View Full Version : mackinaw and browns
oregondak
07-23-2002, 04:30 PM
Hi all! I just joined the ifish community after getting tons of information from all of the posts. I started fishing again recently (it's been 10 years) and have learned a lot of stuff from you guys (thanks by the way!), I've been focusing mainly on salmon/steelhead, but haven't had any luck. I guess it's just a matter of time, huh? Anyway, on to my question: I'm going fishing this weekend and want my girlfriend and I to have a chance of catching a good sized mackinaw or brown. I've narrowed the lakes to crescent or cultus. I have a 12 foot boat with no downriggers, but I do have jigs(nordics, buzz bombs, etc.) and I also have a fish finder. Do I stand a reasonable chance to catch some fish, or should I focus on some other type of fish until I can afford a downrigger? Any tips would be sooooo appreciated, I'm having trouble getting my girlfriend into a fish, and I don't know how many more times she'll go with me! Anyway, any advice for a 23-year-old fishing fool would be great! Thanks in advance, and sorry about the long post!
Fish early and late in the day trolling J Plugs, Kwickfish or large Repalas. You might concider Miller Lake north west of Chemult. Lots of skeeters but the fishing is good and it will be safer in your 12' skiff.
Jimmy
07-23-2002, 08:56 PM
You are fishing for my two favorite fish.The problem is that this is the worst time of year to fish for Brown Trout and Mackinaw if you don't have a downrigger.I agree with Keta that you need to fish early and late in the day for these fish.If you narrowed it down between Cultus and Crescent my bet would be Crescent.In the spring and fall I like to fish the southwest end of the lake and all we do is troll large rapala's just under the surface.If you get a chance try it later this year in late October or November.I am headed over to Wickiup this weekend to fish for the browns that should be heading for the Deschutes channel.You could fish for Browns the first two and last two hours of the day at Wickiup and then try fishing south twin for Rainbow's during the day.Hope this helps you out.
Jimmy
skeezer
07-23-2002, 10:52 PM
just want to say good luck , let me know how you did we are suppose to go over there next week ........... :cool:
Phish_on
07-24-2002, 08:31 AM
Kokanee, kokanee, kokanee
Easy to catch, tasty to eat.
Brown trout eat at night.
papa bear
07-24-2002, 11:57 AM
While waiting for your downrigger, try this: spool up some wire line or 30 pound test, enough to reach 100 feet deep at an angle and leave some for the fish's runs too. Put on some serious weight at the end. A pyramid, 20 oz. would be light. I have seen desperate guys put on a monkey wrench to get the desired depth. Now back up about 2-three feet and put on a leader, say 8 pounds, 8 feet. Put your pop geer, ford fender, whatever, here and lure behind. Troll medium slow.
If you need to get her into fish with some certainty, consider Little Cultus and target rainbows and brookies early and late. If you and she don't mind bait think nightcrawler chunks, otherwise wooly buggers are good. :cool:
oregondak
07-24-2002, 02:57 PM
Wow, thanks for all the information guys! I think we'll be heading to big cultus tommorow. I'd really like to go to crescent, but I've heard the wind really gets a blowin', and I've got a really small dingy! :grin:
If we don't catch anything at big cultus there's a bunch of lakes in the area to try. I'll try to get into some good sized mack's, but you never know. I'll let everyone know how I did when I get back Sunday. Thanks again for all the tips (more are always welcome) I really appreciated it!
Phish_on
07-24-2002, 04:14 PM
Like -- Cultus doesn't get windy ?
:shocked:
oregondak
07-24-2002, 11:41 PM
It just doesn't have the same reputation as crescent.
oregondak
07-29-2002, 11:44 PM
well, what a horrible weekend! I broke my motor backing down the boat ramp at cultus (hit a rock) :mad: , and went to olallie lake 'cause you can't use motors anyway. Friday night was so windy, we barely got the boat back to ramp, and Saturday morning it was so packed, I couldn't find a place to park at the boat ramp! I was so mad, I just picked up camp and went home early. I never even got a line wet :depressed: Anyway, I was wondering if anyone has ever repaired the shaft housing on a small outboard. Basically it's just the outside metal that encases the prop shaft, etc. I think I'll try JB weld, but I don't know if it's strong enough. Any tips would be great, and sorry I don't have a report for cultus or olallie, but I talked to a guy who said not much was being caught at olallie. Thanks ahead of time!
Don't use the JB weld. :depressed: You need to take your motor to a good weld shop and have it tig welded. I know a shop in W. Salem that can do it for a fair price.
What make and hp is your motor? I have two 6hp and three or four 25hp Johnson lowers gathering dust in my barn.
oregondak
07-30-2002, 12:59 AM
it's just a little 4 horse johnson sailmaster. I'm so broke right now, I dont have the money to fix it the right way. I figure I can always grind the JBweld out later if needed. What were you thinking for the 6 horse?
They are just lower units but both are in good shape. One has been used in saltwater and I would like to get $50 for it. The other has only been in fresh water for $75.
If you use the JB Weld it will be harder to weld later. My brother is a sucker for hard luck stories and you might be able to get him to fix it for a reasonable price. He has done many of these repairs in the past.
oregondak
07-31-2002, 11:51 AM
thanks, i'll let you know
:smile: