Hebo Lake good times.

[Warpig]

Did a family camping trip out to Hebo the week of the 13th. Started off weak as all the fishing docks were taken up except one that had a bunch of hung up gear in it. Had a couple bites but with limited casting direction, ended up just irritated.

Used that irritation as an excuse to upgrade the reel on our backpacking rod my daughter favors, and had the shop in Tillamook load it up with 75lb braid. Daddy's going Oak fishing. Threw a big old weight on the end of that line and cleaned about $40 worth of gear out of the tree branches to the initial laughter of the other fishermen there, until I explained what I was actually doing.

Probably would have had better performance if I had been using a treble hook, but both of us ended up getting multiple bites but didn't end up landing anything. Powerbait dough, nuggets, and garlic marshmellows on bobber rigs set up for 2-4' from the surface seemed to get the most action. While we didn't actually catch anything ourselves, someone else who was just day fishing for an hour did and didn't want their fish as it was legal but unintentionally a keeper due to being deep hooked. We gladly took it off their hands and I was able to teach the kid the rest of the process for catching and cooking the fish, which was a nice addition to the night's dinner.

I'd say it's worth a visit, but the day use parking only has about 5 spots but there's other parking spots dispersed around the lake. Campground is well kept by the host but there's no running water save the creek feeding the lake over near site 9 so make sure you bring your own supplies. Camping is reservation only through recreation.gov.

 

[troutdude]

Your method for clearing gear out of the branches is awesome! LOL

ODFW stocks that place, a few times, in the Spring. But by this time of the year, it's likely to be mostly fished out. And the lake is shallow as well. Which means that the trout will probably die off too.

Yeah, you really do need treble hooks with Power Bait (any sort of "dough" bait). Because one hit, with a single hook, knocks the bait right OFF of the hook. Here is a thread that I created several years ago; that will give you some answers to that particular puzzle.

Thread 'Berkley's Power Eggs...best thing since apple pie!!!'

Mar 20, 2010

Berkley's Power Eggs are AWESOME! They taste the same as Power Bait to the fish. They come in the same colors, and even additional colors. They float just like Power Bait. But, they are BETTER in FOUR remarkable ways.

One, you won't have messy / smelly hands like you do with rolling power bait up. Two, they stay on your hook longer; so you catch more fish. (Power Bait just gets nibbled off all of the time, without catching the fish that's doing it). Three, you won't have to spend time re-rigging because the fish stole your power bait (i.e. your line will be in the water...

• troutdude
• Replies: 144
• Forum: Fishing Techniques

• 

However you got out and got some fresh air. So, that seems like a win.

P.S. That lake was emptied, cleaned out, and refilled a few years ago. The re-stocked it back then. Including some bullheads if memory serves.

 

[Warpig]

Oh, there were fish, just not the right luck on our part. There were other people who were doing well. I had a good time and we're probably going to make a yearly camping trip out of it at a minimum. The fact there's no water or showers up there already scares off most people and that's just fine by me.

I'll pick some trebles and power eggs up for Friday, as we're headed out again albeit elsewhere. Thanks for the tip!

 

[troutdude]

I'll pick some trebles and power eggs up for Friday, as we're headed out again albeit elsewhere. Thanks for the tip!

Don't use treble hooks, with Power Eggs. Instead use a size 8 single bait hook. Thread 2 eggs onto the hook, and up onto the shank. So, that the tip is bare. If 2 eggs won't float the hook; then slide 3 eggs onto the hook (sometimes sliding one of the 3 eggs, above the hook and on the leader).

I usually start out with Orange Power Eggs on one rod. And Lemon Lime colored Power Eggs on the other rod. I always carry multiple colors though. Sometimes the fish only want one color, on a given day.

 

[troutdude]

@Warpig

I forgot to mention a couple of things, when using Power Eggs. First is that the fish will be easier to release, with a single hook/barb. Versus getting gut hooked with trebles. Secondly: you can usually use forceps to slide the eggs back up your line and/or hook; before hook removal. Ergo getting to re-use the same Power Eggs, to catch multiple fish.

Power Eggs equals more hookups; and less bait used too boot.

 

[Davpot]

Oh, there were fish, just not the right luck on our part. There were other people who were doing well. I had a good time and we're probably going to make a yearly camping trip out of it at a minimum. The fact there's no water or showers up there already scares off most people and that's just fine by me.

I'll pick some trebles and power eggs up for Friday, as we're headed out again albeit elsewhere. Thanks for the tip!

Warpig: try a bubble and flies next time. Your success rate will go up...unless you end up in the trees!!

 

[troutdude]

Warpig: try a bubble and flies next time. Your success rate will go up...unless you end up in the trees!!

Great suggestion. I've caught many trout with a spinning rod; with main line tied to a torpedo bobber. Then 4' of leader with a Woolly Bugger at the end. I also pinched one or two tiny split shot onto the leader, about a foot above the Woolly Bugger. The primary secret: use an ultra slow retrieve.

 

[Warpig]

Warpig: try a bubble and flies next time. Your success rate will go up...unless you end up in the trees!!

Heh. I was in the trees on purpose that day. Between it being ugly and bothering me, and paying a bit of attention to what was actually hanging up in the tree, figured I'd do everyone a favor and get some of it down.

I get that not everyone's going to have the stuff to do it, and what was hung up where was entirely not retrievable without having something to cast into the mess specifically and having a line that could handle shaking the snot out of the branches and tree. I might actually re-rig my cheapest reel or find a craigslist rod/reel combo that's cheap to keep set up for "Oak fishing" as it were, just so I have the means to be stewardly.

 

[Chromatose]

Just Say`n...............................................

 

[Davpot]

Heh. I was in the trees on purpose that day. Between it being ugly and bothering me, and paying a bit of attention to what was actually hanging up in the tree, figured I'd do everyone a favor and get some of it down.

I get that not everyone's going to have the stuff to do it, and what was hung up where was entirely not retrievable without having something to cast into the mess specifically and having a line that could handle shaking the snot out of the branches and tree. I might actually re-rig my cheapest reel or find a craigslist rod/reel combo that's cheap to keep set up for "Oak fishing" as it were, just so I have the means to be stewardly.

Im glad you Cleaned that lake up! Well Done! Sadly the crowds are turning Hebo into a "recycling Center"! Try a beadhead nymph or wetfly and you can svoid the adfitional lead!