Flaming Gorge

[bayside]

Hey guys/gals, Just curious if anyone would give me any info or suggestions on how to catch lake trout at flaming gorge. I'm going there the weekend of the 24th of july. I've been there 2 times before, but have not been able to catch one. I'm going with my father in law, and I know he'd really love to have some success. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance
Feel free to PM me if you would like
Codee

 

[Amy]

Codee, here's the lake trout segment from the Flaming Gorge fishing report last week:

Lake trout fishing seems to be getting more consistent. Schools of lake trout are difficult to find right now because they can be anywhere. If you do locate a school, try tube jigs, jigging spoons and minnow jigs tipped with bait to entice fish. An active school can quickly produce a lot of fish. Trolling covers more water and is another effective technique when schools are difficult to find. We've had reports of anglers doing well for medium to large lakers by trolling a deep-diving lure to 15?20 feet (at speeds of 2?4 mph). Try the bays under the rainbows and over humps and other structures that are 30?60 feet down. Another effective technique is to slow troll at depths of 40?50 feet. Anglers can continue to help the Flaming Gorge fishery by harvesting a limit of small lake trout, which are tasty and abundant in the reservoir.

You can find the whole Flaming Gorge report at http://wildlife.utah.gov/hotspots/reports_ne.php.


Amy Canning
Communication Specialist
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

 

[Elkhunter96]

Best fishing for Lake Trout is usually the months of May to June while they are hungry from winter and not as deep. They will be pretty deep in July and you probably will have to get lucky jigging near the bottom or trolling large lures near the bottom to have any luck.

Good luck

 

[Trix4me]

It's been several years, but, we've done well trolling (slow) a large jointed Rapala in either perch or chartreuse, We used leaded line out 4 to 6 colors. I have also used a strong mono with a weight about 6 ft ahead of the lure. This was in May and June.

 

[never_catch]

Lucern Bay...one ounce jigs a couple feet off the bottom has worked best for me...use a fish finder to locate em.

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb37/Feleno/zFix.jpg[/IMG] ~Z~

 

[Dr_Hunter]

I agree with what everyone has recommended. Fishing for the big lakers is what I enjoy doing during the off season. Lake trout is what I consider the "Big Game" of fishing in Utah. Very addictive and a lot of fun.

I know this isn't a fishing website but I think pics of monster fish are worthy to be posted.

Here are a few pics from the Gorge and another spot that I love to fish at (pretty obvious place if you enjoy fishing).

Enjoy. . .

Let's see some more guys. Post up your big catch (meaning fish. Not your wife or girlfriend/boyfriend- and when I say boyfriend, I am assuming you are a girl).


"Half of being smart, is knowing what you're dumb about."

 

[gaetz]

Dr Hunter should change his name to Dr. Fisher....nice Lakers dude.

TRH

 

[smoktem]

I have been there the last three weekends in a row, gonna make it 4 after this weekend. Laker action has been getting slower and slower as it does ever year at this time. The 24th will not be a great weekend for lake trout fishing, as they are getting harder and harder to locate, as well as their appitite is smaller and smaller. Biggest trick that time of year is locating the lakers then being patient, sit over them and drop a big tube on them. I like to play in the mud or stop about 20' from the bottom. They will charge off the bottom when you stop short, at this point pull it away from them a pretty good pace. Also caught them by deadsticking 20' off the bottom. On a side note Kokane action has been hot and you have alot better chance at filling your cooler with meat on them that time of year!
Good luck.

 

[Dr_Hunter]

Smoketem,

I have always wanted to learn how to fish for the kokanees. Is their any real secret to catching them? I have caught a few when fishing for rainbows but have never really targeted them due to ignorance.


"Half of being smart, is knowing what you're dumb about."

 

[Elkhunter96]

Here are a few 20 lbers...

 

[BIGJOHNT]

Dr Hunter
When are you taking me fishing for some big mac's ? I will be there thursday !!

 

[Dr_Hunter]

I can't make it this weekend. I will be there next week though.

 

[BIGJOHNT]

sent you a pm

 

[antlerrick]

Hey John, I have already dubbed "first" with Dr_Hunter!
Get in line!

 

[antlerrick]

LAST EDITED ON Jun-29-11 AT 08:30AM (MST)[p]Here is a little 38 lb minnow from the Gorge that my dad pulled in...

 

[Dr_Hunter]

Minnow my EYE!! Your Dad is the one with the good luck. . .not me. He is the one that we need to bring along. I am still dreaming about the day I catch a 38lb Mack.

 

[antlerrick]

Yea I wish I could bring him along, but he passed away a month after my deer hunt last year. I tried to get him to tag along at Fishlake the last couple of years but he wasn't able to make it so I just fished alone, and unsuccessfully...haha...
He was pretty lucky at pulling a few good tags too. He drew a bison and a Pahvant elk over the last 4 years..

One of these days!!!!!!!!

 

[antlerrick]

How big is the one in your 2nd picture doctor?

 

[Dr_Hunter]

The one in the 2nd pic was 39 1/2 inches and 26lbs. The other big one in front of the cabin was 36" and 26 1/2lbs. She had a lot more girth. Check out what was in their bellies. This blew me away, I didn't think they could eat a fish this big but I guess they aren't that big compared to them.

The half digested fish was 16" long.

These other little ones were no surprise, but still cool to see.

 

[smoktem]

A buddy of mine has caught hundreds of mac on the gorge the last few years as he is out there most every day. He has caught quite a few in the 40's and has been trying like hell to break 50 lb's which he finally did this year. This was probaly the state record which he figures was 54 lb's. One scale he had bottomed out at 50 and the second said 54. He gave it a kiss and kicked it back to live another day. It is hard to kill a fish that is 40+ years old. FYI he will be guiding on the gorge here pretty quick, pm me if you want the stud of the lake to take you out for a good time.

His 5 year old has already caught more big fish than me!

I caught this one 2 weeks ago. Trying to find the pic of my 44 pounder that is my biggest to date. They sure are a riot to catch!

 

[Dr_Hunter]

Holy Smokes, Smoketem!! Now that is big. Pretty awesome of your friend to do that. That is when you know someone has caught a lot of big fish.

 

[awbmab]

Don't want to start anything, but throw those big macs back. No need to keep a fish that is 20-40 years old. Besides the big ones don't taste as good. Take a pic and let er go.
Keep the "small" ones, small being 18-22 inches or so.

 

[hornkiller]

+100

 

[swbuckmaster]

LAST EDITED ON Jul-06-11 AT 05:48AM (MST)[p]Ive had fishing trips at the gorge that would blow your mind. More often then not the fishing is slow when it comes to big lake trout. Ill always keep one fish in the teens to low 20's for eating. Lake trout are very good eating. In fact they are probably one of the best tasting fish in Utah and probably taste better then salmon. Anything larger always goes back! I only take one a year! The rest go back. The small ones aren't good eating imho their to bony! Lake trout do need harvesting because they are eating themselves out of house and home. You need to be selective when harvesting though So leave the 25+ lb fish for catch and release. harvest the rest

Never had a camera when I had my boat and I dont fish much for myself anymore. Usually just like to see the kids catch the fish now days.

Here is a clip from this years trip. We only targeted the big trout for a few hours in one afternoon.

Here are a few photos from a trip where we targeted them.
my oldest first big laker she caught on a jig all by herself.

wifes aunt with a nice one

wifes sister with an ok one. She actually caught about 10 over 25lbs on this trip and one up to 38 lbs. I cant find those pictures though

You can always tell if its a true big fish or a smaller fish when the guy holding the fish cant stick his arms towards the camera to make it look larger then it is and actually has to get a hold of it for the photo or he strains to hold it up right. This is a big fish!

The gorge is a lake that can break you if you dont know what your doing. It is also a lake I think you need to learn how to fish on your own to appreciate how hard it is to catch one of the big fish. Its also a lake when you do learn to catch them you could probably put a dent in the fishery. So if im asked where I catch them its always in the lake. If you ask what we caught them on its baby salamanders.

 

[BIGJOHNT]

Wow those are some nice fish !!

 

[Elkhunter96]

+1 on throwing those big ones back. It can be awesome fishing for them and then very humbling on the same trip.

I have never kept one over 20lbs, too old for my tastes. The 10-15 lb fish are good eats though.