View Full Version : Odell
steelfreak
02-25-2008, 11:17 AM
When is a good time to start fishing for Mac's in Odell? I would like to give this a try this year. Also curious what size gear you guys are using for them. I know they get big but salmon seems way overkill.
moknots
02-25-2008, 12:44 PM
When is a good time to start fishing for Mac's in Odell? I would like to give this a try this year. Also curious what size gear you guys are using for them. I know they get big but salmon seems way overkill.
Opening day through the end of June.
Totally agree regarding salmon gear. I've been using light steelhead gear, 10 or 15 pound test leader, but didn't seem to get a reduction in hookups with 30 pound leader. They are toothy, but they also roll up in the line, often resuting in the leader getting wrapped around lures, hooks, swivels, etc. Landed one of my better ones on a kokanee rod with 8 pound mono, but we also got one with a chunk of 15 pound line sticking out it's vent! Buried in its tongue and gills were two #6 hooks dipped in bright pink -- evidently someones very stout kokanee leader. The 1/2 inch long tear from one of the hooks was almost healed. Only about a 12 pound fish, but something failed, so that guy probably went out and bought a salmon rod!
bwild
02-25-2008, 12:55 PM
Steelhead rod should be fine. However, I had a buddy fight one for about 1/2 an hour once. He had 50 lb braid and a 20 lb mono leader (I think that's right?), absolutely torqued his rod and he got sawed off and never even saw the fish. But hey, I'd love to have a problem like that, minus getting sawed off, of course.:D
moknots
02-25-2008, 01:09 PM
Steelhead rod should be fine. However, I had a buddy fight one for about 1/2 an hour once. He had 50 lb braid and a 20 lb mono leader (I think that's right?), absolutely torqued his rod and he got sawed off and never even saw the fish. But hey, I'd love to have a problem like that, minus getting sawed off, of course.:D
So THATS the guy that hooked my downrigger!:D:D:D Seriously, fish over 40 pounds do lurk there.
steelfreak
02-25-2008, 01:23 PM
Do you guys ever get them on jigs or is it just a trolling show?
whatugetemon
02-25-2008, 02:31 PM
Do you guys ever get them on jigs or is it just a trolling show?
I don't target them, but I caught a 10-12 pounder on a nordic while jigging for kokanee. It was a fun fight as I was using a lite/ultralite rod with 6 lb mono.
fish-on-bend
02-25-2008, 02:59 PM
Steelhead rod should be fine. However, I had a buddy fight one for about 1/2 an hour once. He had 50 lb braid and a 20 lb mono leader (I think that's right?), absolutely torqued his rod and he got sawed off and never even saw the fish. But hey, I'd love to have a problem like that, minus getting sawed off, of course.:D
I lost one at Crescent that pulled the reel out of the rod reel-seat. I had 1 at Cultus that straightened 2 barbs on a #2 treble and got off. :thisbig: Keeps me going back for more.
All fish stories aside, what Moknots said. Some pigs get caught on opening day every year. Also again in the fall. But some strays do get caught all summer long. A perfect day for me is enough kokes in the morning for dinner, then the rest of the day trolling for macks. I use $26 Walmart ugly sticks rated 12-25 and 50# braid with 12lb mono topshot. :twocents:
wanafish
02-25-2008, 04:03 PM
My biggest so far is 13.5 lbs on a ultralight trout rod and 6lb line jigging a red Nordic. Took about 15 minutes to get it to the top. We always catch a few jigging for kokes every year. Haven't tried jigging for them intentionally but it seems there was a post about that awhile back on Crescent.
Dullhook
02-25-2008, 05:09 PM
We always catch a few jigging for kokes every year.
:yeahthat: Odell Lake Macs do like those jigs at times especially the 3/4 and 1 oz sizes. If you're jiggin' off the bottom...be prepared! Burley Bluff and the RR slide across from Princess Creek are a couple of areas to try with the early AM usually a pretty good time.
bwild
02-25-2008, 05:42 PM
So THATS the guy that hooked my downrigger!:D:D:D Seriously, fish over 40 pounds do lurk there.
That was you?!?!?!? No wonder you were cursing and swearing at us!:wink: Sorry man!!!
I will say, that story came from the mouths of two very experienced trophy trout fishermen, so when I asked how it fought compared to the biggest they'd ever caught, both said " MUCH, MUCH HARDER!" So that to me means it was over 30 lbs.
About the 40 lbers, yes, they most definitely lurk there. When I saw Kroll's 36 lber from Crescent 3 years ago :thisbig:, I think I would literally lose control over my bodily functions if I saw that on the end of my line.
I've heard about jigging for them too. I"m actually going to give that a shot later this year (once the snow and ice melts)!
===== what fish-on-bend said. I rig the same way. He taught me. mia good grasshoppaw.