Launched at 7 Bays around 7:15 am onto a 1" sheet of ice (broke easily). We headed up to Hawk Creek and started fishing around the narrows. Caught 2 17" fish at 9:30. One on a 5" black leach with a jig, and one on a chartreuse minnow drop shot rig. The weather was beautiful in the morning, but the wind picked up about 10-10:30. We decided to move to the net pens just below the Lincoln boat launch and ate a hot shore lunch (Jambalaya and Duck Quesadillas). Watched another angler boat a nice sized eye and take pictures. We fished this area for awhile with no luck. Headed over to the rock across from the launch with no luck there either. We then headed back to Hawk Creek and boated 7 more fish with one going 21.5" 3.1lbs and another just topping the 20" mark. All but one of these fish (the big one) was caught on a 5" white leach drop shot set up about 10" up from the bottom. We marked a lot of fish in the Hawk Creek area. They seem to be stacked in there pretty good. A lot of the fish were suspended 5-10' of the bottom. One other detail was that upon filleting out the fish I notice 4 of the fish to be gorged with 4-6" baby walleyes, and the big fish puked up an 8" eye that swam off before being netted. I figure a guy could do pretty good slow trolling a crank bait as well.

Gonzipheris

3/15/2009 11:23:00 AM

Thanks for the information. I was wondering what depth of water you were fishing in and the structure if possible. You mentioned fishing on the bottom and the fish being suspended 5-10 feet off the bottom. I plan on fishing for about four days in April and have some friends coming from Montana who are expecting big things if you know what I mean. We plan to target bows, koks and walleye.

bazzdude

3/15/2009 4:09:00 PM

Nice report, that is pretty cool how you launched on top of ice. Have you done much fising in porkeypine bay? I have a small 12' aluminum and i have been wanting to fish those waters. But not sure where to fish with my small boat. I want to catch some smallies or even some eyes? Any advice would be nice, i have cought some nice smallies from the bank there ar the launce at porkey pine. Are you sure your big fish was not a triploid? anyhow stay warm out there.

birdognewton

3/16/2009 6:49:00 PM

We were fishing in the 40'-50' depths in the channel of Hawk Creek. April could be a lot different and you are going to want to check water levels through the National Park Service website. Its about 6' below full pool, and getting ready to drop (hopefully). In response to PP Bay I have fished it once this year so far and didn't do the best, just a couple of dinks right before the narrows.I used to fish with a 14' aluminum out of PP Bay, and caught a lot of fish. The whole bay is pretty good to fish on any given day. I knowmy big fish wasn't a triploid because it was a walleye.

The Jigmiester

3/17/2009 2:53:00 PM

Bazzdude. I have a 10' Jon boat , with electronics and swivel seats. It's not ideal for the Spokane River (my Ex got my Bass Tracker in the divorce...) Anyway, you can fish from a smaller aluminum on the Spokane arm if you stay relatively close to shore and you have a gas motor to get off the lake if the weather changes. I like using a 3" to 6" Arkansas shiner, Rainbow trout or Alewive colored swim bait matched with an ultra realistic 1/4 oz Gitzit jig head. I always coat my swim bait with Smelly Jelly Walleye feast cover scent too. The Drop shot technigue mentioned above is an awesome way to present a bait at the precise depth suspended fish are holding some distance off the bottom. Sometimes Walleyes suspend out and away from any defining structure. They will relate to where the baitfish are holding. I've caught tons of suspeded Walleye on R/B trout needle fish spoons and leadcore line while trolling for trout during the warmer months. Usually 10' to 30' down over water deeper than a 100 ft! Good luck fishin' brothers. The Jigmiester

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