A not-so-simple simple question

[Downrigger]

What is a trophy kokanee for you at the Gorge? What about Lake Trout? Other fish?

I've read some people say that it is a top 1% fish or a top .1% fish. I'm more of the school that a trophy is in the eye of the beholder.

I think a true trophy kokanee would probably be pushing 5 pounds.

I would probably pee my pants if I tagged a lake trout over the 28 inch 1 fish limit. I can't say what a true trophy would be. I think I would know it if I saw it.

Being frequent Gorge fishermen, what do you say? What kind of fish would end up as a picture in your wallet?

 

[Propnut69]

Good questions. I agree that a trophy is in the eye of the beholder. Seeing my granddaughter catch her first koke ,and the smile on her face.That was a trophy fish for her . Didn't matter how long or how big it was. For lots of fisherman it's about numbers.How long? how big ? and how many? And i play that numbers game as much as anyone. I target that 1% of bigger fish,but not everyone i catch is a trophy. Any fish that is caught and brings a smile to our face ,could be considered a trophy fish.

 

[Bduck]

There is an adrenaline rush for me everytime I see that rod snap out of the release clip of the downrigger. If I have intentions of targeting one type of fish and something else comes up, I know that this is going to be a fix for my rush. Not dead at all. I agree with Propnut about seeing kids catch their trophy. Their little imaginations to tell their buddies how big their fish is that they caught are far bigger than the lies we tell each other as adults. Teach your kids well. Their growing up to be fishing liars. I can have fun listening to how they present their stories around the ol' campfire. Kids Trophies. 101goodpost101

 

[Vance Staplin]

What is a trophy kokanee for you at the Gorge? What about Lake Trout? Other fish?

I've read some people say that it is a top 1% fish or a top .1% fish. I'm more of the school that a trophy is in the eye of the beholder.

I think a true trophy kokanee would probably be pushing 5 pounds.

I would probably pee my pants if I tagged a lake trout over the 28 inch 1 fish limit. I can't say what a true trophy would be. I think I would know it if I saw it.

Being frequent Gorge fishermen, what do you say? What kind of fish would end up as a picture in your wallet?

I think the most important segment of your your question is "The Gorge".

Coming from California where a 3 pound Kokanee is incredibly rare is pretty much taken for granted at the Gorge. You have such a terrific fishery it is really just another 3 pound kokanee there and in perspective no big deal. Wallowa Lake in Oregon's 9.67 lb record Kokanee beats the snot out of our 6.26.lb record Kokanee from the Gorge, but from what I have heard the average size and quantity of Kokanee caught at the Gorge on any given day is better than at Wallowa.

The same goes for Lake Trout and Rainbow's. When I landed the 35.9 lb Laker during the Villa Derby a few weeks ago my friends in California thought it was huge. But as you guys back there know a Laker that size is a weekly event and really no big surprise. My fish taking second place in the derby proves the point.

The Rainbows we caught as a by-catch while targeting Kokanee during the derby could be on anyone's wall out here as a beautiful trophy. I have never seen Rainbow's that beautiful!

What I'm getting at is you guys have the best inland fishery in the USA with possibly the exception to some of the great lakes and that is only because they have King Salmon and Steelhead within their fisheries.

I agree with you guys that seeing the kids catch the fish is a trophy. But with the average size of the fish being so large at the Gorge...There is a lot of "Kids" of all ages catching their personal trophy's.

Vance Staplin

 

[binthere50]

Perfect specimans

A trophy fish, in my eyes anyway, is one that nature has created with no flaws.
A fresh wild steelhead just out of the salt, perfect color, blinding bright silver, fins intact, almost translucent in appearance, strong and wild....that's perfection, a trophy.. At the Gorge last August, I distinctly remember one Kokanee hen that we caught one afternoon.....It took all of 10 minutes to get her close to the boat, WILD and strong fish, I remember seeing her bright green/blue back and chrome silver sides with all scales intact, not a mark on her. While most of the other Kok's we had caught had already started to blush, she was not even close....even though she probably only weighed about 4 pounds, she was a trophy....Natures perfection....given her extremely bright color, strength, and vigor, I suspected
she would not spawn and die that year, so without lifting her from the water, I gently pulled the hook out, revived her, even though she was full of piss and vinegar, and watched her shoot back at rocket speed down to the 50ft depth she had come from.....that is the only fish out of probably 100 caught
that trip that I still see in my mind....absolute perfection.......That's a trophy!!

 

[mrjerkface]

At the Gorge, a 5lb+ pre spawn Kokanee and a 40lb+ lake trout is what it takes to get in the "trophy" class IMO...

 

[Downrigger]

I definitely agree with Vance that the Gorge is one of the top fisheries in the U.S. And, I think it is relatively unknown to a large segment of the country.

Also, as I previously mentioned, trophies are in the eye of the beholder. Watching kids catch fish or perfect beautiful fish come to the boat is definitely something to remember.

However, I am wondering what a top 1% or a top .1% fish is at the Gorge given the population. I know a 3 pound Kokanee at many lakes would be an incredible fish. But, also as Vance mentioned, that's a "good" fish at the Gorge.

Given the Gorge's population of fish, based on your experience, how big are the top 1% of fish (kokanees, macs, rainbows, browns, etc) in the reservoir?

 

[jtravis2]

Well said Vance. My Son & Grandson are headed for the Gorge July 8, any suggestions.

Thanks
Jim (We talked about your white dodger at the New Melones KP Derby)