Any Detroit Lake Reports - Catfish?

[Hammer1]

Heading out to Detroit Lake next week and wondering how the fishing has been. Can anyone give me some catfish advice? I have heard that they are there. It would be nice to go for a trout, kokanee and catfish. Your tips and/or advice is much appreciated.

[Davy]

Thursday--

15 brat trout in last hour, all on small kwikies/ flatfish, chartruese/pink, and Crayfish patterns

No flashers just 1oz banana and the flatfish.

South side of P island, about a 2mph troll, fast huh

We fished 6-7 hrs for kokes in the west end, hooked two before 7am both LDR'd,and two 8 or 9" chinook, then nothing rest of day, so we got our trout

Sat- 3pm-6pm. 10 avg 11-13" trout, south side of island again on the kwikies. Same ol troll

As far as the cats, I hav heard nothing recently. years ago they fished them at night on the shallow (east end) of the island.

But the trout are easy pickins right now. Koke's seem in lockjaw mode most of the day.

[Fish4me]

The Boy and I were up on Sat. and didn't do much good. He caught two nice bows but we couldn't get the Kokes to bite. I haven't fished Detroit that much so I don't know the tricks. I always wasn't much of a trout killer. Always fished for Stealhead and Salmon. Now I'm hooked because I have to prove to myself that I can figure them out. I think my next purchase will be downriggers. I noticed on my fishfinder that alot of nice size fish were 100+' down. When we trolled we were around 20-40' I would guess. I tried vert. jigging, trolling, suspended bait, bait on bottom, I'll get it.....I guess it will take some time.
I could sure use some old timer tricks.
Steve

[Davy]

yup, 100', most I marked and the couple we hooked were in 85' halfway to the dam on the northshore. We picked up no koke at the island, just trout. Butwe did mark kokes at the west end of the island, at 90' or so, they just had lockjaw for my lures.

Welcome to jump in with me one of these days.

[Bandy76]

Been about 35 years but we use to fish the flats (stump field) on the south side of town.
We called them bull heads. but they were good eating
go south of the marina then east up the santiam arm just before the summer homes.
good luck


worms on the bottom with a big bobber

[Hammer1]

Thanks for the information. We are camping there next week and this information will help. If any of you are out there and see a white Thunder jet or 16 ft Brown Blue water stop by and say hi.
Davy,
What size flat fish did you use? I've never tried them for trout before. Sounds interesting.

[rainrshine]

Hammer1......Its been years and I mean years since my first catfish at detroit but we got them along the hyw at night in the flats just past mongold park there next to the campground. We were on the shore casting from the rocks there ( I think) Take a lantern and cast to where it reflects on the light :grin: I can still remeber opening the paper bag that we cleaned them the next morning and there mouth's were still moving
Rainrshine

[Davy]

Originally Posted by Hammer1

Davy,
What size flat fish did you use? I've never tried them for trout before. Sounds interesting.

By number I forget,

But, the real real tiny one and then one size up too, like 2" maybe. In the small Kwikfish brand I think its a K4. With no flasher or dodger. We were just trolling them about 75-100' out with about 3/4 oz weight about 24" in front. Often couldn't get the line out before FishOn!

When I was a boy we fished those bullheads, and yes, they were extremely good eating.

Evergreen sided 20' Alumaweld I/O with ifish stickers. Or a finished wood flatbottom sled , we will probably be up there next Tues,Wed, thurs or in between. Give a wave

[kill2hunt]

ive caught alot in the flats and even off the campgounds docks, not real big but id say 10-12 inches