Quick Suttle Report

[moknots]

Hit Suttle for a few hours this morning. Nothing to shout about but we did manage to land 11 kokanee on crappie tubes and 1 on a spin-glow. 38 and 52 feet were the most productive depths. Sorry, no photos but the lake was just gorgeous.

[FallRiverGuy]

Sounds like things are starting to warm up fishing wise again. Thanks Mike.

[Dullhook]

Thanks for the report, moknots. Looks like you guys did a great job on the kokes after reading some of the pretty dismal late reports on Suttle. I'd be very well satisfied with that catch anytime. This is the first time in 35 years (job... now retired) that I've been able to fish for kokes after about the third week in June. I was wondering in a general time frame, how late in the Summer we can fish for kokes before they start to turn and aren't worth keeping. I'm not in the least bit ashamed to admit that living on a fixed income and after shelling out a couple hundred bucks for gas and camping fees that it's always good for a chance to bring some quality fish home to eat. Kokes are for the harvesting anyway and that only benefits the fishery. :twocents:

I respect your knowledge as well as that of many of the folks who post on this forum. Any help on this would be very much appreciated as I plead myself ignorant on this. :anyone: :help:

[moknots]

I was wondering in a general time frame, how late in the Summer we can fish for kokes before they start to turn and aren't worth keeping.

DH, I've had good eating fish out of Suttle, Wickiup and Crescent through the end of August. I haven't tried in Sept. I was surprized that one of the fish we caught today was just starting to "blush" a little, and loosing the silvery scales. I BBQ'd it for lunch alongside a bright fish, and could not tell the differnce in eating.

By the way, I forgot to mention how puzzled I am by the fact that in 22 fish caught in the last 10 days, I have not seen one fish that leads me to believe that these fish have put on any length or weight compared to the fish we were catching there in April! Last year there was tremendous growth between April and the end of July. These have all been about 11 to 13", nice an healthy.

[dlm]

We fished into late September, first of October catching both silver and some that were turned fairly red. The reds still tasted just fine.

[joemomma]

DH, I've had good eating fish out of Suttle, Wickiup and Crescent through the end of August. I haven't tried in Sept. I was surprized that one of the fish we caught today was just starting to "blush" a little, and loosing the silvery scales. I BBQ'd it for lunch alongside a bright fish, and could not tell the differnce in eating.

By the way, I forgot to mention how puzzled I am by the fact that in 22 fish caught in the last 10 days, I have not seen one fish that leads me to believe that these fish have put on any length or weight compared to the fish we were catching there in April! Last year there was tremendous growth between April and the end of July. These have all been about 11 to 13", nice an healthy.

Wow that is puzzling? I would have thought those would be monsters by early August!

Thanks for the report Mike!

[marshworm]

remember guys everything is a little late this year. maybe the big growth spurt is right around the corner? Also moknots there is two spawning groups in Suttle with one being earlier than than the other by at least 3 weeks or so. The later group is normally bigger fish also. hence dlm posted catching brights and reds at same timelast year.
anxious to get back on Suttle this week end and next week for a day or so.

[philp100]

Moknots,
Are you jigging the crappie tubes or trolling them behind flashers on the downriggers? I used to catch quite a few Koke's out of Suttle but the last couple of years now the flasher/wedding ring/35 pulls setup is not working.

Thanks,
Phil

[moknots]

Moknots,
Are you jigging the crappie tubes or trolling them behind flashers on the downriggers? I used to catch quite a few Koke's out of Suttle but the last couple of years now the flasher/wedding ring/35 pulls setup is not working.

Thanks,
Phil

Trolling with downriggers. Gotta use a dodger instead of flashers to impart some action to the otherwise fairly lifeless tube.

[dlm]

By the way, I forgot to mention how puzzled I am by the fact that in 22 fish caught in the last 10 days, I have not seen one fish that leads me to believe that these fish have put on any length or weight compared to the fish we were catching there in April! Last year there was tremendous growth between April and the end of July. These have all been about 11 to 13", nice an healthy.

A guy that was there on Saturday and got skunked told me he saw two caught by someone trolling and he described them as "snakes", no size to them at all.

I will be in Bend on business next couple days so I will find out on Friday when I stop at the lake for a couple hours on the way home.