So, a friend of mine texts me about this spot he found way the bubblegum up in NE Oregon, just outside Joseph. So I meet him up in Hermiston and we drive up and camp about an hour away. we hit the lake the next day and there is one other group there. I am normally a bit of a bait snob and I was planning on pitching some rooster tails but the place was full of weeds, soo I just sat on my butt and used bait.
The fishing was excellent, about a fish a cast and none under 10 inches with some coming in at 20 and thick. I think I landed in total 100 fish over 4 days, almost all were released although we kept a few. I normally dont like stocked trout but these fought like the dickins, not simply let themselves get pulled in like a Detroit fish and that made it alot of fun on the new rod.
Oh, I also tried out braided line for the first time on the Willawa river, lost 2 rooster tails and a bait rig due to my piss poor knots, so it came off quickly I might try it again as my buddy is now thinking of getting some cats on the Snake for the next trip.
Where was this??? The only lake I know of near Joseph is Wallowa (WAhl, ow, a... not Will) It's a good sized lake and usually pretty well used. The lake is normally cold and clear, even this time of year, with no vegetation. So I'm puzzled... help me out.
BTW, some years using live grasshoppers is the cat's meow!!
Otherwise, thanx for the report. I have been wanting to hit the lake but fishing buddies have been letting me down.
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