Nantahala 7/25-8/1

[Dr. Oc]

My brother with his 1st Koke, a very nice 19" (our largest)
Daughter with 21 1/2 " rainbow
Nice walleye and some large Y. perch

My family and my brother's family just spent the week at L. Nantahala. Had a great time as usual. Fishing was challenging, as it always is, in the heat of the late summer. Mixed it up and caught a little of everything including enough Kokanee to feed everyone 2 meals, plus walleye, rainbow, y. perch, catfish, 2 sp. of bream and 3 sp. of bass (smallmouth, largemouth and rock). Took a depth recording temp. gauge and used it 2 different days. Here are the results: 79-80* from surface to 15ft., 76.5* at 20ft., 73.5* at 25, 71* at 30, 68.5* at 35, 67* at 40, 65* at 45, 64* at 50, 62* at 55, 61* at 60, 60* at 65, 58* at 70, 57* at 75, 56* at 80 55* at 85 and 54* at 90ft. Marked most kokes at 60-70 ft. range which is at the high end of their preferred temp. range. Fished the water column from 70 ft. to 35 ft. deep. Caught our kokes at 55-60 ft., (biggest a 2 1/2 lb 19 incher and the smallest a mere 10" that never popped the downrigger release) and the rainbow at 45 ft. Caught fish on green/red spoon, green mini-hooch and white with purple wiggle hooch. Pink and chart. never got a hit. All were caught between Rocky Branch BR and dam. Marked very few fish in main body of the lake or in Choga arm. Interestingly, we caught 2 mid-afternoon one day because the solunar table predicted it. We usually just troll in the AM and do the family stuff the rest of the day. Might start paying more attention to the tables! Walleye, smallmouths and perch were caught mostly 25- 30 ft. down, and occas. as deep as 35 and always near deep grass beds. Fished the Little Tenn. R. one day but recent rain in Franklin & Highlands had the river very muddy. Only caught 9 smallies total ( usually would expect that per person or more) but nice day on the river. Burned a lot of gas tubing & skiing between fishing outings. Never made it to L. Apalachia. Maybe next time.

 

[rgarbar]

Doc

Nice catch! Thanks for the info. especially the water temps. I will give Nantahala one last time this week. If I eat another salmon, I am going to start growing gill rakers. Going to pull my boat out Nantahala and do some catch and release trout fishing at peaceful Calderwood and Cheoah reservoirs.