Applegate Reservoir 1/27 (old)

Metro · 06-21-2007, 05:07 PM

This is an old trip, but I thought I would share because it was one of the best trips I had this winter.. haha that's not saying much though.

So I headed out to the lake Saturday only to find out, half of it is frozen over. Oh well, I launched my boat at the low water ramp and started trolling along the shoreline with the only dodger/lure combo I've ever caught trout on - a chrome/green slingblade and a green kokanut. The water was cold, about 37° in the shade. I didn't mark any fish on my depth finder, but I did see three fish rising nearby.

After trolling for about two hours without a trying various lures (needlefish, cripplure tipped with worms, etc), I knew this wasn't working. I thought, well might as well try for some of the Chinook the DFW plants, so I started trolling a a 00 luhrjensen dodger and a pink hoochie. I ran it 100 feet back and 10 feet down on the downrigger at 1.5mph.

By this time, I had worked my way around the lake to the edge of the ice and thought this would be a good place for fish to hide/ambush critters. Just as I reached the middle of the cove, I saw some fish on my finder about 15-20 feet down. Yes! I looked ahead and figured where I would get a strike.

Right as I passed the spot, WHAM! a violent take down! Yes! I get excited as the line comes unclipped and the pole bounces around. Just as I grab it out of the holder and start reeling.. I feel nothing. DANG! LDR! I couldn't believe a fish could spit the Gamakatsu hooks I tied the hoochie with. I'm always hooking my fingers and clothes with the damn things.

Oh well, so I turn around and decide to run another pass along the ice. Just as I passed the middle of the cove, I mark fish in the exact same spot. Few minutes later, WHAM! Fish on! This time I set the hook a little quicker and started muscling the fish in. As it gets near the boat, I see a dark green back and bright silver sides, "A chinook!" I thought. Oh wait, no, it's just a chunky 15" holdover rainbow. I guess rainbows like pink hoochies :-? I made 4 more passes along the ice in the cove and got a strike each time, I only managed to land one more 'bow nearly identical to the first.

Now, the good stuff!

(I didn't use the dodger in the picture)

Troutski · 06-21-2007, 07:09 PM

Thanks for the post, those are some real fatties..........Yahoo - real nice. Down riggers, the fish don't stand a chance.

Chuck

girlzluvfishin · 06-22-2007, 08:18 AM

Wow what nice fish!!! awsome fish late or not!! Thanks for sharing

06-21-2007, 05:07 PM	#1
Metro Neophyte Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Rogue Valley Posts: 19	Applegate Reservoir 1/27 (old) This is an old trip, but I thought I would share because it was one of the best trips I had this winter.. haha that's not saying much though. So I headed out to the lake Saturday only to find out, half of it is frozen over. Oh well, I launched my boat at the low water ramp and started trolling along the shoreline with the only dodger/lure combo I've ever caught trout on - a chrome/green slingblade and a green kokanut. The water was cold, about 37° in the shade. I didn't mark any fish on my depth finder, but I did see three fish rising nearby. After trolling for about two hours without a trying various lures (needlefish, cripplure tipped with worms, etc), I knew this wasn't working. I thought, well might as well try for some of the Chinook the DFW plants, so I started trolling a a 00 luhrjensen dodger and a pink hoochie. I ran it 100 feet back and 10 feet down on the downrigger at 1.5mph. By this time, I had worked my way around the lake to the edge of the ice and thought this would be a good place for fish to hide/ambush critters. Just as I reached the middle of the cove, I saw some fish on my finder about 15-20 feet down. Yes! I looked ahead and figured where I would get a strike. Right as I passed the spot, WHAM! a violent take down! Yes! I get excited as the line comes unclipped and the pole bounces around. Just as I grab it out of the holder and start reeling.. I feel nothing. DANG! LDR! I couldn't believe a fish could spit the Gamakatsu hooks I tied the hoochie with. I'm always hooking my fingers and clothes with the damn things. Oh well, so I turn around and decide to run another pass along the ice. Just as I passed the middle of the cove, I mark fish in the exact same spot. Few minutes later, WHAM! Fish on! This time I set the hook a little quicker and started muscling the fish in. As it gets near the boat, I see a dark green back and bright silver sides, "A chinook!" I thought. Oh wait, no, it's just a chunky 15" holdover rainbow. I guess rainbows like pink hoochies :-? I made 4 more passes along the ice in the cove and got a strike each time, I only managed to land one more 'bow nearly identical to the first. Now, the good stuff! (I didn't use the dodger in the picture)

06-21-2007, 07:09 PM	#2
Troutski Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Springfield, OR. Posts: 2,339	Great post Thanks for the post, those are some real fatties..........Yahoo - real nice. Down riggers, the fish don't stand a chance. Chuck __________________ Can't sleep - going fishing tomorrow....

06-22-2007, 08:18 AM	#3
girlzluvfishin Neophyte Join Date: May 2007 Location: Scappoose Posts: 22	Wow what nice fish!!! awsome fish late or not!! Thanks for sharing

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