - congrats. I live on the West side of Goodwin and my neighbors and I have been reading your reports for over a year. If you would ever like to go fishing in my boat, let me know - I'd love the opportunity to learn from your approach.

JoshH

5/16/2017 11:05:31 PM

I'll be out there frequently on weekends. I love the lake and the quality of fish it has. The way I fish the lake is for quality over quantity. If you ever see me peddling my hobie around feel free to holler at me, I never mind showing others what I am doing or how I am doing it. Except for dead of winter, which I haven't yet figured out for that lake, I usually know where the fish are and how to get them to bite. It can be a more difficult lake to fish, unless you want to anchor up and chum, which I find boring.

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