A little info for Detroit Newbies
I am home on sick kid duty so I thought I would take some time to write up some information on Detroit. It is the most stocked lake and Oregon, in terms of total number of trout, so it is a great place to head with kids, getting started or when you just want to catch some fish.
After fishing it a lot for the last 10 years I have found it reminds me of the saying "a minute to learn and a lifetime to master". I am sure others will disagree or have more/better suggestions, which makes fishing fun, but this should get most new folks started. I have included a map with numbers so this can make some visual sense.
The launch: I launch at Mongold unless I am staying at the state campground. The campground has its own launch. Water level can be an issue but they have made great improvements at Mongold and generally you can launch year round. As the weather gets nicer, get their early to avoid long launch lines filled with skiers and wave-runner folks.
Where to fish:
#1- This is where I fished my first two years I was learning the lake. Troll that line around the island tip and pay attention to where the bites are coming from. Start to tighten your trolling pattern as you figure out where they are schooling.
#2- It was a Detroit Derby where I ventured down here. I caught quick limits and it has been a favorite trolling area every since. It can be inconsistent so don't grind it out if you aren't catching. I troll about 200-300 yards on either side of the bridge.
#3- This is my favorite area. It would be a long run from Mongold with a smaller boat/motor so you may check out some of the other launches on that end of the lake. I have found that the north bank fishes better in the morning and the south bank is better in the afternoon. Don't overlook trolling right up the middle in that area. 4 limits in 34 minutes came from that area last year.
#4- This area is my last resort early in the season but it has saved many trips. I find that I normally need to go deeper in this inlet. 1.5 oz at 28 pulls is where I start even in March. I haven't fished the area much past May.
#5- Most years I could troll right here and limit out but I like the adventure of moving around the lake. It is particularly good right after the lake is stocked so I assume they stock it in this area.
I have not bank fished Detroit for a lot of years but would offer that the dam, Mongold and right below the bridge on the way into town are good places to start.
I keep it pretty simple in terms of trolling gear. I use a mooching weight (aka banana or crescent) size .5, 1, 1.5 and on rare occasions a 2 oz. Flashers- I like willow leafs or mack lights but some days it takes some bigger cowbells to get the job done and a red wedding ring with some worm on it. Sometimes I mix it up with a dodger instead of flashers. I also make my own all black wedding ring that can be killer at times. Normally the fish are somewhere between 16-30 pulls.
I have caught kokanee but never targeted them here. There are reports of big landlocked chinook but I haven't wanted to take the time to learn that part of the fishery.
Be safe- Detroit can get some really big wind chop. Every year I see a 12' boat with three big guys and a little outboard far from the docks and wonder what they will do when the wind kicks up 2-3 foot wind chop or a $15 rubber raft floating out to the middle of the lake.
Good luck. (The numbers on the map are a little hard to read so you may need to zoom in to see them after you open it up)
Last edited by The Pew; 02-17-2010 at 01:46 PM.
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