Northwest Fishing Reports

To be honest, I'm puzzled when I keep reading that Scootney Reservoir is just full of spiny rays. I've had little luck on that lake - one day where I pulled out a 20" channel cat and a 17" walleye 10 years ago out of one of the wastewater inlets, but nothing since. When I look at the weed beds, I don't see fish (throw a grasshopper into the weed beds, and it is almost guaranteed to swim out and live). What it does seem to be is just packed to the hilt with carp - they are *everywhere*, the inlets are just boiling with them. I swear that somebody with a boat could go into one of the shallow inlets, and shoot dozens.

What is the trick for spiny rays in this lake? Is there anything but carp in this lake? I keep reading it is good for perch and crappie, but I've tried repeatedly with no luck (and I've fished both species for a long time). Is this lake strictly a boat show? Are all these stories of the wonderfulness of the reservoir as a yellow perch haven B.S., or are they in there somewhere?

I've only fished there 2 times, once 2 years ago and then this year about a month ago when we were coming back from our catfish Snake River trip. We've only fished the upper area of the lake where the Potholes inlet is at. 2 years ago we caught a bunch of 10-12" perch and undersized 12-14 inch walleye. This year it was alot slower, we got short biters, I'm guessing perch while we trolled in 5-21 ft of water. Only caught 1 walleye at 17" and a perch that was 10" that day this year. We just pulled worm harnesses/bottom bouncers while fishing there.