Lake Billy Chinook information needed

[finner]

I'm headed over to Lake Billy Chinook next weekend as was hoping someone might have some information from a resent trip. We're planning on taking some kids over there for some tubing and fishing. I havent been there in years, but remember trolling crawdad plugs and catching smallmouth bass. We never got into the kokenee as I would have hoped though.
Any suggestions on getting kids into a lot of fish?

Feel free to PM me if you would like.
Any information is appreciated.
Thanks!

[JDS]

Originally Posted by finner

I'm headed over to Lake Billy Chinook next weekend as was hoping someone might have some information from a resent trip. We're planning on taking some kids over there for some tubing and fishing. I havent been there in years, but remember trolling crawdad plugs and catching smallmouth bass. We never got into the kokenee as I would have hoped though.
Any suggestions on getting kids into a lot of fish?

Feel free to PM me if you would like.
Any information is appreciated.
Thanks!

I was out there a few weeks ago, and got into a bunch of smallies. We would cast dark spinners (black/brown) up along the banks, typical bass looking water. We got into them in both the crooked river arm, and metolious. It seemed like they stayed in water that was 70 or above... when you got up into the river water where it was colder (62 or so) they weren't there.... my son (6 years old) had a blast, we caught a bunch, but they are all fairly small.... but lots of action.

Josh

[finner]

Originally Posted by JDS

I was out there a few weeks ago, and got into a bunch of smallies. We would cast dark spinners (black/brown) up along the banks, typical bass looking water. We got into them in both the crooked river arm, and metolious. It seemed like they stayed in water that was 70 or above... when you got up into the river water where it was colder (62 or so) they weren't there.... my son (6 years old) had a blast, we caught a bunch, but they are all fairly small.... but lots of action.

Josh

Thanks Josh. I have a 6 year old daughter and would just like to get into a lot of action. Not really worried about being able to keep a bunch. It's more about the experience

[Doc_Rhen]

If you are going to get a tribal permit, the kokanee are staging for the spawn. There are thousands sitting right around where the river and lake water meet on the Metolius arm. On the weekend there should be a pile of boats to show you the location but there is usually a line of debris demarcating the location as well as loads of kokes jumping. We anchored up for about an hour and threw Pink and white gibbs at them. Caught 14 on saturday. Last night we went back hoping I could get a picture with my underwater camera but the water was a little more stained and with the sun behind the hill I could not see them but I threw a white and pink buzzbomb at them with some red fire corn on it and caught two kokes with three casts.

[finner]

Thanks for the info! I hope to be able to get some kids into some good action. Is it worth trolling or better to just have them jig right now?

Thanks Again!

[Doc_Rhen]

I prefer to troll but with them all kegged up like that the jig is the way to go.