Gold Lake

El-Kabong · 06-12-2003, 08:01 AM

Hi,

was wondering if anyone has been up to Gold Lake yet this year. Going this weekend so looking for any info.

Thanks

MGM

greenbuttskunk · 06-12-2003, 02:29 PM

the worst skeeters have to be at Irish and taylor lakes off of Century Drive. Unreal!! almost scary.
But on the subject of bugs, try flyfishing in maine, upstate NY, northeast, Minn. or ontario canada during may/june. The blackflies!!!! holy crow! They not only bite, but remove little chunks of skin. They leave you bleeding! No kidding. :shocked:

nitrobass · 06-12-2003, 02:32 PM

Whoa! Thats something I'd rather not experience!! We used to hike into some small lakes around Waldo to find dragonfly larvae and it was just like a combat mission against the skeeters. Sure makes it hard to fish..

El-Kabong · 06-12-2003, 02:50 PM

Thanks for the replies.

Last ime I was al gold (almost 3 years ago) caught the biggest rainbow in my life and have been unable to get back there until this trip. Good news about the brookies, (at least I hope the by insane, you mean good!)

I'll report back on Monday

MGM

nitrobass · 06-12-2003, 11:09 PM

How has Gold Lake been the last few years? I used to fish that with my dad all the time when we lived in Oakridge. Nonstop action for brookies and the occasional rainbow. The last few times we fished it the fishing was slow. Seems like they changed the regs around or something.

drbfish · 06-12-2003, 11:31 PM

I was going this weekend but it will have to wait until next weekend. I hear the mosquitos are on the warpath so be ready for that. My sources say fishing for brookies has been insane! Last year at this time I caught some big bows in the lilly pads on dries.

nitrobass · 06-12-2003, 11:38 PM

The mosquitos at Gold Lake, and pretty much all over the Waldo basin are legendary. I remember sitting in the truck at Gold Lake hearing the 'squitos bouncing off the windows trying to get in. I'd love to see it turn on again for brookies.

PittsburghD · 06-13-2003, 09:07 PM

Yeah, mosquitos are really bad. Don't go. Fish are small this year. Went Mem Day weekend. Hit lots. Off on on. Buggers are best. Biggest was 13" brookie.

----D

P.s. Mosquitos are bad stay way way away. :shocked:

El-Kabong · 06-16-2003, 05:48 AM

Hey,

Bugs were bad, but not that bad. Had a great time, brookies were being caught by the score and some nice rainbows werer found taking dry flies by the weed beds. The place was very crowded. If you are going to go, get there early if you want to get a camp spot.

MGM

papa bear · 06-19-2003, 09:00 PM

There are lakes in the Waldo not crowded I was on one a few days ago and caught 2 limits in 2 days of brookies to 14" plus a few put-backs, in only about 4 hours of actual fishing time. Did not meet another person the whole time. Requires a head net while setting up camp (otherwise would go crazy, about 300 skeeters around the tent) but out in the kayak I had no trouble with the skeeters at all.

papa bear

PittsburghD · 06-25-2003, 09:42 PM

There are no limits on brookies Papa Bear. Catch and keep. Feed to the Eagles. Whatever. Haven't been back since Mem Day. I already miss it.

---D :smile:

papa bear · 06-27-2003, 10:02 AM

Well, I had heard about that, and I thought the regs were kinda poorly written, so I asked the agency to clarify to me personally. Couple of 'em contradicted each other at first.

The consensus:

Brookies no limit in many STREAMS in the region.
Brookies no limit in 3 SISTERS, especially Erma Bells.
Brookies same as other trout otherwise. So, at Gander Lake, f'rinstance, 5 trout/day, 2 limits in possession.

At Otter, though, I run into a different issue. Its brookies are about fished out, so I'm catching mostly bows there -- and that should be 5 fish, they are stockers (BIG, but stockers). But the way back to the parking lot joins the trail from the Erma Bells, which have naturals and a 2-bow limit. So, if I'm inspected there and I haqve 5 bows on me, how do I prove I got them 1 mile or so east and not 1 mile or so south of where I'm parked???

I know, C & R. But the wife likes trout. So I target stockers accordingly and keep the deep-hooked ones.

PittsburghD · 06-28-2003, 08:48 PM

That's goverment for ya. Taxes, yield signs, merge signs, yellow lights, regulations and phone conversations. Take a shot at 'em all and you won't get real far.

With trout in hand I think you're o.k. It's the salmon, steelhead and deer without a hole in it they tend to pay attention to.

Last time my buddy and I were flyfishing the Trask for cutts in October a State Trooper hounded us on what we were doing. It was hard for him to imagaine two guys down there fishing for fun and letting the fish go.

[img]graemlins/idea.gif[/img]

papa bear · 07-04-2003, 06:34 PM

Yep, I have fished cutts in the Nestucca, right by the P. City bait shop, a fish on on practically every cast. Cars whizzing by, not another fisherman in sight all day. Folks hear keeping 'em is illegal, they seem to think that means catching them is illegal too.