Finally, a return to Diamond!UPDATED

Bird Dog · 10-13-2008, 12:12 PM

After nearly a decade, my dad and I are getting back to our annual trip to Diamond Lake. For nearly 15 years through the eighties and early nineties, we made an October trip to catch those plump, gorgeous trout. The rest of the story you all know about.

Now were coming back. Me, Dad, brother in law, and his dad, leaving this Friday for 3 day weekend. We rented a cabin and can't wait for some buscuits and gravy at the cafe!

This time of year has either been sunny and 70, or 30 and snowing sideways. It never matters, though, because the beauty and serenity of that place is truly spectacular.

If any other Ifishers are down that way, I'd love to meet up and share a story and a barley pop. We'll be the 4 fat guys in an alumaweld with a blue top, grins from ear to ear!

Bird Dog

fishnlady · 10-13-2008, 02:39 PM

It's great you are getting to go fishing with your family again at Diamond. I too used to go on an annual trip with family until the chub ruined the fishing. We went this Spring, after not going for many years. It was great to get my mom back fishing. She always loved going to Diamond. And this year we got to take our 11-year old niece who loves to fish. We didn't catch a lot of fish, but the ones we did get were fat. We were there during a huge bug hatch, so I am sure that made a difference. I think this time of year will be much better. I hope the cafe will be better for you than it was for us. We found the food & service to be horrible; not at all like it used to be.
I am sure you will have a great time there with your family. Tell us all about your trip when you get back, and of course take some pics.

JECulver · 10-13-2008, 06:23 PM

Let us know how you do. I am going down the middle of next week for a few days

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishnlady

It's great you are getting to go fishing with your family again at Diamond. I too used to go on an annual trip with family until the chub ruined the fishing. We went this Spring, after not going for many years. It was great to get my mom back fishing. She always loved going to Diamond. And this year we got to take our 11-year old niece who loves to fish. We didn't catch a lot of fish, but the ones we did get were fat. We were there during a huge bug hatch, so I am sure that made a difference. I think this time of year will be much better. I hope the cafe will be better for you than it was for us. We found the food & service to be horrible; not at all like it used to be.
I am sure you will have a great time there with your family. Tell us all about your trip when you get back, and of course take some pics.

joemomma · 10-13-2008, 07:14 PM

Good for you! Got back a couple of weeks ago and slammed them big fattys hard! That place is growing on me!

Dullhook · 10-14-2008, 10:38 AM

Quote:

That place is growing on me!

Raccoons aside.

spottedhawk36 · 10-14-2008, 01:34 PM

Have fun, i am going to start going back to diamond lake next year, use to be my favorite lake before it took a nose dive.

Bird Dog · 10-15-2008, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dullhook

Raccoons aside.

That's one thing that added to the experience! We'd go down before breakfast and fire up the heater to melt the frost, and there were footprints all over from the little buggers! They would chew a small hole in our marshmallow bag and pull all the marshmallows out of that little hole.

Really cannot wait- I'll probably be on ifish all day tomorrow sonce I can't think about work.

I will definately post pics and reports Monday.

BD

DustyRod · 10-15-2008, 12:38 PM

we finally got back to diamond for the first time in several years, this last spring. It has always been a yearly afair until the chub detoured us to lava lake for several years. Sure was good to be back and see the lake getting back on track.

Oh ya beware.....those coons no how to open ice chests!

Good luck, will be waiting for a report & pics.

jordanb38 · 10-21-2008, 10:59 AM

have fun and good luck

Bird Dog · 10-21-2008, 11:49 AM

Update!

We had a tremendous time this past weekend!

I met my crew in Salem, and we rolled out about 9:30am. Got to the lake and it is sunny and warm, got the boat in the water and fishing by 2-ish. Went down to the south end and began fishing rainbow power bait with about 30" leader. 5 minutes in and I land the largest rainbow I've ever caught! 18" and FAT! We stayed there a little while and picked up a couple more 14", and moved a little ways east, and I nailed a 20"!!!!

Hard to tell from the pic, but here's the stringer- the first fish there is 14" next to the 20"er.

The next morning was slow, but we didn't get out until 8. Fished until 11 when the wind came up and got these shots of the mountains:

Rainbow over Mt Bailey

Clouds over Mt Theilson

We decided to drive up to Crater Lake after lunch and wait for the wind to die down. That's the first time I've been up there, and you've got to go! Absolutely no words for the majesty that is Crater Lake.

Got back on Diamond around 6pm, and were immediately rewarded with another 20", 18", and 8 more "little" 14" fatties.

Sunday we got out at 7:30 and fished until 10am, and put on a clinic the first 1/2 hour. Landed 10 fish in that wonderful 30 minutes! Again, a couple 18" in the bag.

Our weekend total was around 35 fish, easily 30 lbs. total. All except 1 was caught on power bait- rainbow, salmon yellow, and chartruse. The service at the cafe was nothing short of fantastic, as our 4 meals we ate there got to our table in less than 10 minutes. The only negative of the weekend was Saturday after we tied up the boat at the dock, another boater clipped our trolling motor and broke it clean off the bracket. We were walking up the dock when it happened, and I was able to keep the motor from going in the drink, bit it did some pretty serious damage. The guy was very apologetic and got us all his insurance info, so all is well there.

I simply cannot wait to go back. This is one of my favorite places in the world.

Bird Dog

Dullhook · 10-21-2008, 04:20 PM

Looks like you guys had a ball. Good friends, great weather, and hot fishing. Hard to beat that combination!

Rick on Rogue · 10-22-2008, 03:36 AM

I'll be there this weekend!!

DustyRod · 10-22-2008, 08:11 AM

"I simply cannot wait to go back. This is one of my favorite places in the world. "

Couldn't agree with you more. Congrats on a great weekend.

Josh

spottedhawk36 · 10-25-2008, 11:46 AM

Glad you had a good time at diamond, thats one of my favorite lakes in oregon to fish.