The stormy weather we were supposed to get really didn't materialize until late Monday. We did receive a whopping .04 of an inch of moisture. The winds did pick up some but our largest gust only reached 22 mph.

It looks like we are going to have mostly clear skies with passing clouds for the next few days, The ambient temperatures are predicted to drop to the high 30's to very low 40's while our low temperatures will drop into the mid to high teens (now that's more like November temperatures!). Winds are predicted to be from the east at 10 mph so expect the low temperatures to feel a little colder with the wind chill.

Today the morning bite was pretty steady for the first couple hours this morning. It did taper off for still fishermen while trollers were still finding sporadic action mid to late morning.

At this time the Spalding ramp still has open water but expect the cold temperatures this week to possibly change that. The Eagle Lake marina ramp typically stays open longer. Commercial docks in Spalding are also out of the water.

Fishing Report

The entire lake remains open water but ice started forming along the waters edge along Spalding and the tules this morning.

The lake temperature in the north and middle basins have driven most of the trout and tui chub minnows to deeper water. A few fish always remain in the shallow basins but finding them can be tough. Most of the action has been around the Youth Camp and Biology Station as well as the slightly deeper water on the south side of Pelican Point.

The west side of the south basin (Lake of the Woods) has been fishing pretty well but the shore and fly fishermen are having days that the fish just don't move into water any shallower than 10 to 12 feet even though many are still being caught above that level. This is normal for years of low water and higher pH.

The east side along the Springs to Eagles Nest has had its good days and bad days however, fish are starting to move around in that area now. Shore access for vehicles is limited to Eagles Nest subdivision which can be inaccessible during inclement weather.

Fish are being caught at the 7 to 10 ft depths in 10 to 20 feet of water; while those fishing the deeper water 30 to 50 feet deep are not only finding fish at 7 to 10 feet deep but 21 to 24 feet deep has also pulled up a few hogs.

Several fish over 5 pounds have been reported this week.

Action has slowed up in the shallow north and middle basins. It won't be long before the shallows ice over.

Best lures Sure Catch: Large Red Dog, Medium Goldie Locks, Medium Zebra, medium Gator.
Needle Fish: Fire, Florescent orange (pearl or brass back), rainbow trout, frog.
Rapala's and minnow imitations work best where minnows are present.

Trolling Flies: Plain Jane brown has still out fished many of the other popular colors. Florescent orange (J Fairs "hot one" has produced some fish but will steadily get better as water temperatures drop causing the native shrimp to turn orange.

Bait fishermen using nightcrawlers have also found some action but more in the early morning hours than late morning hours. Be sure to have some attractant along. Garlic Gravy and Krill have been the most successful flavors. Powerbait in combination with nightcrawlers has also worked well in the past. Colors include Florescent orange, chartreuse, rainbow and occasionally red or hot pink. If you are using powerbait to float your nightcrawler off the bottom, be sure you use enough to do the job. Test it before you toss it.

Shore fishing has been good one day and not so good the next. Some days the fish have not moved in close. Using longer rods for steelhead and salmon will cast much farther than the typical 6 foot rod from shore. Accesses to shore fishing in the south basin include Pikes Point and the jetty at the Eagle Lake Marina, Christie Day Use area and the Circus Grounds, Wildcat Point (via Brockman Lava Beds). Shore fishing is also available along highway 139 however there has not been a heck of a lot of action this season there.

Jig fishermen have used long rods for years just lighten up the pound test on the spool. Jig colors that work best are natural wild turkey (almost black once wet) olive and brown. Occasionally when the water has been stirred up by some fierce winds yellow and white begin working.

Fly Fishermen need not look any farther than good old wooly buggers and wiggle tails. Brown has been the best color over the years but olive works well also. The small florescent orange wooly buggers are best along the rocky ledges when water temperatures drop below 45 degrees. Sizes 10 and 12 are the normal sizes we use here.