Saturday, May 14, 2005

Traveled to Green Peter Reservoir arriving at 6:45 am. Third boat in the parking lot at Thistle Creek ramp. Weather is low overcast (rained overnight) and a few showers occur while we troll. Water temperature is 58 degrees. Water level at 1005 and very clear. Left Thistle Creek arm and went towards the dam, start trolling along the north shore, not much on the fish finder and a couple bites. Move out to the island and troll around south side with about the same results. Next move up Quartzville Creek to the 1020 Rock and catch a few. Most of the fish shown on the fish finder are off to the side making me think the fish are seeing the boat shadow and moving away. Quit at around 11:00 am. Results for the day: 4 Kokanee in the 12-13" size (substantially bigger than last year), 3 Rainbow planters, somewhat smaller, and 1 chinook about 12" (the Chinook was mentioned in the Fish and Wildlife fishing outlook as a possibility and said the rule was to add to trout catch). Wildlife highlight for the day was watching a Osprey repeatedly do shallow dives in water, obviously taking a bath. debris scattered throughout the lake so caution required. Boat ran well but the squeak from the water pump returned.

Traveled to Green Peter Reservoir arriving at 6:20 am. Second boat in the parking lot at Thistle Creek ramp. Weather is high overcast. Water temperature is 58 degrees. Water level nearly at 1009 and very clear, very clean. Left Thistle Creek arm and went straight across to the south shore and start trolling to the east, not much on the fish finder, no bites. Troll to the south and east of the island making big loops. Richard catches several Rainbow planters very close to the island, we each hook a couple Kokanee to the east of the island. Next move to mouth of Quartzville Creek along the north shore cliffs then on up to the 1020 Rock with no results. We then go all the way to the bridge (Rocky Top). There is a gravel boat ramp at the first bend below the bridge and one small boat is trolling the area, we troll also and get a lot of bites. Quit at around noon. Results for the day: 10 Kokanee in the 11-13" size, 4 Rainbow planters, somewhat smaller. We each used light lake trolls, I use the downrigger at 30-40 feet and a custom wedding ring lure. Richard used wedding rings and we tied a 2^nd hook on and that seemed to help. I lost my last four fish. The bite was extremely light, with the fish, after getting hooked, following the line in so you wouldn't even think one was on till they start jumping. Richard's weight setup out performed the downrigger. Wildlife highlight for the day was watching 2 Osprey in their nest. Boat ran well but the squeak from the water pump is still going strong.

Traveled to Green Peter Reservoir and had the boat in the water by 6:15 am. Thistle Creek parking lot was half full. Weather is high thin overcast. Water temperature is 63 degrees, air temperature about the same. Water level 1009.5. Lots of floating debris. Left Thistle Creek arm and went to south shore and start trolling to the east, caught 1 Kokanee at 6:50 am. Troll to the island and around the east side clear to the cliffs at the start of Quartzville arm before I get my next bite (1.5 hours later). Troll up Quartzville arm and catch a four fish from the cliffs to the 1020 Rock then nothing. Move further upstream and get a few light bites but not hookups. Move further up to the gravel boat ramp at the first bend below the bridge and catch one Rainbow planter. Travel back to the lake and go to the floating bathroom on the south shore at the start of the Middle Santiam arm then fish along the south shore to where the arm starts to narrow. In 40 minutes I catch three more including the largest fish of the day a 13½" Kokanee. Quit at 12:15 pm. Results for the day: Nine Kokanee in the 12-13" size, one Rainbow planter about 11". I started with a light lake troll but switched to a Ford Fender with a flourescent orange spoon. Ran the downrigger at 45 feet. Richard's weight setup only produced 2 fish (including 1 small planter that was released) so the downrigger performed much better. Only lost a couple fish. Watched a buzzard doing tight circles at the top of the Quartzville arm cliffs, finally landed and blended in to the yellow and white flowers. Only saw 2 Ospreys. Lots of boats out - most were fishing as the water is too cool for skiing.

Traveled to Green Peter Reservoir and had the boat in the water by 6:40 am. Thistle Creek parking lot was nearly empty. Weather is low overcast, the hills shrouded in mist. Raining when we left the house but quits by the time we launch the boat. Water temperature is 67 degrees. Water level 1007. Traveled toward the dam and fished the north shore from the mouth of Thistle Creek to the dam. Fishing slow until the last point before the dam where the downrigger caught fish steadily. When the bite slowed again we go to the floating bathroom and fish the south shore to where the Middle Santiam starts to narrow. Had no luck there. Quit about 1:00 pm but the bite stopped at 11:00. Results for the day: Ten Kokanee in the 12-13" size, one Rainbow planter about 11", one small rainbow planter released. Nearly all caught about a ½ mile from the dam. I started with a Ford Fender with a small flourescent orange spoon and had very good luck. Tried a Shasta Sling Blade with a Washington Bait flutter spoon (both copper color) but only caught 1. Tried a light lake troll and a green homemade wedding ring but little luck today. Ran the downrigger at 40-50 feet. Richard's weight setup only produced 2 fish. Saw a few Ospreys but none close. Lots of boats out fishing, few skiing. No line at the ramp to get out. Weather starting to warm and clear.

Traveled to Green Peter Reservoir and had the boat in the water by 6:40 am. Thistle Creek parking lot 2/3 full. Weather is high clouds. Water temperature is 69 degrees. Water level 1005. Fished the north shore from the mouth of Thistle Creek to the dam picked up a few fish. Caught first fish at 6:50 am the waited over an hour for the next. Then fished the south shore to the rockpit and caught none. Went to the floating bathroom and then fished to the southeast of the island and caught a few. Quit about 12:45 pm but the bite stopped at 11:00. Results for the day: Eight Kokanee in the 12-13" size, one Rainbow planter about 10". I started with a Ford Fender with a small flourescent orange spoon and then various homemade wedding rings behind light and medium Pop Geer trolls. Ran the downrigger at 40-50 feet. Richard's weight setup equaled the downrigger in production. Saw one eagle. Lots of boats out. Five boats ahead of us at the ramp to get out. Weather changing to hot and clear.

Another Saturday morning fishing at Green Peter

Traveled to Green Peter Reservoir and had the boat in the water by 6:40 am. Water temperature is 73 degrees. Water level 1001. Fished the north shore from the east of Whitcomb Creek to the 1020 rock on the Quartzville arm. Caught first fish as soon as the pole in the water and 2^nd right behind. The downrigger worked well with 5 Kokanee and 1 Rainbow keeper and 6 Chinook 5-8" that were released. No bites after 9:00 am - soon as the sun hit the water. Used a Ford Fender with a small flourescent orange spoon (Kokanee Killer) at 50 feet. Richard's weight setup never caught a fish. A Bald Eagle dove in the water next to the boat and retrieved one of the catch and release fish. Lots of boats out and the ramp was crowded. Weather hot .

Went fishing after work with Girl Friend. Green Peter reservoir. Water temperature 74 degrees. Water Level 999 feet. Friend caught 1 Kokanee and I caught 1 Chinook (on the weight setup, 6 oz, 80 pulls line, Pop Geer troll). Little fish on the hook when we quit. Fished from the cliffs to the 1020 rock. Fish finder showed fish from 30 feet to 150 feet but getting a bite was a chore. Had fun and no crowds. Quit at 8:00 pm.

Traveled to Green Peter Reservoir and had the boat in the water by 6:40 am. Water temperature is 74 degrees. Water level 998. Fished the north shore from the west of Whitcomb Creek to the Dam then the south shore from the floating bathroom east. Downrigger couldn't buy a bite. Weight setup caught 3 Kokanee and lost several more. Richard caught the biggest fish we ever caught, a 15 ½ inch Kokanee. The only fish I caught was the 2^nd biggest, at 14 ½". I also caught and released 2 small Chinook (the fins were not clipped). We both used trolls and Kokanee King spinners to catch the biggest fish. I also experimented quite a bit with different setups and depths from 45-70 feet but all to no avail. As we headed in after another wonderful day of trolling a Bald Eagle was tree perched on top of the island . A Osprey was down near the dam. At the dam 10 boats were tied to the boom jigging, talked to someone who had been there and he said only one boat was catching fish, I assume that would be the cabin cruiser that is there each weekend and knows how to jig. Lots of boats out and but the ramp was not crowded. Boat trailers parked out along the highway. Weather hot sun with blue hazy sky . Early east wind by the dam but no wind later. Quit at 11:30 am.