2020 Dworshak Reservoir Kokanee Fishing Report
- Thread starter sawtooth
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Notably, IDFG has not closed fishing or hunting seasons. I would think they'd be the final word; certainly on waters that are truly public (which I wouldn't consider Dworshak to be). In WA, fishing is closed statewide, which is where I'm guessing people have been approached by LEO's.
Freeman Crk is a state park leased from the corps. IDPR has posted signs stating camping and bathrooms are closed, but that there is still the portable restroom available. I don't know about the ramps that are managed solely by the corps, I haven't been to them. Though, I would think that at the worst you might get some crap for fishing as a group.
I'll be fishing myself, by myself, in any case.
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ricks
Well-known member
Make sure you keep safe social distance from yerself.
I'll make sure my hands don't infect themselves.
ricks
Well-known member
USACE press release
Wife found this. She wants to go fishing!
20-016 Dworshak Dam postpones opening campgrounds
Published March 24, 2020
AHSAHKA, Idaho – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Dworshak Dam Ranger staff announces that Dent Acres campground, as well as Canyon Creek and Dam View campgrounds will not open for the season in April as planned. Due to minimum staffing and for visitor safety during this COVID-19 outbreak, Dworshak staff has been directed to postpone opening the campgrounds until a later date. At this time, we cannot give a specific date when the campgrounds will open.
Day use areas at boat ramps and trails will remain open, until further notice. Although these recreation opportunities allow for getting outside and enjoying the spring weather while “social distancing,” please keep in mind that other people are utilizing the trails also and give each other a wide berth.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health the virus can live for up to 3 days on a plastic surface. We are advising parents to keep their children off playgrounds to prevent person to person transmission of COVID-19.
For more information or questions, please call the Dworshak Dam Visitor Center at (208) 476-1255, although the Visitor Center is closed, we are happy to answer any questions by telephone. For updated water level and boat ramp information, call (800) 321-3198; and for regional reservoir, water level, and flow information, visit the Walla Walla District’s Web site at www.nww.usace.army.mil.
Contact
CENWW-PA
509-527-7020
[email protected]
Wife found this. She wants to go fishing!
20-016 Dworshak Dam postpones opening campgrounds
Published March 24, 2020
AHSAHKA, Idaho – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Dworshak Dam Ranger staff announces that Dent Acres campground, as well as Canyon Creek and Dam View campgrounds will not open for the season in April as planned. Due to minimum staffing and for visitor safety during this COVID-19 outbreak, Dworshak staff has been directed to postpone opening the campgrounds until a later date. At this time, we cannot give a specific date when the campgrounds will open.
Day use areas at boat ramps and trails will remain open, until further notice. Although these recreation opportunities allow for getting outside and enjoying the spring weather while “social distancing,” please keep in mind that other people are utilizing the trails also and give each other a wide berth.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health the virus can live for up to 3 days on a plastic surface. We are advising parents to keep their children off playgrounds to prevent person to person transmission of COVID-19.
For more information or questions, please call the Dworshak Dam Visitor Center at (208) 476-1255, although the Visitor Center is closed, we are happy to answer any questions by telephone. For updated water level and boat ramp information, call (800) 321-3198; and for regional reservoir, water level, and flow information, visit the Walla Walla District’s Web site at www.nww.usace.army.mil.
Contact
CENWW-PA
509-527-7020
[email protected]
I’m a huge fan of my bow mount electric over my gas kicker when fishing Kokanee. Dworshak Kokanee tend to run so shallow I believe it makes a difference. Last year I stopped taking the downriggers because we were consistently catching fish at 10-15’. I even caught a few flat lining a ford fender.
My personal experience is they are all the same size on that lake, regardless of where I fish. I’ve fished Mary’s bay to the end of the elk river arm In a day and seen the same size fish the entire day. Last year I caught my biggest, it was 14 or 16” on a tape. No one omg my group had ever seen one that size come out of there. Caught numerous 10” fish in the same school.
Does anyone have any input on if a guy could do ok in the Elk Crk/Cole Crk/Dent Acres area? I'm trying to nail down an area where I could be both close to decent fishing and dispersed camping on State or Potlatch. I'm going to check it out Friday, but if it's not worth my time it would be nice to know. With the kayak, once I pick a place for a day, I'm committed.
I’ve caught a lot of Kokanee straight out in front of the dent acres launch and all the way down that shore to the elk river arm in the summer.
ricks
Well-known member
Only problem is the campgrounds are closed.
That's what I'm trying to work around. I'm pretty sure I can find a spot to park my trailer on State or Potlatch ground in the Dent Acres area. Near Canyon Crk it's going to be more difficult to find a dispersed campsite.
ricks
Well-known member
That sucked.
Not a good day for catching fish. Started at Indian Crk, ended at Elk, caught one fish. A good one, but just the one.
Got a swing by by the sheriff boat, spent some time yakking with him. He said everyone was not catching. That's fishing. Beautiful perfect 70ƒ day. Water temps got to 50ƒ in afternoon.
Not a good day for catching fish. Started at Indian Crk, ended at Elk, caught one fish. A good one, but just the one.
Got a swing by by the sheriff boat, spent some time yakking with him. He said everyone was not catching. That's fishing. Beautiful perfect 70ƒ day. Water temps got to 50ƒ in afternoon.
Everything around dent is private property. closest potlatch or state ground is a few miles away. Thing is you have to go thru private to get there
They started letting water out. When they do this the kokanee go off the bite. When the lake goes down and creates small amount of current, kokanee start moving upstream. They have whats called positive reotaxis. All salmon and steelhead have it. When they encounter flow in their face the travel into it. Makes them hard to catch when they are on the move
Yep, it's Corps and private surrounding Dent. It's only a 5 mile drive to State land though. Most of the through roads are public ROW. We found a decent spot on a landing on IDL to park the trailer. No people and lots of deer, elk, and turkey to watch.
The fishing around Dent was pretty decent for me. Lots of fish, and I'd say they averaged a little bigger sized than in Canyon Crk. I fished Wednesday and Thursday and caught and saw plenty. Tried again today, and felt like I was starting to figure them out, but then I got caught out in the wind and had to quit.
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ricks
Well-known member
With water going out, only clue I have is last year the fish were on the ridges in fairly shallow water during similar releases. I didn't clue in to the water being let out last week and almost got skunked. If they are still releasing water I'd try in on shallower areas and not near the damn.
Rick
Rick
