Any word on the Davis Lake Bass Bash?

[Basscaster]

Or the Orvis Open or whatever they ended up calling it. It happened sometime earlier this month. I was curious how that went. Anybody heard?

[TroutGirl]

HA ha
"Orvis Opener"

I think the news on Westfly was that they caught around 80 bass. There are some Westfly guys that are very good with bass on that lake, but they were in the minority by far. Most were not familliar with bass fishing or fishing that lake. In addition they had a full moon and spawning. Wasn't ideal conditions to really get huge numbers.

I think ODFW followed through with what had always been the plan, that whatever the fisherman didn't hall into the live pens, they would shock and put into the pens. So one way or another ODFW got their 300 live fish in pens. I really didn't understand what they were going to do with them. I just know they were to be live.

No word on any management decisions after all that.

Recent word is the bass bite is back on as the fish are done spawning.

I think those that got into bass had a good time and will keep bass fishing the lake. As much fun as the bass fishing is, I think the general mood is that it was a trout fishery, is supposed to managed as a trout fishery, and they have a blast with no limit bass fishing and feel good that they are trying to restore it to a trout fishery while eating some delicious bass.

There was lots of bad feelings around possible regulation changes at the lake. Lots of anger that ODFW has done nothing when bass levels were low in the lake and now treats the lake as a holding pond for bass to re-stock other areas.

I guess they are planning to rotenone the lake.

That's the gist that I got out of all of it.

I can't imagine that poison will do anybody any good. Rotenone not really worked at other lakes. And to me it just seems hugely destructive. If I were trying to effect a change there, I would encourage people to fish and keep all the bass the could. And for ODFW to transport all the bass they can out of that lake to other places. And then just see if the trout can return. Poison just seems extreme and a waste. Course, I'm not an expert at all, just someone who hears "poison" a natural lake and cringes.

I just spent the weekend popper fishing for bass on the John Day. I had a great time. I'll probably give Davis a shot when I'm over there at the end of July.

I think you guys that are really good bass fisherman, should go get or borrow a fly rod and put your know how to work and have some fun at Davis. Although it would be an equipment change, I don't think its equipment that makes you so good. Its knowing what to do with what you have.

Flyfishing isn't so bad, give it a try and go get some of dem delicious bass.

[Dave Smith]

Yeah, it would be nice to have Davis as a trout-only lake. I have heard the biologists talk about the bass and trout being at different depths and not competing, whatever, it would just be nice to have trout only in there, in my humble opinion. BTW: rotenone is not quite so bad as far as poisoning everything in it's path or hurting plants, etc. I guess it inhibits a fish's ability to do the whole breathing thing which tends to make things like "living" a little more difficult. he he. Alot of us have flyrods (not fly "poles" are ya proud of me?) and have fished for bass- I think we could catch them pretty good in Davis. I have a GLX 10 weight that is begging for it. Dave

[quacK5]

I remember hearing somewhere that some guys knock them dead up there using heavy fly "rods" and large heavy feather jigs, basically flipping for them. I looked up the regs and depending on the interpretation it sounds like it might fly, (no pun intended, or maybe it was?) but the molded sinker thing has me a bit leery. But from my point of view, I think it means weights that someone just attaches or clamps on post fly creation, if that makes sense. I think that as long as it was tied/created as one instrument, it would be legal. (Confused? I am.) I would go ask a game guy first but if he said yes, it sounds like a good way to go. Anyone with an interpretation on the regs and whether a bass style jig flipping jig tied with feathers would be legal? If it is I may have to find a heavy weight fly rod! :grin: