Lucerne 6/26 - 28; tough catching

[smokepoles]

It was nice fishing and tough catching. We fished hard all three mornings and ended up with maybe a couple dozen kokes, couple bows, and a pup laker. Not at all like last year when we had an epic catch (at least for us). Everything we heard on the radio was 'terrible' to 'worst ever' as to catching. We marked few fish, and stuck around anywhere we found a few. Caught some of the smallest ones I've ever got at the gorge, but also four 3.5 - 4 pounders right in with them.

I know the koke numbers were unexpectedly up last year, but I've not seen the numbers for this year. Low numbers, weather, rising water? Not sure what the story is?

Wonder how the DU derby turned out? Their live well was empty every time we docked.

Tight lines to all!

 

[TRUBBS]

we had the same luck as you, hit it early and launched at 430am tried all the way up into WY at lowes canyon (same with probably 30 other boats) saturday morning, only got 1 (nice 4lb koke) and lost one other, hit a few spots on the way back (marsh and anvil) with nothing else but a tiny 6" laker pup

This morning we headed south and fished the redcliffs, caught a lot of smaller planter bows early in the morning then got slow. managed a few here and there i the middle towards the boyus at kingfisher, 2 more decent kokes (mid 2.5 and a 3lb) and got a decent 24" mack pup.

was a tough derby weekend for sure

 

[liketrolling]

I was at FG Wed to Friday
Catching was bad, but if you like catching the Dink Kokes it was OK
got five 8 lb lakers by the red cliffs lost two bigger ones, one at the boat.
I run two lures on two downriggers on the bottom I have never seen this before, got a 18" laker with both lures in the belly of the laker.
I turn a lot

 

[TRUBBS]

I was at FG Wed to Friday
Catching was bad, but if you like catching the Dink Kokes it was OK
got five 8 lb lakers by the red cliffs lost two bigger ones, one at the boat.
I run two lures on two downriggers on the bottom I have never seen this before, got a 18" laker with both lures in the belly of the laker.
I turn a lot

If you don't mind sharing, were you fishing more along the cliffs or a crossed the bay?
We tried trolling all over the bay after lakers & only pulled 1 off the far side just north of the inlet to kingfisher.
One day I'll get into a good one as long as I keep trying

You fish the gorge often, how long do you think it'll be tell it starts picking back up? After the water level starts dropping again?

 

[liketrolling]

If you don't mind sharing, were you fishing more along the cliffs or a crossed the bay?
We tried trolling all over the bay after lakers & only pulled 1 off the far side just north of the inlet to kingfisher.
One day I'll get into a good one as long as I keep trying

You fish the gorge often, how long do you think it'll be tell it starts picking back up? After the water level starts dropping again?

one place soon as you come out of the short cut turn right find 120' are less water, sometimes, I will go all the way down (south) that wall.
we did best about where the kingfisher starts on the west side, it is hard to fish a lot of under water hills. A guy said he did OK wed. for Kokes between their and sheep creek.
In aug and sept you can get the pups at 80' and 90'
I don't think I will go back till Aug. maybe the koke fishing will be better.
we tried swim beach Friday for lakers did not get any,only saw one guy pull out a net out, in the 3 hr. we were there. About 10 boats their. some trolling some jigging.

 

[TRUBBS]

one place soon as you come out of the short cut turn right find 120' are less water, sometimes, I will go all the way down (south) that wall.
we did best about where the kingfisher starts on the west side, it is hard to fish a lot of under water hills. A guy said he did OK wed. for Kokes between their and sheep creek.
In aug and sept you can get the pups at 80' and 90'
I don't think I will go back till Aug. maybe the koke fishing will be better.
we tried swim beach Friday for lakers did not get any,only saw one guy pull out a net out, in the 3 hr. we were there. About 10 boats their. some trolling some jigging.

Thanks!
Yeah I was having a hard time constantly adjusting the ball up & down trying to keep up with the ever changing bottom, some spots change A LOT & fast lol
Was waiting to get the ball snagged up on the bottom & loose it.

We tried swim Friday evening when we got there, marked lots of lakers on to bottom, but couldn't get any hits running my heavy metal pop gear & big squid