Odell 5/22-5/25 report and a question

[Lipripper]

Those that knew what they were doing did well. Heard of a lot of people that had limits by 9. Most of them were the "old timers". We managed our 2 limits each but it took us 3 days to do so. All fish were taken on pink/white and green/white and blue/white jigs(thanks Gary). All smallish fish. Bite seemed to die early morning but did pick up again late afternoon. Met Dullhook and a few other Ifishers ( sorry guys I'm terrible remembering names).

Do the fish stay schooled up or do they scatter? Is jigging an option later or is it a trolling program?

[joemomma]

Not an old timer, but have fished it for 10 yrs or so. The fish seem to school big time in the morning, a great time to find them and jig, when that starts to go down hill, I go on the downriggers. The fish early in the morning will be shallow ( By early I mean 4:45) and get deeper with more light! And spread out more.

[Hookset]

First my disclaimer; Even though I've fished Odell for years, I'm not an expert by any means, but I do ok.

From my persepctive, Odell is the easiest lake to fish and catch Kokanee. The shear numbers of fish is one reason and the other is you can literaly find Kokanee at almost every depth during the spring.

To answer your question; Kokanee typically travel in schools for securtity reason. So when you find one there are others nearby. Whether you can keep on top or stay in close proximety is another question since Kokanee are almost always on the move.

As for kokanee at all depths; I can remember several days where jiggers where catching them at 100 - 120 feet, trollers fishing from 30 to 60 feet had constant action and people wind drifting tossing jigs to jumpers were continuenly getting hooked up (one of my favorite methods). This merly points the variety of methods that can be deployed on a single day.

I hope this helps a little,

Gregg

[Lipripper]

I guess I should clarify my question. What I meant to ask is----I am thinking about heading back to Odell in a couple of weeks and was wondering if the fish will stay schooled up to jig for or will they be so scattered that it will be a trolling program? Thanks for the replies

[Dullhook]

It was a pleasure meeting you Lipripper, and lostpuppy also! :cheers:

It took me the whole trip to limit out too, but with the great weather we had this was a chance to spend more time on the water fishing. Picked up 10 Saturday morning in front of Princess Creek to finish up. The fish are running a little smaller this year with most about 11 inches. I still wound up with two gallon containers of chunks and fillets, plus got to eat lots of barbequed fish over the campfire :food:. All in all a fantastic trip.

All fish were caught on jigs. All types and colors seemed to work well. Some were caught casting, some off the bottom, some by spotting small schools on the finder and jigging vertically over them. Trapper and Princess Creeks were the best spots. Hoping to make another trip over there in June before my job ends fishing for the summer. Here's a couple of pics taken Thursday morning...the first showing Diamond Peak.


http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/medium/IMGP0066_resize.JPG

http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/medium/IMGP0068_edited_resize.JPG

[SPRINGERMAN]

Nice to have met you Lipripper, looked like you were doing well on the last day we were there. I must say that I've been there the week before 4th of July and the fish were still schooled then disperesed according to the weather, clear and high pressure they singled out and the low pressure they seemed to school up. Strange little buggers. Did you get some jigs from the Video dude, don't know his name but the jigs were from a gent in Salem I believe. Just killer on the cast or the jig with the red corn. I'll be back same time next year hope to see ya there...Dave

[Queeg]

I typically expect them to be schooled up more, and a little deeper, in June than in May.

(Generalizations are always false!)