BeaverTy
10-27-2008, 11:28 PM
Drove down for the day from Portland hoping for some hot fishing with less pressure on the water compared to our June trip...
Now, I wouldn't call the fishing we found to be hot, but it was solid. Gorgeous day, clear skies and 60 degrees out... Only light winds too on that big ol' lake.
We rented a boat and got to work... Went off the Thielson View Campground hoping to replicate my success of the last trip to Diamond but with few results. My Grandpa got one smaller fish (11") and I had one fish on and lost it and missed at least 5 solid hits, including a large trout that after I missed the strike had the nerve to follow the power bait to the boat. Evil fish that one...
Moved around over near Thielson but couldn't get much going. Decided to join the flotilla (haha... only about 8 or so boats!) in the south central part of the lake and hoped to get some fish in the boat...
We did just that. Once again, Grandpa struck first... another little guy. In fact, we noticed around this time that all the boats around us are steadily reeling in fish, but small guys... not the 15" footballs that were so common this summer. Instead, we're into a massive grouping of small fish... or so we thought...
I kept missing bite after bite. Then, adding insult to injury, I get a big one on. A nice Diamond Lake "Football" that came loose at the boat. Unintentional Catch and Release. I was seriously beside myself. I've not had a patience issue with hitting bites on trout since I was 10. My rod seemed fine (solid quality ultralight with Shimano reel)... I was truly going mad. I was really having issues getting these fish to connect... although I will say that the bites today were REALLY LIGHT...
Finally, I rig up my larger trolling rod (Quantum Trout Hunter w/ Shimano reel... 6 lb. Maxima Ultragreen) and throw down some more trout treats... I mean, I was essentially just feeding the fish up to that point, but things got good...
Fish on! The first of my 3 16"+ fish came to the boat after a phenomenal fight. I also tagged one more little guy, lost another smallish trout and Grandpa tallied another nice little pan-fryer! We both missed at least 20 bites combined and I had 4 fish come off on me... Frustrating but all in all a nice way to end the season at Diamond Lake.
All fish were caught on Power Bait... best success/most hits came from rigs tossed away from the boat a ways and retrieved... many hits on the set after the retrieve. I prefer a long leader at Diamond... 36"-42" 3lb. is my go to set up. Orange powerbait landed all the big fish... Red and Chartreuse got the little fellas!
The big fish were bright that we got ahold of. However, take notice that several of the large fish are ready to spawn (odd I know, as Bows are normally Spring spawners... some at Diamond apparently don't follow protocol). If you get ahold of a dark fish, let it go... They aren't worth squat in a frying pan!
It was a bit cool out early this morning. Bring layers if you want to brave it before the season ends Friday... Tight Lines!
Now, I wouldn't call the fishing we found to be hot, but it was solid. Gorgeous day, clear skies and 60 degrees out... Only light winds too on that big ol' lake.
We rented a boat and got to work... Went off the Thielson View Campground hoping to replicate my success of the last trip to Diamond but with few results. My Grandpa got one smaller fish (11") and I had one fish on and lost it and missed at least 5 solid hits, including a large trout that after I missed the strike had the nerve to follow the power bait to the boat. Evil fish that one...
Moved around over near Thielson but couldn't get much going. Decided to join the flotilla (haha... only about 8 or so boats!) in the south central part of the lake and hoped to get some fish in the boat...
We did just that. Once again, Grandpa struck first... another little guy. In fact, we noticed around this time that all the boats around us are steadily reeling in fish, but small guys... not the 15" footballs that were so common this summer. Instead, we're into a massive grouping of small fish... or so we thought...
I kept missing bite after bite. Then, adding insult to injury, I get a big one on. A nice Diamond Lake "Football" that came loose at the boat. Unintentional Catch and Release. I was seriously beside myself. I've not had a patience issue with hitting bites on trout since I was 10. My rod seemed fine (solid quality ultralight with Shimano reel)... I was truly going mad. I was really having issues getting these fish to connect... although I will say that the bites today were REALLY LIGHT...
Finally, I rig up my larger trolling rod (Quantum Trout Hunter w/ Shimano reel... 6 lb. Maxima Ultragreen) and throw down some more trout treats... I mean, I was essentially just feeding the fish up to that point, but things got good...
Fish on! The first of my 3 16"+ fish came to the boat after a phenomenal fight. I also tagged one more little guy, lost another smallish trout and Grandpa tallied another nice little pan-fryer! We both missed at least 20 bites combined and I had 4 fish come off on me... Frustrating but all in all a nice way to end the season at Diamond Lake.
All fish were caught on Power Bait... best success/most hits came from rigs tossed away from the boat a ways and retrieved... many hits on the set after the retrieve. I prefer a long leader at Diamond... 36"-42" 3lb. is my go to set up. Orange powerbait landed all the big fish... Red and Chartreuse got the little fellas!
The big fish were bright that we got ahold of. However, take notice that several of the large fish are ready to spawn (odd I know, as Bows are normally Spring spawners... some at Diamond apparently don't follow protocol). If you get ahold of a dark fish, let it go... They aren't worth squat in a frying pan!
It was a bit cool out early this morning. Bring layers if you want to brave it before the season ends Friday... Tight Lines!