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Alan, Have read your reports on Roosevelt, and enjoy them a lot. We fished Roosevelt quite a bit, usually at Spring Canyon, it was always very good fishing for a Variety of fish. Then 12 years ago we retired and moved to Hell's Canyon, the fishing is so good here we have not made the long trip to Roosevelt, looks like the Trout are much larger than they were when we fished there, would love to go back again, maybe even catch a large Kokanee like yours.
 
Glad you enjoy the reports Ken. The trout are really nice this year with most running around two pounds and up. I also enjoy reading your posts. I look forward to seeing how the kokanee are going at Dworshak this year.

Tight lines - Alan
 
I made it out on 2/9. 50 degrees and sunny! The action was crazy once i figured out the fish were 4 feet deep! Ill be back out by the dam tomorrow if the weather gives me a break.
 
FirstTimer said:
I made it out on 2/9. 50 degrees and sunny! The action was crazy once i figured out the fish were 4 feet deep! Ill be back out by the dam tomorrow if the weather gives me a break.
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that's awesome, and welcome to KFF FirstTimer

what size were the kokanee you were hooking? and did you catch many pikeminnows or rainbows?
 
Boated 4, all 14", 1 rainbow, 0 squaw. I found the depth as my trolling motor was died. I was fishing 50-20 all day(WAY BELOW them). I got about 40 minutes in at the right depth as the motor went form 1.2-.6mph very quickly. Too slow for my blood...
 
Hi autorick, I talked to the Dworshak State Park Ranger today about the available camping, the only camping allowed at this time would be at the Freeman Creek Campground, or the boat in campsites located around the lake, since the lake level will be quite low when you come in March, the Freeman Creek Campground would be the best bet. The freeman Creek Campground is really nice, you would like it. The best news is that the Kokanee are on the bite, and are about the same size as last year, looks like it's going to be a great season. See you on the lake, Ken
 
FirstTimer said:
Boated 4, all 14", 1 rainbow, 0 squaw. I found the depth as my trolling motor was died. I was fishing 50-20 all day(WAY BELOW them). I got about 40 minutes in at the right depth as the motor went form 1.2-.6mph very quickly. Too slow for my blood...
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Glad you found them and thanks for the info, I'm hoping winter is almost done

Do you troll with an electric motor?
 
Plan on getting out in March here too....getting the itch. Buddy got a new boat late last fall that we're dying to try out.

How are you early season folks getting fish around the dam? Kinda got things figured out later in the season last year up around Indian, Canyon and Dicks Creek areas...never did figure out the dam area.
 
jumperzee, The Park Ranger told me they were catching Kokanee from Canyon Creek to the dam, I have never fished near the dam, but would guess that the concentration of boats would tell you where the fish are schooled, maybe someone that has fished the Merrys Bay area will make a post.
 
Kenbarb, thank you for the information. My original plans were to camp at Freeman, looks like a great place on google earth, but we decided it was too far to boat to the dam everyday for fishing, assuming the fish are at the dam. My boat is thirsty so I try not to make many long trips in it. That is how I came up with Bruce's Eddy launch site for our campsite. I will probably be down there first of April checking it all out, then April 24th the whole group of us will be down for our four day trip. hopefully the weather is good and the fishing is great.
 
Autorick,
I dont fish the dam part of the lake much But that said, I dont fish Dworshak early very often. I start to get the tingle about the last week in May. I kinda have gotten stuck in a rut with Dworshak being a fill the canner type lake. I get some eats and than start fishing other lakes for bigger fish. The times I have fished that way I fished the east side of the lake. When you launch at bruces eddie, go east about 600 or 700 yards from the launch and there will be 2 ridges that come down. They are very sharp pointed. You can see them on google earth. Use your fish finder to locate the school or do S curves about 50 yards off shore and work your way out deeper from there. Stay lined up with these 2 ridges. Sometimes they hang out by the log raft just dink around there and something will happen. That raft also holds some good trout if you put a worm harness close to or under it. Other than that troll up the lake on the east side , no telling were they are in there shallow or deep but work it out. When I get about even with Big eddy I turn and head back down to the dam. Sometime the kokes, early in Dworshak will get scary close to the bank.
People pick up some nice bass early from the bank at Bruces.
 
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The park Ranger said fish were being caught from Canyon Creek to the dam, so I think it would probably be good fishing at Freeman Creek, and in front of the park. We fished that area in July last year, and it was great, most of the time we had the area all to our self, there were a lot of people launching, and heading toward Canyon Creek, and Elk Creek. The only time we used the big motor was to launch the boat, we would then start fishing a short distance from the launch. As soon as we get a good weather forecast for four or five days we will give it a go, and camp at Freeman which is a beautiful campground, may end up fishing closer to the dam, but that's fishing, no matter what it's going to be a lot of fun.
 
FirstTimer said:
Yup, Boated 2 today.... Wind was BAD for my little 14' Had pretty consistent bites. If you know where the school is^^
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if fishing out of a boat under 16' or 18' it doesn't take much wind to make LP pretty rough, nice going for being the only KFF member boating kokanee right now
 
Drove up to look yesterday. Pretty much full. Bayhorse is right about road- really bad. There was a couple of guys pulling a jet boat up there yesterday- hats off to them.
 
kenbarb said:
The park Ranger said fish were being caught from Canyon Creek to the dam, so I think it would probably be good fishing at Freeman Creek, and in front of the park. We fished that area in July last year, and it was great, most of the time we had the area all to our self, there were a lot of people launching, and heading toward Canyon Creek, and Elk Creek. The only time we used the big motor was to launch the boat, we would then start fishing a short distance from the launch. As soon as we get a good weather forecast for four or five days we will give it a go, and camp at Freeman which is a beautiful campground, may end up fishing closer to the dam, but that's fishing, no matter what it's going to be a lot of fun.
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Are they catching them now? BURRR. My husband want to get out and get started but I thought it was to early... So did you get any info on if they were hit and miss or if they were catching a lot consistantly? Wonder if they are small again this year?
 
Hey tirby, According to what the Park Ranger said they are catching them now, he said people were not getting limits, but the catching is pretty consistent. We have never fished for them this early either, but like everyone else can hardly wait to get started, may do a one day trip next week, looks like the weather might be pretty good, but will still need a heater to make it comfortable.
 
Kenbarb, let us know how you do! Fishslayer, thanks for the info... I'll be sure the hubby knows... SLOW
 

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