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Deer Lake Report
Stevens County, WA

Details

03/13/2009
Other
Mackinaw
Maggots
Spoons
Afternoon
03/13/2009
1
1228

I'll make this a quick post. Had a miserable day ice fishing yesterday. Went out to Deer Lake for the 3rd time trying to ice fish. I have been very successful fishing at Silver Lake. However, this lake is an anomaly to me. I was on the ice from 1PM to 7PM. Not one bite! I tried various baits, maggots, meal worms, nightcrawlers. I tried glow hooks, jigging with spoons, jigging, pike minnows...You name it! Small glow hooks - large glow hooks! Must have drilled 8 holes at various depths from 10 f t to 30 feet. (the deeper area I was jigging for macks.) No luck! To make matters worse the guy who let me launch from his beach - threw me out at the end of the day. Said he didn't think I would "camp out" for the day. Very embarrassing...He was a friend of a friend. Boy - I'm I ready for things to thaw and get back in my boat where I belong. This ice fishing thing is not for me!

If any experienced anglers are interested in going out there with me - I might be able to be convinced to go out one more time. This lake has some BIG "lake trout" and I would love to get one ice fishing. I wouldn't mind catching a mess of perch at this time! I can get access to the lake through a families cabin. Only problem is we have to get past a big 6 foot snow berm and I have a bad leg. I have a power auger, ice sled and a 2 man clam shell. We can fish in comfort, however, I don't think I can stand to be skunked again!

I live in Spokane and it's a demoralizing drive back to town when you haven't gotten 1 bite.

The Demoralized Fisherman


Comments

Anglinarcher
3/13/2009 11:49:00 AM
Dear Demoralized Fisherman, learning a new technique, and a new lake, can be hard. Sometimes some lakes are just hard to fish at specific times of the year.

I have not fished Deer, so I won't pretend to be willing to spend Saturday out there (Bighorn Show this weekend). I will offer the following: When the ice is gone, I will try to get out there and spend some time learning the lake for next winter. Then, if you still want to, we can go then.

Do you fish it right after ice out? Where are the fish located then? When you say there are BIG Lakers, how big is big?

I feel for you, I really do. I had a lake in Southern Idaho that had some awesome Walleye in it. I never could catch them through the ice, but for the rest of the year, I hammered them. For me, that lake might as well be sterile during the winter.
nycfishguy
3/14/2009 3:44:00 PM
Dear Arger,

Thanks for the words or encouragement. After sitting on it for a few days...I'm NOT going to sell all my ice fishing gear. Apparently, people are catching fish down near the resort on the north side of the lake. I'm doing taxes today with my wife - so fishing today wouldn't have worked for me either. However - I will probably go out next weekend either sat or sunday if you are interested. If not - perhaps when the ice melts we can go out in my boat and find some new "hotspots". I have one "honeyhole" that has always done me well. Problem is - I can't access the area in the winter without a snowmobile or ATV.

Thanks again for the encouragement and happy fishing!
Augwen
3/16/2009 7:51:00 AM
The Lakers are fair sized. My largest (in the boat) was 18lbs. The one I did not catch must have been a 100lber..... They like the deeps during the day. If you fish between the points that start the Narrows in about 60 to 65' of water is where I have found them. When the ice comes off the water thery will be on top early and late (the big ones). The little ones (2 to 3 lbers) will be there most of the day. At least until Fish and Game come in and stock the Kokanee fry. If you are ice fishing you need to know where the springd are that feed the lake. That is where the fish are now. Good Luck and remember....that is why they call it "fishin'"
scottpratt
3/27/2009 9:40:00 AM
Augwen...You mentioned putting a 18lb Mac in (THE BOAT) Was this last year or are you able to put a boat on Deer already? And if the lake is still frozen..where are the springs located? Thanks for your input.
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Available Guide

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

Phone: (509) 687-0709