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I have made 5 trips to Flaming Gorge, I haven't had any luck catching Macks-caught 1 Kokanee, and a few bass. Any advice anyone can give would be greatly appreciated!! I am fairly new to fishing, so when someone says they used a #2 blah blah-it doesn't mean much to me. I've tried trolling a little squid looking thing, tried jigging (seemed like I spent all my time trying to stay over the fish). Not sure what to try. About 1 more trip getting skunt-and my wife will use me for bait!! Save a life-help me out. Thanks.[pirate]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][size 3]I got to admit, for a guy fairly new to fishing, you haven't picked the easiest fish to catch. Those big macks are tough for seasoned anglers, let alone a beginner.[/size][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][size 3]I'd target the rainbows or smallmouth. Easy to catch and plenty of action. There are a lot of guys here that target the SM who can give you the ticket. The rainbows can be caught with just about anything. A panther martin or a pop gear with a wedding band and worm will catch all the rainbows you want. Good Luck.[/size][/font]
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Read all of the messages that you can on this board and others related to Flaming Gorge mack fishing, and mack fishing elsewhere. Exchange emails (where possible) with those who seem to be having success (you will learn a lot, and maybe you will be invited to tag along on one trip). Search the Internet to find out what a particular lure looks like. If you can afford it, hire a guide for one trip.
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Flaming gorge can be a lot of fun, just like any other lake, it has its learning curves. Dont give up. BLM is truly right, the man is a true lake trout fisherman.
Not knowing your set up makes it kind of hard to give specific help, but it sounds like you are using an electric motor to keep in place while jigging for macks. If thats true, I feel your pain. Trying to keep on top of the fish that way takes some practice.
If you have downriggers, that should really help you to get to the depths the kokanee and rainbows are at in the fall when the water temps are up. If not, you may want to consider lead core line, or some other alternative.
As for lures. I have my best luck up there on spoons. The kokanee love them, as well as the rainbows and lake trout. they are lures that will catch eveything up there. Even an occasional smallmouth. You can jig them, or troll them. If you want a good lure without spending a lot of cash on different lures, its hard to beat at the gorge.
The next important thing I would say is going to be location. You will always hear that "there are fish all over the entire lake". And thats pretty much true. But when you are standing there on a new lake figuring out where to start and for what species can be tough. Especially with seasonal changes.
I have always found that the fishermen at the gorge are a friendly bunch, and a good conversation at the fish cleaning station can always be one of the best tools. The info is usually minuets old, and guys are often willing to help out.
I would love to give you some ideas for fall fishing, but a couple weeks back was my first fall trip so I was in the same boat you are. Its a much different game in the fall than it is in the spring when we make several trips up there. But I did find a fair ammount of rainbows and some smallmouth in the sheep creek area. Casting strike king bitsy bugs and spinners to the bank.
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Welcome aboard, what a topic for your first post! I've fished the gorge a few times and have never laid into a mack I've been hit by one but my uncle throwing the catch of the day at me doesn't count. We usually targeted kokes and always limited out, but there is a technique to it and it was more difficult to find the spawning beds in Oct that to catch the fish. Good luck and listen to these guys they really know their stuff.
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Normally I would be on this like a fat kid on a cupcake. Due to my recent performance it's best I don't answer, it would be advice from one skunkie to another. Hang in there, keep trying and maybe one of us will catch something worth taking a picture of soon.
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[#ff0000]Seventy feet down with a downrigger pulling a gold/black 7cm Rapala through the schools. [/#ff0000]
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[#000080][size 2]The key is having someone cook you a good meal after the fishing is done. In Manila, the restarunts usually have very good food. Brown bag breakfest and lunch, but out for dinner. [/size][/#000080]
[#000080][size 2][/size][/#000080]
[#000080][size 2] When is the off limits for Lucerne Bay?[/size][/#000080]
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[li]Linwood Bay, west of a line from the eastern most point of the south shore of Linwood Bay (mouth of canyon) to eastern most point of the north shore of Linwood Bay (Lucerne Point), CLOSED between 6 p.m. and 7a.m., October 15 through December 15. [/li]
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I have been using downriggers, everybody told me to get the lure where the fish are-most of them are real deep. So, I get the lures or whatever down there, then-wham!! Not so deep anymore, and not so many lures to bring back up! How deep is safe and still catch some Macks? I've been told that any deeper than about 80 feet, and I'm wasting my time. Also I've been told to go as slow as I can. Then other guys say don't go too slow, or the fish will figure out its a lure and not food. Which is true? I tried striking up a conversation at the fish cleaning station, and there I was-standing there with no fish-eyeballing everybody elses. I think they though I was gonna try rasslin a fish away from them. Seriously though, most were real friendly and gave me my share of pity. Thanks for the info, keep it coming.
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Hey "Bear Lake Mack"-I live at Bear Lake-and have tried catching some there too, but I HAVE given up there. You live around here?
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As for the trolling, your doing it right. If you ain't losin stuff your not deep enough. The trick to trolling FG is to know the lake and the areas you can safetly get to max depth. Most of the Macks will be in depth transition areas so the whole trolling thing can get expensive. I know I've contributed several hundred dollars worth of stuff over the last couple of years. The Macks can and will suspend and thats a good time to pick them off on the troll. You are correct about the 80' line. I've seen them deep but never caught one deeper than 100'. If you want to cut your teeth on the smaller ones (under 10#s) fish either the point across from swim beach or Anvil Draw with 1/2 - 3/4 oz tube jigs tipped with meat. You should do well in both areas. You can also troll Anvil with medium pop-gear and a minnow, this can be effective also. It is coming up on prime Mack fishing time so don't quit yet. I know I said I wouldn't reply but I just can't help myself.
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Just like a SNCO. Couldnt help but to put in your two cents LMAO[  ][ ][  ][  ]
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I was thinking about going over this weekend and giving it another try. If there is an experienced guy with no boat, and wouldn't mind trading a little knowledge for a day out on a boat, let me know. westonws@bp.com
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][size 3]I'm a Cache Valley boy. I fish the Bear quite a bit and have done pretty good at times.[/size][/font]
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Shouldn't you be out counting bullets instead of giving me a hard time?
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Probably, but this is so much more fun![sly]
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I'm telling Smitty your harassing me. Us old guys stick together you know.
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