Alright so fishing seems to be picking up, the last couple times out I have been fortunate enough to get catch some really nice fish. When returning home with my fish I have been filleting it out and in the process opening the stomach to see what the choice menu is. Well all the fish I have caught this far are full of shiners and minnows but the last fish I caught was a bit skinnier and had spawned at some point. (upon landing this fish I was going to let it go but it was bleeding profusely and could muster any energy and would just sink) I cut this fish open (meat was still solid) and found that she had been feeding on Sculpins and some sort of tadpole. Is this an indication that she just traveled from the river and was getting these different foods from that system or could it be just a different feeding preference?
Of the few we haven't released, all of the fish over 18" were minnow-feeders. We did catch a couple smaller ones and their throats were literally plugged with midge larvae. I would imagine that your thoughts are pretty close to reality based on the stomach contents. However, I would imagine if that food base is present in the rivers and streams feeding the lake, then there are probably some of those same critters in the lake as well.
I am guessing the tadpoles might be just more "digested" sculpin. I have lived here my whole life (38 years) and it seems a little early, and cold to be tadpoles. I haven't seen or heard any frogs yet. I hope you are right though, it could be a good year for giggin'!! I caught one last year near Hagelstien on hwy97 that was so full of sculpin, it's stomach was like a potato. Check out a lure called a Salmo "bullhead". That's one of my favorites this time of year.
How is the water clarity up there recently? I was there about two or three weeks ago and there was only about a foot of visibility!! Looking to make a trip down next week. Here is my rainbow from my first ever trip to Klamath Lake.
Not sure I would ever keep one of these fish though! Not to solid but then again I have been eating winter steelhead for three months
Last edited by steelheadstlkr; 04-22-2009 at 11:48 PM.
I was out today for a little bit and it is windy, water clarity as was said is little to nothing. Thought I could go 4 days in a row with a fish but its cold and windy and I was impatient. As to eating the fish I have had only one soft fish thus far (spawned out) the rest have been awesome solid and orange meat. Tasted great as well. Will be bbq-ing a few more this weekend so hopefully they will taste good as well!
Caught some nice fish today. They seem big for this time of year. Maybe that's a good thing. It was nice early and then around noon the wind picked up. I never keep any Klamath Fish. They are not that great eating, marginal at best during the cold months. I did see tadpoles along the north shore. Anyways I had fun.
I gotta say I thought they would be soft meated as well but... The ones I have caught thus far have been solid and when smoked on a cedar plank taste incredible!
water clarity never mattered fish bite always if they are there.
as for soft or solid meat they get soft as the water temp increases so that is when you freeze it for a week and then thaw it and skin and smoke them. my aunt who loved to fish the lake ate them from any time of year.
this year the grandson get the fun of yarding in a standard 2-4 lb.
__________________
me and Tommy got something in common
Klamath Lake fish question
I caught one last year near Hagelstien on hwy97 that was so full of sculpin, it's stomach was like a potato. Check out a lure called a Salmo "bullhead". That's one of my favorites this time of year.
twisted lines
Linear Mode
