Swift Lake

Kokonuts · 09-01-2009, 05:15 AM

Since the season is about over at Merwin I've been thinking of taking the boat up to Swift Lake to try for some of the Trout.

I've never taken the boat up there so I am wondering if any of you have some tips???

Thanks, Kokonuts.................

sucker · 09-01-2009, 07:15 AM

I only fished Swift once this year early May; it was pretty much a planter trout show. I fished it quite a bit last year; used the same gear as I use for Kokanee with worms in place of the smelly corn. The best fish I caught last year was a nice 18" cut--so I know there are some bigger trout in the lake. Heard stories about large bull trout but you can not fish for them. I am going up on the eighth to camp for two nights; generally nice peacefull camping after labor day during the week. This is a large lake and the fishing can be good at times; going to try some new areas this time to see if I can find any larger cutts or bows; may be even try the downrigger; have only used lead so far; may be deeper will mean larger fish?????

Bird Dog · 09-02-2009, 10:16 AM

I took the daughters up last weekend and camped fri-sun. We only fished a couple hours due to their attention span, but Sat morning found a school right by the launch. We circled around for an hour and landed 4 of 6, even had a double for the girls! They were 12" in 35' of water- enourmous schools- and had typical lake trolls, worms and corn both caught fish.

We also did the Ape Caves on Saturday. That was a fantastic trip. The girls are 10 and we had some difficulty on the upper end, but had a blast! And only about 15 minutes from the campground.

Bird Dog

sherretb · 09-05-2009, 11:24 PM

You can do well fishing the river above swift. A friend and I snorkeled this stretch this time of year a few years back and saw lots and lots of trout and some really big ones (5lbs) from the bridge down to the lake.

Just check the regs. There were people doing really well at the bridge then but they were using worms which was illegal at the time.

That is a beautiful area for sure. fish or no fish.

sucker · 09-10-2009, 05:09 AM

The wife and I fished Swift Tue. and Wed.; camped at the Forest Camp Tue. night. The first day we fished we had our limits in about 30 minutes and then a nice day just hanging around camp. The weather was great with very little wind. We used the same gear we had been using at Merwin for Kokanee 6" Les Davis half/half dodger with green spin-n-glow about 18" behind. Hooks tipped with smelly corn. We fished in water from 140' to 300' deep from the tip of the island to about a mile down the south side of the lake about 100m from shore. On the second day we wanted to spend more time on the water so pinched the barbs down on the hooks on the spin-n-glows and fished without the smelly corn with the same action as the morning before. Caught fish from right on the surface (many hookups while trying to attache the line to the downrigger clips) to 80' down. In the 2-1/2 hours we fished I got 23 fish to the boat; most could be released by just giving slack line. Kept two of the fish as they were hooked to where the probably would not survive. None of the fish were big in the 10 to 12 inch range but the action was non stop. Rainbow trout and silvers; the wife kept five silvers to eat as they taste much better than the Rainbows. This would be a great place to take kids as they would not get bored with the non stop action. The lake was 14' below full pool so watch out for submerged stumps along the shore; think the ramp is usable to 25' below pool but there is some sand piled up on the bottom of the ramp. Great fun, butifull lake, good weather; think I added a few years to my life.

Bluknight · 09-10-2009, 05:34 AM

Sucker -

Great report and congrats on the awesome fishing! I've never fished up there but a buddy keeps telling me we should go when I invite him to fish Merwin. I just might have to make a trip up there before it gets too late.

honker1 · 09-10-2009, 09:19 AM

Great report...Sounds like a option for my kokanee withdrawals. Just can't bring myself to launch the boat for salmon/steelhead because of past memories of fish for them. Maybe times have changed, but I doubt it.

sucker · 09-10-2009, 10:16 AM

I would also love to fish the river for salmon and stealhead if I could figure a way to avoid the ramps; it is always a zoo when salmon are in the river.
Swift is always good for a fix for Kokanee withdrawal as long as they don't lower the lake too much.

Bluknight · 09-10-2009, 08:35 PM

I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one. That springer season this year really put me off! Glad I found out about kokanee - relaxing, enjoyable, nice people, catch several fish (usually), beautiful scenery.

Don't get me wrong I've been out twice now for fall run but it is still not as nice as the lakes. I'll find a happy medium some day I'm sure!

1955sunliner · 09-22-2009, 08:50 AM

Would someone please tell what Smelly Corn is? I have used Fire Corn and White Shoepeg corn but don't have a clue what Smelly Corn is.

sucker · 09-22-2009, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1955sunliner

Would someone please tell what Smelly Corn is? I have used Fire Corn and White Shoepeg corn but don't have a clue what Smelly Corn is.

Smelly corn is nothing but white shoepeg corn soaked in your favorite scent.