Wickiup report, 7-28 to 7-30

Dan Feller · 07-31-2009, 08:08 AM

We got back yesterday from a three day trip to Wickiup. Fishing was VERY slow!

I took my boat and my father-in-law brought his as well. He had been there in May and had done very well trolling dodgers and Apex. We were expecting good things when we got on the water at 6:30 Tuesday morning, but were skunked after trolling the main reservoir for a few hours. We tried still-fishing that evening around our campsite on the Deschutes arm, but again, nothing. Not only had we not caught a fish all day, we never saw any caught by anyone. Nobody that we talked to was doing any good, either - a few people had caught one or two.

Wednesday morning we were fishing by 5:00 and trolled until 9:00, again nothing! We saw one guy catch a nice Kokanee jigging in the Deschutes channel. We talked to him and he said it was his first fish of the trip, his buddy had caught one fish the day before and he didn't get anything.

Wednesday evening thunderstorms came in and soaked us right around dinnertime (of course). After dinner things cleared up and so I decided to go trolling for a bit as the sun went down. I headed up the channel from our campsite. After about twenty minutes I hooked into my first fish of the trip! I was trolling a silver dodger with prism tape and a red hoochie tipped with a single piece of tuna corn. It was quite a fight to get him in as I had a long pole and a short net and I was by myself. On the third or fourth attempt to net him I finally landed an 18" Kokanee. He was nice and silver, I heard some are turning red already. This was my biggest Kokanee so far, so it was pretty exciting!

Thursday morning we were on the water again around 5:00. We only trolled until 7:30 or so, as we had to load both boats and pack up. Again, we didn't catch anything or see anything caught.

The Twin Lakes RV park was really nice. We had a waterfront site on Wickiup and my in-laws had a cabin at South Twin, so we were able to pull up the boats at our spot. Our nieces had agreat time swimming and playing on the beach. It would have been the perfect trip if fishing had been better. While we were driving over I had told my wife I would be happy if I caught just one big fish. That's exactly what happened, so I can't complain!

The first photo was taken a few minutes before I caught my fish, the sky was incredible!

FallRiverGuy · 07-31-2009, 10:16 AM

Thanks for the report. Nice sunset picture and way to go on the big kokanee. I think ET did not leave any fish for anybody else.

TakeEm · 07-31-2009, 12:42 PM

Thanks for the report. Dont give up!

Mexi-Ken · 07-31-2009, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan Feller

We got back yesterday from a three day trip to Wickiup. Fishing was VERY slow!

I took my boat and my father-in-law brought his as well. He had been there in May and had done very well trolling dodgers and Apex. We were expecting good things when we got on the water at 6:30 Tuesday morning, but were skunked after trolling the main reservoir for a few hours. We tried still-fishing that evening around our campsite on the Deschutes arm, but again, nothing. Not only had we not caught a fish all day, we never saw any caught by anyone. Nobody that we talked to was doing any good, either - a few people had caught one or two.

Wednesday morning we were fishing by 5:00 and trolled until 9:00, again nothing! We saw one guy catch a nice Kokanee jigging in the Deschutes channel. We talked to him and he said it was his first fish of the trip, his buddy had caught one fish the day before and he didn't get anything.

Wednesday evening thunderstorms came in and soaked us right around dinnertime (of course). After dinner things cleared up and so I decided to go trolling for a bit as the sun went down. I headed up the channel from our campsite. After about twenty minutes I hooked into my first fish of the trip! I was trolling a silver dodger with prism tape and a red hoochie tipped with a single piece of tuna corn. It was quite a fight to get him in as I had a long pole and a short net and I was by myself. On the third or fourth attempt to net him I finally landed an 18" Kokanee. He was nice and silver, I heard some are turning red already. This was my biggest Kokanee so far, so it was pretty exciting!

Thursday morning we were on the water again around 5:00. We only trolled until 7:30 or so, as we had to load both boats and pack up. Again, we didn't catch anything or see anything caught.

The Twin Lakes RV park was really nice. We had a waterfront site on Wickiup and my in-laws had a cabin at South Twin, so we were able to pull up the boats at our spot. Our nieces had agreat time swimming and playing on the beach. It would have been the perfect trip if fishing had been better. While we were driving over I had told my wife I would be happy if I caught just one big fish. That's exactly what happened, so I can't complain!

The first photo was taken a few minutes before I caught my fish, the sky was incredible!

Thanks for the nice update and pictures Dan, I'm thinking of taking the family to Paulina/East Lake to do some Brown fishing.
Oh by the way my son Peter is standing next to me now, he asked me to tell you that he has also caught a Kokanee also but not as big as yours (yet)

Ken

moknots · 07-31-2009, 09:34 PM

Thank you for reporting! Definitely slower today. Had 6 and lost another 4 but the heat beat us and we left it to the wakeboarders and tubers early. Saw Rum Runner and his great new boat, and FishOnBend and Slammin Kokes who were all getting some action too.

dlm · 08-01-2009, 04:54 PM

We found the same. We were there Tues,Wed and left Thurs morning for Paulina (should have stayed at Wikiup).

Fishing time was limited as we had our almost 5 year old grandson with us, but he did catch the biggest fish of the trip, go figure...... 18 inches and 2.5 pounds

. We picked this up trolling between the Davis and Descutes arm, AFTER I figured out where the channel was and got it plugged into the gps. I swear it kept moving on me

Had a wonderful time with the family though, time in camp more than made up for the limited fishing time. I did notice a bunch of boats heading for the dam area on Thursday morning but did not follow.

twisted lines · 08-01-2009, 05:38 PM

Just got back myself, hit it hard for Fri and left at noon today. lots of time between most, but got blood on the boat. Last trip for me caught a few that have a hint of wrong color and the water was almost 74, Nephew got to clean a couple and schooled me on Saturday

JD77 · 08-01-2009, 06:06 PM

Did anyone happen to drive up to the Sheeps Bridge campground? I'm wondering if there is water or if it is just a creek. I like to float tube up there and once caught a big brown just before it got dark. If there is no water there is no reason for me to haul over the float tube so if someone happens to know and can post that would be great!

Slayer · 08-03-2009, 09:49 AM

Was there over the last 5 days. We managed a few but it was tough. Loved trying though

There were guys getting them but it definitely seemed hit or miss. There was water at Sheeps crossing took my boat alway the way up there. Saw a few fly fisherman catching something but was unsure of what it was

Sixes · 08-03-2009, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JD77

Did anyone happen to drive up to the Sheeps Bridge campground? I'm wondering if there is water or if it is just a creek. I like to float tube up there and once caught a big brown just before it got dark. If there is no water there is no reason for me to haul over the float tube so if someone happens to know and can post that would be great!

I was there over the weekend still lots of water for a float tube.

Cannon · 08-04-2009, 07:25 AM

Fished last Saturday through Sunday. Got started late on Saturday the lake was like glass it was hot and muggy. Felt like thunderstorms were on their way. Boated nine nice koke's before the storm hit. My largest was 19" with a three in the 18" range, one seventeen and the rest in the sixteen inch range. ET was right, they would only hit spinners. I tried everything in my arsenal and all they would touch was the spinners. Most went for a chartreuse blade with chartreuse day-glow beads fished at 45' feet down by the intersection of the Davis and Deschutes. When the wind from the storm hit it got real rough. Helped four or five people load their boats because it was just too rough for most folks to load by themselves. I was by myself so I just beached my boat and left the bilge pump on. Sunday it was again clear and smooth but I had a touch of the flu so I loaded up and headed for home.
That lake sure produces some nice fish!