east lake reports

[rainORsnow1]

Heading to east lake for my birthday weekend. Any reports as of late? Also are the browns showing up in the shallows yet? Any reports are greatly appreciated!

 

[Kokaneegal]

I'm sure by now most all kokanee of any size have hooked and turned color. We just returned 8/28 and they were already red.

 

[rainORsnow1]

Any recommendations on a lake with descent bright fish? Tired of the little guys at green peter

 

[skyhammer]

Just got back from fishing East Lake for the last 2 weeks. Many chrome Koks still to be had. About 25% of the fish were starting to turn red or were green heads, the rest were bright chrome. The Chrome fish had empty stomachs, so they are mature fish.
Caught a 8.25lb Brown lurking under the Koks. Also landed a 4lb Rainbow and 2-16-20" Atlantics, along with anoth 10 or so 16-24" Browns.
Gary Gorden (FWG) tried out some of his new gear and I sent him home with 40 or so vacum packed frozen Koks, Rainbows, Browns and Atlantics. Kept about 150 fish, gave them all away as I don't care to eat fish.
Will post a report when I get rested and the boat and camper cleaned up.

 

[rainORsnow1]

I just found an article that says there's a five kokanee and trout included bag limit. Is this correct? I'm seeing a lot of people saying they're pulling a lot more then that....

 

[chukardave1]

Lot of catch and release in this lake. Any brown over 16" (I believe that is the mark) must be released. People may be catching more but they are not keeping that many. Also high mercury content in the fish in this lake. makes people think twice about keeping the fish.

 

[Kokaneegal]

I agree rainOrsnow, people are taking too many fish out of this lake. Also keeping small ones (next years fish). No wonder some years this lake is hard to fish and not reaping any good size fish!!

 

[chukardave1]

keeping more kokes from this lake may be why they were bigger this year than the past several. I think they put too many in to make them easier to catch and they end up stunting and not being able to get bigger. I don't target trout or the atlantics here so I can't speak about them. Even smaller over at Paulina, I suggest people keep as many as they can

 

[SilverBullets]

keeping more kokes from this lake may be why they were bigger this year than the past several. I think they put too many in to make them easier to catch and they end up stunting and not being able to get bigger. I don't target trout or the atlantics here so I can't speak about them. Even smaller over at Paulina, I suggest people keep as many as they can

I totally agree...as long as they're within the daily/possession limits. Hopefully someday they'll raise the numbers up there.

 

[chukardave1]

I agree SB. A couple seasons of upped limits would do these lakes good. LBC is a great example. You are lucky to find a 12" koke and it will be skinny if you do. I was impressed by the size of the kokes at East this year. Wondering if the bigger browns are helping with some of the smaller kokes too. I fished Wickiup yesterday, never have fished it this late in the season. Found nice bright fish up to 16" and FAT which should translate to another year of good sized fish next year at Wickiup. Water level is still plenty high and I think that is a big reason we have been seeing fish to 4lbs the last couple of years. That lake is not filled with tons of small fish, rarely see big concentrations on the FF. But the fewer fish can grow with all the food and less competition.

 

[rainORsnow1]

Gotta agree with the other guys. LBC is a sad sad thing. I think that a five fish limit anywhere for kokaneeis rediculous. Didn't matter to much at east lake past three days. Fishing was slow. The big 15-16" rainbows was a nice surprise. Managed a limit of kokanee three Atlantic and two fat 2lb rainbows. Love the lake. Will definetly will be back next year. The turned fish were still a blast to catch.