lake trout at odell

[SeanD]

im going to odell lake sunday and monday to try to hook some big mackinaw. Does anyone have any tips for me? Ive never fished for them before, and i dont have a downrigger, so im gonna try to do it with planers. Any advice on tackle and lures? Thanks

[dgass]

It will be very difficult without a downrigger. Typically this time of year they are around the 100 ft mark with the Kokanee schools. You can try vertically jigging for them with some larger Nordics or Buzz-bombs. We usually catch at least one while jigging for Kokanee. Good luck.
Damon [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[scrod]

Hey dgass I've never heard that kokanee like it as cold as lakers. Is that your experience? I know the bigguns are deep in Odell but aren"t litle guys up a bit? Does anyone know the proper temp for either? [img]images/icons/confused.gif[/img]

[CAGEY]

Sean, i have fished Odell for about twenty years for kokes and mac's. My biggest is 14 lbs taken on a blue and silver k-14 at the Eastern section of the lake in about 90 feet of water. I used eight oz tear drop sinkers on a two foot dropper. I have also taken a boatload with lake trolls trailing a whole crawler on 18 inches of leader. Either way you have to let out a lot of line, You just let it out until you feel it hit the bottom and keep doing that until your line is way out and if you do it right you will be down where they live. One excellent place is off of Princess Creek boat ramp. Its best to get a map of the lake at the lodge and fish out about 100 to 120 feet and the 90 ft areas and you should pick some up. Watch your line as there is moss on the bottom and a generous amount of lake weed that will ball up on the lure. Once you find that 120 foot area it is tough to stay in it but with a little practice and looking at how it lays on the lake map it can be done and you will be rewarded. If you are going to moor your boat i would suggest the West end because that lake gets really rough in the wind and docking a boat at the East end is not fun. Early morning right at daylight is best and that goes for the kokes also. They are best fished in the West end, just look for the boats. I would use at least 15lb main line and not less than eight lb. leader for the macs.Good Luck. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[scrod]

Odell Lake fishing map link. http://www.luhr-jensen.com/odell_image.htm [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img]

[dgass]

Scrod,
I went in late June and was catching Kokanee anywhere from 40 to 90ft deep in about 100 ft of water, but I do know that as the weather warms the Kokanee go deep as well. I do not know the key temperatures, it would be interesting to find out though.
Damon

[SeanD]

Thanks for the advice. Ill post if i land any big ones. Another question though, are these fish good eating?

[Tanner]

The main thing to remember about Mac's is the fact that their staple in that lake is Kokanee. If you can get in below schools of Kokes you can usually find the Macs

[Phish_on]

Talked to some guys cleaning a nice pair of Macks up there in May - they said if you get them on the grill right away they are good to eat. I guess they are really oily - they have a big old layer of fat in there. I'd probably let 'em go back home, for food it's kokanee all the way.

[CAGEY]

Sean,
They are an excellent eating fish providing you cut the thin belly skin off which contains all of their fat. They are very very good smoked.