LBC trip

[ok doke]

Planning a LBC trip on March 15/16 with my old high school bud. Haven’t seen each other in a long time and figured it was about time to get some serious BSing done. I think that we are outfitted pretty good, downriggers, full top, heater, Wool socks, Crown Royal {for medicinal proposes only}, DF and GPS.
I’ve never targeted big bulls and would really appreciate any advice. Planning on bringing steelhead size gear and trolling. We will be coming over from the valley and I read that there was some ramp repair issues. Is this a showstopper? Or, is there a decent ramp available? Thanks for any help.

[bwild]

If you go to Cove Palisades and you're standing at the top of the ramps facing out towards the lake (so that would be West), take the right-most ramp. You should be fine. But still be careful, I don't know how big your boat is, but unless you're launching a 22+ foot long boat, you should be fine.

Look for schools of kokanee and troll your plugs under them, through them, just above them. More than likely, you'll catch a bull. Since you're going in March, around the Island on the Metolius arm is always a good bet. Just keep an eye on your graph. When you start seeing the big arcs, that's them. Best of luck. Make sure you and all your boat-goers have your Warm Springs Permit:wink:

[THE KIWANDA KID]

if you plan to fish the Metolius arm dont forget your tribal permit. I still dont know why they call it that :wink:. the lake is slowly filling back up but you may want to reconsider it anyway because there are no trout left, the ramp has 11 feet of snow piled around it, the day use fees are 3 bucks for residents and 300 for non. all the locals have fished it out and and there is a high rate of vandalism at the parking lot, the eagles are highly territorial this time of year and there almost always seems to be a wierd skeeter hatch in march and they take no prisoners oh and gas is 5 bucks a gallon and the state has put a catch and release rule into effect on the dates you listed but other than that good luck.:D

[fish-on-bend]

Mike you are a cruel man.:hoboy:..........but hey, if it keeps one fisherman out of my spots on Saturday, more power to ya.

[bwild]

:smash: I second that! I think there's a loch ness monster there too!Mike you are a cruel man.:hoboy:..........but hey, if it keeps one fisherman out of my spots on Saturday, more power to ya.

[ok doke]

Now where did I put that can of BS repellent? After reading about Super Bull II on TTH I’m not sure what could keep me away. This will defiantly be a C&R trip. Thanks for the Tips bwild & TKK.:cheers: If all goes well you see some pics in a couple of weeks. I’ll keep you posted.

[fish-on-bend]

Glad to hear you plan on releasing any you catch. I have had conversations with other regular LBC bull chasers and we are all in agreement that the numbers of large bulls are way down mostly because ODFW has been encouraging harvest of these fish. This is a closed fishery, not a salmon run from the ocean and these fish can be impacted severely by harvesting. If 40 fish are kept each weekend day and 20 more during the week thats 1000 fish killed by the end of April. 2 years ago ODFW counted 1500 redds. You do the math. Lots more fishermen are out there than a few years ago and I see way more being kept than I used to.:twocents:

[bwild]

C&R is the way to go! I've kept 2 trout in the last 5 years (w/exception to one trip where we kept (3) browns in the 14 to 16 inch range for dinner). These fish in a lot of these lakes are big for a reason. You'll go to other websites and read that lakes in CA "Just aren't producing like they used to." Then it seems like every pic you see is guys at the docks with anything that weighs over 4 lbs. Doesn't take wildlife biologist to figure out why there aren't as many big fish as there used to be.

BTW, Super Bull II was fun to get out, but that was some TOUGH fishing. :stormwarning:Getting tossed around like a tin can and throwing everything at them but the kitchen sink made those fish earned. Don't let those reports fool you, we had to work for those suckers!

Best of luck to you when you go.

[Doc_Rhen]

if you plan to fish the Metolius arm dont forget your tribal permit. I still dont know why they call it that :wink:. the lake is slowly filling back up but you may want to reconsider it anyway because there are no trout left, the ramp has 11 feet of snow piled around it, the day use fees are 3 bucks for residents and 300 for non. all the locals have fished it out and and there is a high rate of vandalism at the parking lot, the eagles are highly territorial this time of year and there almost always seems to be a wierd skeeter hatch in march and they take no prisoners oh and gas is 5 bucks a gallon and the state has put a catch and release rule into effect on the dates you listed but other than that good luck.:D

Now that is funny right there, I believe that should be followed with an apology and some blessing reference to starving pygmies in Africa:smash:.