Advice requested: Paulina or East?

[gone2hunt]

I'm sure this can spur some of the "Ford or Chevy" type debate, but I would like some advice from you in the know on whether to go to East or Paulina Lakes.

I will have a camper, boat (20 ft NR Scout), 4 kids (early teens that will want some swim time), and gear to handle any type of trout/kokanee fishing. We ruled out Diamond due to the midge reports, and have settled on either Paulina or East. Is there one that is better for shoreline wade and splash time for the kids? Are there lakeside campsites like at Diamond?

We're headed up Wednesday.

G2H

[Chesapeake]

Never bean to East, but Paulina is pretty nice with shore side camping areas. But what I saw of the bank was pretty steep and or mucky, so I'm not sure how the wading would be, and swimming may not be for the little ones. But I never got a real good look at the back side of the lake, that area may be a little less steep.

We stayed away from East lake because of the ODFG having it listed as having High Mercury. We planned to eat our fish and have little ones.

[auecker]

I'm sure this can spur some of the "Ford or Chevy" type debate, but I would like some advice from you in the know on whether to go to East or Paulina Lakes.

I will have a camper, boat (20 ft NR Scout), 4 kids (early teens that will want some swim time), and gear to handle any type of trout/kokanee fishing. We ruled out Diamond due to the midge reports, and have settled on either Paulina or East. Is there one that is better for shoreline wade and splash time for the kids? Are there lakeside campsites like at Diamond?

We're headed up Wednesday.

G2H

If you stand at the boat dock at Paulina lodge and look North East accross the lake you will see a large rock slide area. Just to one side of that area is a gravel bank area which has year round hot springs along the shore. If I were there and wanted to wade or swim, that would be the place to go. Water temp otherwise is pretty cold.

[Old Coot]

The eastern shore of East Lake has a sloping beach that must be a mile long and has roadside access the full length. The northern half or third of it borders Cinder (Hill, Cone, Butte?) Somethingorother campground that must contain close to a hundred sites. There are numerous water hydrants thruoput the campground, several vault toilets and at least one set of flushies. Nearby is East Lake Resort, which has rental showers.

The CG has two, maybe 3 boat ramps, some dumpsters and a couple of fish cleaning stations for which I have never had any need.

Last Saturday the NE corner of the lake was full of swimmers and splashers.

According to the reports I gleaned this last weekend, this year East is an early-morning fishery. Unfortunately, I am NOT an early-morning anything, except roll over and go back to sleep. Census of a couple of dozen camps indicated an average catch of 2-3 fish for a full morning. However, last Friday the lake was heavily stocked. (Couldn't catch them, either. Did wreak havoc on tui chub, though)

I don't think Paulina, 3 miles down the road, is suffering from the same chub plague as East, so it may fish better.

Be sure to take the time to drive the road to the top of Paulina Peak, but DON"T attempt to haul your boat up there. Have fun.

[SouthSantiamSlayer]

Im just gonna say im more of a East lake fan then Paulina....
I have way better success fishing East over Paulina.

[high desert]

In my opinion the camping facilities and the lodge at East Lake are much better than Paulina. But the fishing at Paulina is much better and no Mercury. If it was me I would camp at East Lake and drag my boat over to Paulina. The lakeside spots are a hot commodity at both lakes and usually filled up but in my experience there are almost always a few pull through spots available at both lakes. Good Luck.

[nwsoftball]

In my opinion the camping facilities and the lodge at East Lake are much better than Paulina. But the fishing at Paulina is much better and no Mercury. If it was me I would camp at East Lake and drag my boat over to Paulina. The lakeside spots are a hot commodity at both lakes and usually filled up but in my experience there are almost always a few pull through spots available at both lakes. Good Luck.

I just got back from 3 days at Paulina. Three limits in 3 days. Some was tough. It took all day on Saturday, but we were back in camp at 1:00 Sunday and 11:30 today with 15 fish in the boat. I'll post a full report tomorrow. Lots of skeeters in camp and a ton of midges at the boat ramp, but no bugs on the lake.

[SouthSantiamSlayer]

I just got back from 3 days at Paulina. Three limits in 3 days. Some was tough. It took all day on Saturday, but we were back in camp at 1:00 Sunday and 11:30 today with 15 fish in the boat. I'll post a full report tomorrow. Lots of skeeters in camp and a ton of midges at the boat ramp, but no bugs on the lake.
Limits of what?

[nwsoftball]

Limits of what?

Kokanee!!! There are other fish there??:wink:

[SouthSantiamSlayer]

Kokanee!!! There are other fish there??:wink:
Thats what I was thinkin! :wink:
In my personal experiance, kokanee are the only thing i've caught in real good numbers at Paulina.
I guess for me it's easy as pie to find fish at East Lake.