Ice fishing

myco-mike · 11-07-2001, 05:29 PM

Is there anywhere in Oregon that you can catch Kokanee in the winter? Can you ice fish for them? I'm going to put a weekend trip tegether and could use some tips.

Thanks!

mm

CptCatchem · 11-08-2001, 04:34 AM

Heres some waters that remain open year round and contain Kokanee....... Detroit Res, Green Peter Res,and Cresent Lake (check regs on this one)..I know Detroit and Green Peter dont ice over and I dont think Cresent does either. If Cresent is in fact still open year round be advised they close the road surrounding the lake to motor vehicles sometime during the winter. One might check with the USFS to find if boat ramps are usable and when the road is closed off to motor vehicles.

FallRiverGuy · 11-08-2001, 07:44 AM

Crescent is open all year. I don't think it ices over most years because I know of people that fish for browns there during the winter.

Elk lake has kokanee according to the fishing regs. I have never fished for Kokanee at Elk so don't know what kind of population is there. It may ice over in the winter, but you will need a snow mobile to get to it.

Other lakes beside the ones mentioned by CptCatchem that have kokanee, but likely small ones, are Suttle, Miller, and Lake of the Woods.

WheresMyBobber · 11-08-2001, 10:30 AM

Phillips Reservioir which is kind of "behind" Baker City used to have a good amount of Kokanee. They had a severe draught in 87 or 88 that killed off a bunch of fish, and I don't know how well the populations have rebuilt, but it was a good ice fishing spot in the winter when I lived back there. If you've never been there, it's quite a big lake, and can get VERY COLD in the winter.

Wallowa Lake also has a bunch of Kokanee, and freezes in the winter, but I don't remember if you can ice fish there or not.

Either of these places would require more time than just a weekend though if you're leaving from the Portland area.

Slow Roll · 11-09-2001, 08:35 AM

Hey myco, if you get something lined up let me know. I have been looking for someone who is loopy enough to go ice fishing with.
Used to go all the time in Montana, but no one here is into the sport. Could be because not much freezes over around here.