Based upon feedback from ODFW (who trap perch on this reservoir because ostensibly their populations are so out of control), I took a day off and went down there to try and catch the spawn. It was horrible fishing. No fish, no bites in 3 1/2 hours. I even fished near some of the Merwin traps the ODFW uses. I fished any where from 8-25 feet of water, working different areas trying to find fish. Different jigs, baits, colors, areas of the lake, etc. Nothing. Not a bite. Couldn't even mark fish on my electronics.

I'm none too happy about this trip. If I wanted to fish perch and get skunked, I could fish the I-82 ponds or Scooteney. The most charitable thing I can think is that the spawn is over, and the fish have scattered back into deep water (and that lake gets really deep really fast). However, I know that isn't true because the males tend to hang around the spawning areas for a week or two after the spawn.

Very displeased.

fishinChristian

4/13/2013 2:58:00 PM

Sorry to hear that, but I am glad I didn't go now. Come on over and we'll get some panfish, probably enough to make up for that trip. Long ways for so little. You think the ODFW has taken enough of them to reduce the fishing that bad, or just an off day? Did they check any traps while you were there?

tluedeke

4/17/2013 10:34:00 PM

I missed the spawn, which according to the ODFW guy, happened at least one to two weeks earlier than usual. They'd taken out all but one Merwin trap when I arrived, and removed that when I was fishing. The ODFW didn't do particularly well this year with the traps because of the early spawn.

The lake is quite deep, dropping off to 75'+ very rapidly. I couldn't find structure deep, even with electronics. And the weather was deteriorating fast - I only had about three hours on the lake before it was cold out and whitecapping due to wind.

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