Swift Res. report

[trollin4trout]

Swift is still to the brim with 12-14" trout. Three of us caught 65 on Sat. trolling with downriggers- although only down 20ft. They hit most anything we put on the line from Needlefish, Triple Teasers, Flatfish, Hotshots, Castmasters, and some other bigger chunks of metal that have been in my tackle box for ages with out being tried! They are slamming everything hard- there's never a doubt when a fish hits. We didn't see anything bigger than 15" this time but a bank fisherman claimed a 4lb.'er right next to the ramp. Everyone we saw was catching fish- all the boats we saw and all the bank fishermen.

And parking and camping is free now 'till the end of the season. Go get'em!

[troutski]

Sweet, I love those days. The problem is there aren't enough of them. When you use your down rigger with Trout gear, do you use blades or just main line to the terminal lure ? I just started using my DR and any helpful hints would be greatly appreciated. I tried it last week and ran my main line behind the boat about one hundred feet and hooked it in to the clip and dropped the ball to the depth and had some success , just wondering how other anglers approach it. Thanks

Chuck

[MattPark]

What would be the best way to fish without downriggers?

[joemomma]

Chuck, what I do and only for trout and koke's is to put my flasher on the ball, most but not all balls have a eye on the fin. Then I put my release up about 1 1/2' or a little less and hook my line up and eye ball how much distance between my lure/bait and the flasher, makes it alot more sporting! If not using flashers or dodgers I go about 50' or so from the clip, I guess if you were fishing 15' or less you could go alot more

[joemomma]

How was the boat ramp! I took some kids up there this summer to tube and there were logs all over the ramp!

[troutski]

Joe, do you use mono or some sort of braided line.....? It sure seems that the mono has a hard time releasing from the clip, and the braided line comes off very smooth and fast. I am getting use to the amount of clip surface to use. I like long lining from the DR without any thing except the terminal tackle....and then when the fish strikes its all fish, no more weight and blades......Fish-on-bend changed my whole way of fishing. Amazing how one day of fishing can change your life, my son turned me on to ifish and I thank him often.....let me know when you can get over here and we can hook up...I think I am going to Waldo on Weds., unless I can convince my friend to go to Crane. It is his week to drive, he who drives gets to pick the spot and the other guy buys breakfast...seems to work out. Tight lines.:cheers:

Chuck

[trollin4trout]

NO flashers! Most times the lure is only 20-30 feet from the ball. In shallow water- less than 20ft. - I'll let it way out- 100-150 ft. I have experimented on good fishing days and found they'll hit it 5ft. from the ball. It does seem better to get it farther away, though once you're down 20ft-I don't think the fish care about the boat above anymore.
(maybe the big /smart ones care?)

The ramp is perfectly clear.

[joemomma]

Still using mono for main and flouacarbon leader. I haven,t switched to braided yet. Do you use level wind reels? and if so does the braided line dig in on the reel? I like that, driver picks the spot and other guy buys breakfast, It's a good thing I'm 4'10 and 105lbs :laugh: :laugh:, Yes I do have to get down there soon!

[troutski]

I use Fireline for my spinning reels and the stuff wears like steel. Once a month at the end of the day after the fishing is done I remove all terminal tackle so there is only the leader and main line left and open the bail and goose the motor to about 5 mph and let it all go....when it gets to the backing flip the bail and wind it in - instant coil remover and cleans the line to boot. After about a year or 18 months take the spare spool that came with the reel and put the empty on the reel and rewind the Fireline. Now you have new line for another 18 mo. Berkley might not like it, but they make such a superior line it can take it....I use Dacron braided line from Cabelas for my level winds, again the stuff is amazing. I liked it so much I even bought some 125# and replaced my down rigger cable with it, as far as digging in - if you put it on with enough drag from the start I haven't had a problem. Cuts the noise down to all most nothing and the drag through the water is less than the steel cable and no need for the BLACK BOX. Berkley has some high quality products, I am trying to get Jennie to get me some of the new Clear fireline,as a sample just to try on my ultra light, Four lb. test. Should be the dia. of a bugs eye lash. Any way thats what I use and so far it is working great. By the way I got invited to go to Crane on Sunday, I got goose bumps just thinking about it..tight lines.

Chuck :smash:

[joemomma]

Thanks, I'm going to switch to braided next year and pick up some down rigger koke rods! Good luck at crane!

Joe

[troutski]

Down rigger rods, now this is some strange stuff. Not that I don't like it, but it takes some getting use to. Real soft rods, but man do they set the hook fast.....sorry about Sunday, a day earlier and we would have been fishing together.
It will happen sooner or later. I will post some pictures when I get back....

Chuck :wave:

[wind troller]

troutski,

I wish you a lot better luck than I had, you can probably out fish me anyday but you won't have more fun!!!! I think the weather will hold out fine this weekend and you'll have a great day!

Just so everyone knows, when the lake is at 61% full from the website Chuck provided a link too, you can just "eek" your boat past the gravel launch at Quinn and leave it in the water. That was a real treat for me, I don't backup the boat trailer well with a camper on, me backing up using the mirrors looks very funny if your a bystander though.

Tightlines and good luck!
:wave: :smash: :wave: :smash: :wave:

[Super Fluke]

Thanks for the repot.