Eagle Lake Best Fishing Locations Depths

Val’s Eagle Lake Fishing Report
© Registered 2004-2010
FISHING SEASON CLOSES DECEMBER 31, 2010
9-2-10
HOME OF THE ORIGINAL EAGLE LAKE FISHING REPORT.
PHONE or TEXT 530-249-1430 OR MOBILE EMAIL
VALERIE AUBREY ON FACEBOOK
VISIT “EAGLE LAKE GUARDIANS” ON FACEBOOK!

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JULY 27, 2010 WATER QUALITY TEST
Water temps not applicable now.
*****NOTICE TO ALL ANGLERS*****
CDFG POSTS CATCH AND KEEP RECOMMENDATION
NOTE: STRAWBERRY CONDITION IS NO LONGER CALLED DISEASE
Please release tui chub and suckers alive as they provide the food for the trout and balance to the lake

LASSEN COUNTY SHERIFF DEPARTMENT 911 TO ALL BOATERS.
BUOY LOCATIONS AND GPS LOCATIONS, LIGHT STRUCTURE AND MAP WITH ALL INFORMATION
Be very careful around Miners Pt rock piles. Also a very dangerous location on the Plateau between the Youth Camp and Biology Station. 
Rocks are approximately 13 inches below the surface @ N 40 37.717 X W 120 44.089 (magnetic reference)
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******EAGLE LAKE GENERAL STORE IS OPEN******
 EAGLE LAKE GENERAL STORE IS HAVING A RAFFLE TO DONATE TO THE STARTING UP OF A NEW NON PROFIT ORGANIZATION TO
HELP SAVE EAGLE LAKE (forming of the nonprofit is already in motion and on a fast track) WE ALREADY HAVE SOME REALLY NEAT RAFFLE PRIZES AND YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE PRESENT TO WIN. WE HAVE NOT ADVERTISED THE FUNDRAISER LOCALLY BECAUSE OF OTHER FUNDRAISERS GOING ON. HOWEVER, OUR FUNDRAISER GOES TO SAVING THE LAKE …THE OTHER DOES NOT. NEXT SEASON WE WILL WILL DO MORE ADVERTISING…THIS IS JUST A SPUR OF THE MOMENT FUNDRAISER SO WE HAVE SOME WORKING CAPITAL SO WE CAN GET BUSY!!
“JOIN THE OTHER EAGLE LAKE GUARDIANS”
!WHO DARE TO CARE!
MEMBERSHIP ONLY $15
WE WANT TO WAIT UNTIL WE HAVE OUR NUMBER BEFORE TAKING MEMBERSHIP FEES…WELL SURELY LET YOU ALL KNOW….AND OUR LIST KEEPS GROWING AND THE DATABASE IS BEING BUILT AS WE SPEAK!!
ALL EAGLE LAKE GUARDIANS WE HAVE YOUR FIRST ASSIGNMENT AND CALL TO ARMS. WE NEED TO YOU TO WRITE TO THE LASSEN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND ASK THEM TO EXPEDITE THE GRANT PROCESS FOR THE WATER STUDY FOR THE EAGLE LAKE BASIN. THEIR ADDRESS IS 707 NEVADA ST, SUSANVILLE, CA 96130
JOIN THE OTHER ANGLERS WHO DARE TO CARE
For more information
CALL 530-249-1430 OR EMAIL eaglelakefishing@yahoo.com
OR SEE REBECCA AT THE ORIGINAL EAGLE LAKE GENERAL STORE
530-825-2191

SEND US YOUR EAGLE LAKE TROUT PICTURES!!
Quite possibly we may be looking at a lake level not seen since the 1930's before fall and already on August 22, the elevation dropped to 5096ft elevation…lower than the low water in 2009.  Rock piles are going to seem to pop up out of nowhere 1/2 mile or MORE from shore, there will be too many for me to add many GPS points but the Lassen County Sheriff Department has some buoy locations dialed in for you in the link above. These cover some of the major accident areas but there are plenty more that will take out a lower unit if you are not paying attention. On this lake, you see the water color change dramatically, so always be looking as far ahead as you can while motoring around.   The "Plateau" off the Youth Camp (straight out from the osprey nest) and Biology Station (the “hump”) is going to have some dangerous spots well away from shore as well as Miners Pt and Little Troxel not to mention the west side of the south basin and Pelican Pt which have historically caught folks by surprise.  There are now 100 buoys marking rocks and hazards but there are others that remain unmarked. Stay between the buoys marking Pelican Pt and the Youth Camp. Historically both claim their share of boats and/or lower units & props. WE DO HAVE PLENTY OF WATER THAT ISN’T QUITE AS HAZARDOUS and we have been catching quite a few solid fish down south!
 
OUR NEW SPECIAL EDITION MAP WILL BE COMING OUT SOON. 
OUR FOR SALE VERSION WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE FROM GARMIN MAP PRODUCTS FOR 2011!!
 
Links to Information regarding Eagle Lake trout in Eagle Lake from CDFG  
CDFG FREEZE BRAND IDENTIFICATION DATA
Trout planted in 2007 are probably 19 to 20 inches long in 2010 as per KAREN.
CDFG 2004-2009 TRAP DATA
Average lengths of trout coming through the trap on Pine Creek
Data collected from anglers during the season
WE HAVE REQUESTED THE 2010 TRAP DATA FOR YOU HOWEVER CDFG HAS NOT HAD TIME TO LOG THE INFORMATION IN THE COMPUTER.
 
BITE TIMES
BITE TIMES FROM MY GPS. THIS SECTION IS POSTED JUST FOR FUN.
TIMES ARE ONLY POSTED FOR OUR LEGAL FISHING HOURS. 
Thursday, September 2
Excellent: 6:16 AM to 8:16 AM and 6:36 PM to 8:33 PM
Good: 12:36 PM to 2:36 PM
Friday, September 3
Excellent: 7:24 AM to 9:24 AM and 7:44 PM to 8:32 PM
Good: 1:44 PM to 3:44 PM
Saturday, September 4
Excellent: 7:24 AM to 9:24 AM and 7:44 PM to 8:31 PM 
Good: 1:44 PM to 3:44 PM
Sunday, September 5
Excellent: 8:38 AM to 10:38 AM  
Good: 2:58 PM to 4:58 PM
Monday, September 6
Excellent: 9:55 Am to 11:55 AM
Good: 5:35 AM to 5:55 AM and 4:15 PM to 6:15 PM
 Tuesday, September 7
Excellent: 11:12 AM to 1:12 PM   
Good: 5:36 AM to 7:12 AM and 5:32 PM to 7:32 PM
Wednesday, September 8
Excellent: 12:29 PM to 2:29 PM
Good: 6:30 AM to 8:30 AM and 6:50 PM to 8:24 PM

GENERAL DISCUSSION, SOUTH BASIN: Big change in water temps! Water surface temps down to 64.3 to 65.6 on 9-2 on south side of Pelican Pt and the Youth Camp/Biology Station and a few more pods moved into the general area. The size of trout off the biology station were smaller ones 15 inches and less long…that will change in the coming week or so. But, the size of trout off the south side of Pelican Pt have been between 2 and 3.5 pounds this week. The bite was a little slower today but the trout readily took my brown wooly buggers over anything else this morning…to the point where I only ran one rod for quite some time.  There are good numbers of trout off the south side of Pelican Pt but they were a little sluggish early but finally came on to a good but light bite between 8 and 9 AM. In order to move to the south side of Pelican Pt and into the biology station/youth camp area the trout have to move over the top of Miners Pt rock pile or around it off Slough Pt.  So if you find that the trout scattered or disappeared from your scope off Black Mountain and Eagles Nest including Wildcat & Lake of the Woods, start fishing higher in the water column or move onto the ledges or closer to shore. All our fish have been coming out of 6 to 8 ft of water….10 to 12 ft later in the day. Most of the fish that had been hanging out at 25 to 30 ft deep in 45 plus feet of water have scattered….many moving north over Miners Pt rock pile but others simply move into the ledges closer to shore….at that, the west side ledges have fished very well for those venturing in close and shallow. Shrimp Island and the cove just south of the point are holding good numbers of nice trout in 6 to 14 ft of water….being caught at 6 to 8 ft deep. Slough Pt and the rock pile that is just out from the point has a few fish now mostly on top and around the edge of the rock pile and into the cove towards Shrimp but they were very spooky and the best action came from dragging a line 130 to 150 ft behind the boat.

 The cooler water temps have already caused a slight decrease in “clear” visibility to the bottom in the shallow rock piles, a reduction from 10 to 8 ft…shadows of rocks were visible at 10 ft but looking through cloudy water…8 ft had better definition of the rocks. The water temps stabilized and have only increased a few tenths of a degree in the south basin.  If we continue to cool down, the visibility will only get worse until it gets better….but for now, I think we can hold on for a while before trollers might need to start using flashy lures, attractants, flashers and dodgers which will be seen over a lonely little lure or fly…or go to dragging bait or leaving that scent trail.  As for the trout in the depths: The cooling water temps and loosening thermal-clines did get the attention of the trout and they are on the move. Although a fairly large number of trout moved onto the south side of Pelican Pt and the north side of Miners Pt, there are lazy resident trout that inhabit the depths…some of the larger fish are generally found there when all the “little guys” leave for a new adventure & a change in scenery and food. When water temps begin to cool we often find trout closer to shore laying on the bottom in 9 to 12 ft of water…even when they move out, they often stay pretty close to  the same depth and close to the top. For the last four weeks I have not fished any deeper than 14 ft and haven’t hit water any deeper than 21Ft….most all my fish are coming out of 6 to 8 ft of water right close to the bottom…I hit the deeper stuff on a turn.Shrimp Island to Wildcat Pt right off the first ledge which drops from 8 to 15 ft is producing the most action for that location now over the deeper water. Basically a lot of the trout moved in off the first ledge and have been foraging the shallows.    A few moved up off Slough Pt this week but it was like the trout just blew by that hole on their way to the humps and bumps on the south side of P Pt. So work your way north you’ll find some scattered pods and schools of baitfish…late in the morning by all means move out to 20 to 30 ft just to mix things up. During the fall change the trout get restless and spooky when it comes to boats and top water fishing. Be sure to get your lines out 130 to 150 ft behind the boat for trollers….spooky fish need that extra 50 ft before coming back in where you may have moved them off their feeding beds. Also always make a pass in both directions….often our trout get directional depending on the conditions and just because you don’t catch one trolling north to south doesn’t mean you won’t catch one trolling south to north. if that doesn’t work…head into shallower ledges. Minnow imitations have been hammered all week on the west side ledges & the humps and bumps off the south side of Pelican Pt. But today it was all on brown wooly buggers.  For bait fishing nightcrawlers use an attractant on the worm… Garlic Trout Gravy (Eagle Claw brand) has been the trout’s choice over a naked unscented nightcrawler. (once the clarity of the water goes to hell, trollers will need to go to applying attractants to their lures, flies or grubs. ….or add some beads for clacking, flashers for flashing or dodgers for dodging. Trolling nightcrawlers or still fishing crawlers becomes more successful than other methods.   The fish are either going to have to smell you or hear your terminal tackle no matter what it is. I generally go to lures or trolling flies that have a lot of white or beige on them for this transformation.
Not all the trout leave the deep water and the summer haunts. The deeper holes generally hold resident fish year round, they just move up & down the water column by water temperature and dissolved O2.…generally even in December we catch them from 6 to 24 ft deep…but other fish migrate around the lake and it is quite normal to find the trout on the move at the first drop in water temperatures.   Each day fished a little different the last few days, but if there was a routine that worked for us it was staying on the shallow rock piles & ledges early in the morning. We hooked up a fish on just about every pass but the trout were hitting us pretty light this morning and are boating ratio ended up a little higher than 50% on flies. If you are limited by a small boat & motor and have to fish further south, all you have to do is move into the first ledge off Lake of the Woods and work water 6 to 15 ft deep and your bait or lures at 6 to 8 ft deep. You might have to move around a couple times until you find the “hole” so locate the fish first.  If you are not scoping trout and you feel like they all disappeared from the deep water…just go into the ledges and see what happens….all the first drop in water temps do is drive the fish to the ledges first.   However, we have seen a large movement north of Pelican Pt this week. Since we have some warmer days coming in the week we may see a slight increase in the water temps on the north side of P Pt but I don’t think it will last very long and running the buoy line on the north side has been a “hot” spot in the last couple years….and most likely will be this year too. Since most larger boats are having to launch in Spalding now some of you have never had the pleasure of getting to know Pelican Pt or the Youth Camp/Biology Station…well, there is no better time than now….just be very careful there are several dangerous areas that do not have buoys on them…you can generally see the water color change where there is a rock pile.  
WATER TEMPS STILL DOWN!!  The water temps have only risen by the tenths of a degree but we still have a couple of days more of warmer days before a cooling trend comes by. So far we are still looking at 65F +- a few tenths…so that’s very good.  The fish know the days are getting shorter and fall is on its way but they won’t be leaving close proximity to water 20 to 30 ft deep now that water temps have been in the mid to high 60’s for the last couple of weeks.   The water temp north of Pelican in the middle basin and Bucks Bay have been holding at 60.5 to 62.6 later in the day. Fish have rounded the corner and some are currently holding out in the middle of Bucks Bay. …if water temps heat back up again we may see them move out to the deeper channel( 7 to 9 ft deep) between Rocky Pt and the Youth Camp. So, keep an eye on the water temps because between the water temps and the solstice rapidly moving towards fall the fish are going to get restless and eventually many more will vacate the depths and move in to the shallow ledges. Fall is here and the trout are on the move…the large school in the middle of Buck’s Bay only appeared to be 1.5 to 2 pounders…nothing spectacular but they are trout and they are there. Trolling will be tough as there are a lot of weeds on the surface and the depth is between 4.7 and 5.8 ft deep where the trout were. Nothing close to the shore on Rocky or Bucks Pt…only out in the middle of the Bay….could have been a timing thing as I was there looking at around 9 AM. 
 
HOTTEST LURES/FLIES/GRUBS IN THE SOUTH BASIN:  LURES & PLASTICS: Sure Catch’s Red Dog (large & medium double jointed) and medium Goldie Locks (my personal favorite for orange) & Gator., Good old gold standard Needlefish (small & medium size right now) in florescent orange/silver or pearl back, fire, perch, red-dot frog & crocodile & cop car.  Grubsin cinnamon/amber, brown, florescent orange, pumpkin seed (beige w/burnt orange flash)  & watermelon {watermelon has been the best color combination this season but the redder the red, the better over pinks}).  Uncle Larry’s fire and perch with ½ a nightcrawler (dark half seems to work the best) has also been quite affective. TIP FOR UNCLE LARRY’S…change out the hook to solve the problems traveling across other lines.   BERKLEY GULP MINNOWS IN BLACK SHAD, WATERMELON/PEARL 2 ½ INCH LONG ARE WORKING GREAT FOR THE PLASTICS.   Naked nightcrawlers …shorten it up so when the fish does strike, it will hit the hook instead of stealing your worm or tail.   For the bait, using an attractant has been the ticket for us…Garlic trout gravy (Eagle Claw garlic trout gravy has been preferred over nothing). However, I don’t generally apply it to all the bait at first…just to see how the trout are behaving that day…sometimes it can become a fish repellent… but in general it works pretty well. TROLLING FLIES:  J Fair Tui Chub, Cinnamon leech, J Fair Special, The Hot One (florescent/burnt orange) & High Mountain Lakes (olive wooly buggers)… Brown Wooly Buggers were the flavor of the day on 9-2.  Nothing wrong with Arctic Fox or other trolling flies in similar patterns either. I always have different variations (bright & flashy and dull and dismal (dull & dismal are my Plain Jane series) in the water until finding just the right one for the day…and believe it or not, one variation in color or flash will work better one day than the next so I like to keep an assortment from dull plain Jane’s to flashy & bright (the Las Vegas showgirls)…. If there is a trick to trolling flies it is to keep your hooks sharpened and check the line above the hook for abrasion after every landed trout because their teeth damage the line above the hook and hold on to your rod…when the rod jerks, jerk back…hard & start crankin’.  Be careful removing the fly with needle nose pliers as they are more often than not, tied with very small, fragile thread that breaks easily and is shredded by the teeth of the trout….I use “big fly” thread…and can catch 30 or more fish on one fly if I don’t lose it in the rocks.
 
STILL FISHING DISCUSSION:  We do have resident trout at the Springs and Eagles Nest as well as off Black Mountain as well as Wildcat Pt and Lake of the Woods…but the fish are beginning to scatter and forage along the shoreline a lot more this week. The summer is loosening its grip on the lake and the thermolclines appear to be widening bringing the trout back up higher in the water column and scattering the massive schools into smaller migrating pods. If the trout seem to suddenly disappear from your scope at 25 to 30 ft, start running a freeline….the trout do move up in the water column when things begin to change…but they can also move out completely overnight. We have regularly catching trout 7 ft deep  in 7 to 9 ft of water however we are still seeing some pods between 18 and 24 ft deep when they do head back out for more minnows. I would be freelining over fishing a set depth on a slip bobber this week. Cover the water column and have the flexibility to move in shallow (freelines not advised in water less than 12/15 ft deep. Unless you use a freeline that has “fireline” spooled up, it is not a good option in shallow water.  Fireline has floating properties and is workable to some degree in shallow water but in the depths it can out-float a crawler and prevent it from dropping to the right depth. FYI on that.
 
Generally the rising trout will take a worm or lure on the surface now that the hatches are coming on a little later in the AM. We are heading into fall at a very fast pace now.   Generally the trout rising are taking  fly emergers. First  hatch is the midges, secondly caddis then mayflies…thrown in the mix are the small schools of speckled dace that swim in small family schools near the surface….the rising trout are not as suspicious of a worm or lure near the surface in fall as they are in summer…and fall is here.  If you are fly fishing from a boat, good casts are critical because our trout get line shy in a hurry…you might catch one, but you will drive the others away and waste a lot of time without a strike…don’t wait, move ASAP after a few empty casts.  Use an indicator if you are slapping the water and let it rest for several minutes before stripping it back in….allow the trout to move back in…if you are slapping a lot of water chances are you will move the trout just out of range. Being able to throw a long line (65 to 70 ft) will help…and yes, there is a way. Ahigh profile this time of year is the biggest mistake people make, especially when the trout are active. There is a big difference between bait guides and fly fishing guides when it comes to fly fishing…often just knowing where fish are doesn’t help if you don’t know what fly they are taking by the way the trout rise to take them. It’s a learned method for consistently catching Eagle Lake trout on a fly.
 
Fall is coming and just around the corner and the hatches will begin to slow down and get later in the morning. You will still see trout on the surface  very early in the AM but they will be chasing minnows & leeches….that’s when you can successfully target the rising trout with bait, lures or nymphs.
 
SHORE FISHING, FLY FISHING AND ACCESSES FOR ALL:

SHORE FISHING DISCUSSION: Depending on the water temps staying low or lowering I plan on fishing off my float tube from the shore next week…just to see what happens. If all goes well, I still do not want to encourage anyone to come up to catch and release until CDFG pulls the Catch and Keep Recommendation or water temps drop to the low 60’s. Shore fishing will be coming back on before too long. Right now there is a window of opportunity but it has been a variable one…that will change soon…. you still need to launch a tube or kayak to reach the deeper.  The fish we are catching shallow are still quite a way from shore and the fish are still staying close to 20 to 30 ft of water. At this time, you still need to be able to access that deeper water but that will change…. Possibly in the next week or twos….hopefully by Labor Day Weekend!  Typical baits/setup used are nightcrawlers under bobbers and nightcrawler/powerbait or marshmallow (or foam) floater combination from the bottom. Fish will begin to spend a little more time foraging the shoreline once water temps stabilize at and around 65F… More action on shore when temps drop to 64F and less. SEE TIPS & TRICKS for detailed set-up suggestions.
 
Tubing and kayaking is not simply limited to fly fishing, I fish any type of method  it takes to catch fish from my tube. Shore fishing will get better but until then it will be a matter of perfect timing until a little later in fall.   Wildcat Point (drive relatively close to the water but still walking in) can also be productive and if you use a slip bobber  (water filled or heavier weighted bobbers will get further out from shore) you can cast to the drop off and exceeding 10 ft deep…bait set for 5 to 7/8 ft. unless the wind is blowing…then go down to the bottom and float your worm up a foot or so with foam, marshmallow or a floating dough bait. (Dough= powerbait type baits, nuggets, eggs etc.). You will need hip boots or waders to get your line out deep enough now…but it will be improving once water temps drop a few more degrees. The Youth Camp & biology station generally start fishing pretty good and other than a drive around the lake from Spalding, the access can get you very close to the water and your options are good with shallow rocks and deeper ledges where the trout go on a warm fall day. It won’t be long now.
 
FLY FISHING DISCUSSION: Water temps cooled off over the weekend and the trout have been in close and in 5 ft of water early in the AM. I will be taking my tube out from shore this week, just to see what happens. At this point I do not want to encourage catch and release fishing until CDFG removes the catch and keep recommendation. But most folks trolling the shallow ledges are catching limits and could easily catch and release and pick & choose, however, we don’t want that just yet. Limits to eat YES, by all means….catch and release…no please.  Water temps cooling off overnight along the shoreline and the  window of opportunity lasted several hours today. We are finding some nice fish in 5  to 11 ft of water using brown and olive wooly buggers, mini minnow imitations & scuds along the rocky points on the west side of the south basin.  If you want to take home a limit you can catch ‘em fly fishing but you will have to be prepared to do it from a boat, kayak or tube hit the best fishing ledges…walking into the Osprey Management Area is still off limits until September 15th. Until they stop all together they hatches will get later and later…. We have three hatches in the morning. Midges are very successful and they hatch before the caddis but the black caddis overlap the midges. After the caddis the mayflies hatch and once again, trout begin to surface.  Right now I will be using leech & minnow imitations….once the water temps drop below 60F I’ll be throwing on that florescent orange wooly bugger.

We support CDFG catch and keep recommendation however, If you must catch and release, GO BARBLESS AND SHAKE ‘EM OFF LONG LINE WITHOUT HANDLING & DON’T FIGHT THEM TO DEATH. We are seeing  some STRAWBERRY CONDITION AND DON’T RECOMMEND A LOT OF CATCHING AND RELEASING RIGHT NOW. CDFG HAS POSTED THE CATCH AND KEEP RECOMMENDATION.  Strawberry condition generally infects released fish first and foremost and began showing up on a few fish several weeks ago and it continues to this day. Note that strawberry condition is only a skin rash caused by stress, it does not affect the meat below the skin. If I were to continue to catch and release  I would rather be able to give them some slack so they can spit the hook before exhausting themselves or before I have to handle them. Barbless is the only way I would catch and release until fall.  However, I support the recommendation for catch & keep. Wait until fall when CDFG normally pulls the voluntary recommendation.

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NORTH AND MIDDLE BASINS: The middle basin off Spalding holding between 61 and 62 degrees on 9-2. …FISH HAVE ROUNDED THE CORNER ON THE NORTH SIDE OF PELICAN PT AND ARE CURRENTLY IN BUCKS BAY TOO. These fish are very spooky and you need to be at least 130 to 150 ft behind the boat if you are trolling. The trout appeared to be on the smaller side between 1.5 and 2 pounds which is normal for the first fish to round the point and head north from Pelican Pt. It is very weedy for trollers at this time, but drifting a nightcrawler under a bobber would work fine….again, get it away from the boat. Nothing was close to shore, everything (trout) I saw was out in the middle and in water no shallower than 4.5 ft deep at 9 AM. …the first run to the north are generally smaller fish …which is what I saw….but once we get another cooling trend passing through I believe the numbers and sizes will increase…… and t 61 to 62 degree water temp that runs from Spalding to about ½ to ¾ of a mile from the tip of P Pt, I doubt we will see  temps go back up enough to drive the northern fish south but you never know….I do believe that we will see more trout round the corner of Bucks Pt and head to the narrows in the next week or so. So, the water temps are down to the low 60’s in early AM and trolling the northern buoy line off the north side of Pelican Pt should be holding more fish. The trout might not go much further north from their current location or into the remaining tules along the airstrip or further north towards Stones for a few weeks or so however, they have been known to do just that in spite of water quality….how long they stay is a different story altogether.  Our trout have been notoriously and predictably unpredictable and do the last thing anyone thinks they will do. (that’s why I tootled into Bucks Bay on a trout scout & being mid morning I started out in the middle and worked my way towards shore over the scattered meager moss beds visually looking for the trout)
HOTTEST LURES/FLIES/GRUBS:Brown & olive wooly buggers, florescent orange & tui chub minnow imitation trolling flies. Needlefish: Florescent orange/silver or pearl back , fire, cop car and other similar spoons as minnow imitations running 6 to 8 ft deep in 7 to 14 ft of water early in the morning.  Sure Catch  Red Dog (large),Goldie Locks & other colors that have white or pearl and resemble minnow or baitfish.  Rainbow runners have also held their own in similar colors as needlefish….tip for Rainbow Runners…change the hook before using…you’ll lose fish and the hooks are semi-brittle & break when touching a rock. Grubs in WATERMELON cinnamon, brown,pumpkin-seed& florescent orange behind action discs. Minnow imitations IE Berkley Gulp 2 ½ & 3 inch minnows in Black Shad & watermelon/pearl.   Dark brown, cinnamon & tui-chub minnow trolling flies... wooly buggers continue to get more attention for me than the leech patterns the last few weeks..especially on the tough days.  Watermelon has been a good color combination the whole season.   Uncle Larry’s fire and black perch with ½ a nightcrawler (dark half seems to work the best) has also been quite affective…TIP: change the hook on uncle Larry’s too.  On 8-30-10 the tui chub minnow imitation trolling flies had all the attention under partly to mostly cloudy skies and slightly colored water off the south side of Pelican Pt. On 9-2 all the action was on brown wooly buggers in 5 to 7 ft of water.

SHORE FISHING, FLY FISHING AND ACCESSES FOR ALL:

SHORE FISHING DISCUSSION: Depending on the water temps staying low or lowering I plan on fishing off my float tube from the shore next week!! …just to see what happens. If all goes well, I still do not want to encourage anyone to come up to catch and release until CDFG pulls the Catch and Keep Recommendation or water temps drop to the low 60’s. Shore fishing will be coming back on before too long and once we get this next “warming” trend over with, the shore fishing will have a longer window of opportunity.  Right now there is a window of opportunity but it has been a variable and seemingly short one…that will change soon…. you still need to launch a tube or kayak to reach the deeper water if you don’t get your limit early.  The fish we are catching shallow are still quite a way from shore and the fish are still staying close to 20 to 30 ft of water. At this time, you still need to be able to access that deeper water but that will change…. Possibly in the next week or twos….hopefully by Labor Day Weekend but I fear the water temps might be jerked around a little late this week…but I would love for the lake to prove me wrong!  Typical baits/setup used are nightcrawlers under bobbers and nightcrawler/powerbait or marshmallow (or foam) floater combination from the bottom. Fish will begin to spend a little more time foraging the shoreline very soon. SEE TIPS & TRICKS for detailed set-up suggestions.
 
Tubing and kayaking is not simply limited to fly fishing, I fish any type of method  it takes to catch fish from my tube. Shore fishing will get better but until then it will be a matter of perfect timing until a little later in fall.   Wildcat Point (drive relatively close to the water but still walking in) can also be productive and if you use a slip bobber  (water filled or heavier weighted bobbers will get further out from shore) you can cast to the drop off and exceeding 10 ft deep…bait set for 5 to 7/8 ft. unless the wind is blowing…then go down to the bottom and float your worm up a foot or so with foam, marshmallow or a floating dough bait. (Dough= powerbait type baits, nuggets, eggs etc.). You will need hip boots or waders to get your line out deep enough now…but it will be improving once water temps drop a few more degrees. The Youth Camp & biology station generally start fishing pretty good and other than a drive around the lake from Spalding, the access can get you very close to the water and your options are good with shallow rocks and deeper ledges where the trout go on a warm fall day. It won’t be long now.
 
FLY FISHING DISCUSSION: Water temps are cool enough for several hours in the mornings for nymphing scuds and wooly buggers…. HOWEVER….I do not want to encourage catch and release fishing until CDFG removes the catch and keep recommendation. But most folks trolling the shallow ledges are catching limits and could easily catch and release and pick & choose, however, we don’t want that just yet. Limits to eat YES, by all means….catch and release…no please.  Water temps cooling off overnight along the shoreline and the  window of opportunity lasted several hours today. We are finding some nice fish in 7 to 11 ft of water using olive wooly buggers, mini minnow imitations & scuds along the rocky points on the west side of the south basin.  If you want to take home a limit you can always catch ‘em on top on the hatch, but you will have to be prepared to do it from a boat, kayak or tube to access the deeper water before or after the fish head out. We have three hatches in the morning. Midges are very successful and they hatch before the caddis but the black caddis overlap the midges. After the caddis the mayflies hatch and once again, trout begin to surface.  

We support CDFG catch and keep recommendation however, If you must catch and release, GO BARBLESS AND SHAKE ‘EM OFF LONG LINE WITHOUT HANDLING & DON’T FIGHT THEM TO DEATH. We are seeing  some STRAWBERRY CONDITION AND DON’T RECOMMEND A LOT OF CATCHING AND RELEASING RIGHT NOW. CDFG HAS POSTED THE CATCH AND KEEP RECOMMENDATION.  Strawberry condition generally infects released fish first and foremost and began showing up on a few fish several weeks ago and it continues to this day. Note that strawberry condition is only a skin rash caused by stress, it does not affect the meat below the skin. If I were to continue to catch and release  I would rather be able to give them some slack so they can spit the hook before exhausting themselves or before I have to handle them. Barbless is the only way I would catch and release until fall.  However, I support the recommendation for catch & keep. Wait until fall when CDFG normally pulls the voluntary recommendation. We are hoping for current water tests but doubtful if they have been done this week. We will make ANOTHER request for information but we don’t generally get it from our local biologist, we end up getting it from his boss….which I don’t think is very happy about it.
           
ACCESSES FOR KAYAKS AND FLOAT TUBES:
I have scanned a map section and lined out the roads into Wildcat. If you have questions let me know, I can email it to you.
 
Go to teraserver and download some printable topo maps of the area (for free) and they are quite accurate for the roads.  Google Earth is a good resource to see what you are getting into.  Note that very few signs with usfs road numbers are visible and it is easy to get lost if you are expecting to find them. REMEMBER THAT THESE ROADS ARE NOT FOR PASSENGER CARS, I RECOMMEND A VEHICLE WITH HIGH CLEARANCE AND 4x4 IS A PLUS IF IT RAINS OR SNOWS…HOWEVER, I HAVE MADE IT IN IN TWO WHEEL DRIVE ALL SEASON and I expect to continue to be able to do so until the snow flies.  The accesses for kayaks and float tubers for the most part, these are relatively limited, unnamed and unmarked and it will be a walk down to the lake (to access the best fishing) no matter where you go except Eagles Nest, the Youth Camp, Christie Beach & the Circus Grounds.  For those of you rolling your kayaks down remember it is uphill back to your vehicle when you are all tuckered out.  THIS AREA IS ALSO EASY ACCESS TO GOOD FISHING IN THE DEEP WATER AS IT IS NOT TOO FAR AWAY FROM THE SHORE. AS TIME GOES ON AND LAUNCHING WORSENS AT THE SOUTH END….THIS MIGHT BE THE ONLY PLACE FOR SOME FOLKS TO FISH COME FALL….AND IT HAS BEEN FISHING GOOD ALL SEASON …and as the shallow waters cool off the trout will move right back in close…generally starting at around 68F but for certain at 64F and less. 
 
There will be no foot travel access to the Osprey Management Area (LAKE OF THE WOODS) until after September 15 so it will depend how fast or how far you can go from the access point (generally during the summer we find trout all along the ledges and tubers will be able to get to deeper water in late summer...but it's going to take some work). To be honest, there are always fish between Christie Day Use and Wildcat Pt…both with shorter walks to the lake.  However, kayaks can easily access the Osprey Management area from launching at Wildcat Pt. This area can also be accessed from the Spalding transfer station at the end of Mahogany Way, but you need to stay to the left at the Y. That is the road that boarders the Osprey Management area...be prepared to breath in alkali dust and anything in the back of your truck will be covered with it… when it rains, you need to stay on the high road for several hundred yards as water collects in the ditch of the road until the terrain flattens out. Staying to the right at the Y will take you out in the middle of the Brockman Lava Beds and the power lines…basically out in the middle of now where…but plenty of predators out there at Oh-dark-thirty AM. I really want to repeat that there is No entry into the Osprey Management Area until Sept 15th, this includes walking. 
 
Roads leading to Wildcat Pt begin near and across from the old Glen Eagle Airstrip west of Christie Campground. The first road is right before the old Bob Cervanek A-frame which accesses Little Merrill Creek area and passes by the old Eagle Lake Resort (CURRENTLY PRIVATE PROPERTY PLEASE DON’T POKE AROUND, IT IS NOT ABANDONED) if you stay to the right, stay left and you meet the road that accesses the north side of Wildcat Pt….you should not drive to the lake shore but it is a short walk. If you cannot locate or print out a map let me know, I have a scanned image with the roads and locations highlighted. Most of the dirt roads do not have any numbers on them, but LMUD (utility) numbers and quite a few roads allow you to drive in circles while others simply dead end out in the middle of no man’s land to a dead end (old fire fighting roads).   North of Wildcat Pt is the Osprey Management Area otherwise known as Lake of the Woods...some of the best fishing in summer happens just out from Lake of the Woods where the ledge drops from 24 to 50+ ft deep. So the west side of the south basin is easily accessible by boat or kayak but a long way for a tuber but there is plenty of good fishing water for a tuber at Wildcat Pt. These roads are not for passenger cars…light trucks okay...two wheel drive is also okay…just follow the paths around the standing water that remains in the winter ruts…it is soft and nasty right now. Fall and winter driving conditions definitely differ from those we currently have.
 
SHORE ACCESS FOR THE EAST SIDE OF THE SOUTH BASIN: Eagles Nest and the Youth Camp are relatively easy accesses and you can drive close to the water. If I were driving in, I would most likely to the Youth Camp/Biology Station or Wildcat Pt at this time as I believe there are higher concentrations of fish. There is a parking lot just past Camp Ronald McDonald with a nice trail down to the gravel bar. This area can access “the springs” and water 30 to 55 ft deep by tube, personal pontoon or kayak. Eagle's Nest and the Youth Camp are the access points for the east side and you can drive close to the lake shore there...making launching small crafts like tubes and kayaks much easier...and we are already seeing a nice school of fish off Eagles Nest.  For those of you who are new to driving into the Youth Camp & Eagles Nest, it can be deceiving until you know where you are going.   Also, there is a parking lot just past Camp Ronald McDonald and a trail leading down to the gravel bar. This is a relatively easy walk down with a tube and can access 30 to 50 ft of water easily.
There are two accesses to the tules off the airstrip in Spalding, one north of the airstrip on the rocky point (still have to walk, driving in and along the lake shore is discouraged), and one on the south end at the end of The Strand. There isn’t a lot of water in this area anymore and water temps are high. For now, best head south for better action and good quality meat…generally once the water temp drops to and below 64F we can see some trout return…but there is a lot of tule habitat missing this year.
 
Fall is here and despite a warm day here and there we can expect to begin to cool down. 
 
ALL EAGLE LAKE, ALL THE TIME
 © Copyright C 2004-2010 by the author, Valerie Aubrey. The website’s www.eaglelakefishing.net and www.eaglelakefishing.info2010-09-02

 

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