It's down, it's really down

[CoyoteSpinner]

Drove by Cache Junction and Benson marina the other day. If I hadn't stopped to fish on the way there, I might have had better light for more pictures. But do give a few ideas. You can see at CJ why the end of the launch drops. Also pretty clear to see what powerloading does to an area outside the ramp. Oh- and meet "the prop killer"!
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You can really see where the river channel runs through it. Don't know if they are drawing down still, but there's a lot of water moving. Stretches the width of the bridge.
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Wiperhunter - did I see you driving a Lund through Logan today?

[albinotrout]

Wow, now would probably be a good time to see about removing such prop killers no?
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[a_bow_nut]

One possible up side to all of this may be that the river will scour a more defined channel help to add some structure to the area.
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[wiperhunter2]

Wow, that is low.
Wasn't me you saw and I don't have a Lund.
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[zman2]

leave that stuff in there it keeps the ski pukes away lol hope that lake isn't doomed its a good lake anybody else wanta chime in on this. its going down 15 feet by next wensday
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[Red-head]

So while it is down are any "improvements" going to be made? It seems the ideal time to remove the prop-killer, pour a longer ramp (preventing the power loader loosers damage). Other ramps/access not just CJ area would also benefit from some improvements.
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[SkunkedAgain]

Hey Yote, had to go explore the shallows today in my toon. It's crazy low, but seems the toon will run in less than knee deep I was able to troll a little. Crazy day, I caught 3 carp on 3" curly tails largest was 26" and 7 lbs. also lucked into my second eye of the year. Thought it would have all the fish in the deep spots and be good fishen but it was one of my slowest days this year.
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[wiperhunter2]

Good to see you caught a few Jeff and a decent eye as well. You must have been in your favorite spot[].
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[SkunkedAgain]

Hey Curt, thanks for the well wish. Guess it might become a new favorite spot, the old spot was very quiet so I went searching for new spots since the water was down you can see interesting terrain features I hadn't noticed before and sure enough that was where Mr eye was hanging out. Things really change with half the water depth gone. Noticed at Dads tonight lots of stranded minnows and dead ones on the mud. This will put a hurt on the future fish crop too bad, but I hope plenty survive to keep it goen. I'd love to have enough time to explore the area while the water is down, but its slow goen in these conditions so guess I'll do what I can and hope I can find a couple fish while I'm looking around. Later J
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[wiperhunter2]

Take lots of pics of those areas that are high and dry now, it might help you know where the fish are hanging when the water comes back up, especially around your Dad's place.
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[SkunkedAgain]

That is a great plan, only problem is the lack of any structure there, its flat mud bottom for the most part. I did see a couple sunken stumps that's about it. But a picture sure helps when you forget just exactly where things are. Wish it wasn't so muddy, I'd GPS mark the features. Here's what it looks like. Later J
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[albinotrout]

Now I see why everyone says it is so shallow. Be interesting to see pics up by the dam.
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[SkunkedAgain]

If the water didn't get trapped in the slough, it's a mud flat now. Most of the sloughs are less than four feet deep normally so the 4 to 5 foot drop has drained them. The river channel has some deeper areas but there are areas you can wade across now, but don't trust it, it has sudden drop offs and has caused people to drown in the past. But at the same time the shallows are motor killers. Kind of a tricky time now.

I'd like to see what the dam and Cutler Canyon look like now as well, it will be a lot harder to get there now though. That's really where I'd like to get some pictures. May have to find time to go take a look. Later J
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[gstott]

I guess you could go up long divide and use a spotting scope or binoculars to get a rough idea.
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[SkunkedAgain]

That sounds a lot easier than the long walk. Can you get to see much without trespassing? I suspect the current down the canyon will be too strong to cruise back upstream with an electric motor, so I better forget the toon. Thanks for the idea J
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[wiperhunter2]

Or you could use that ATV trick you guys did years ago when you went down by the train track[].
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[SkunkedAgain]

That is most likely what I would try if I go. Just don't know when I'll have time to check it out. I kind of want to explore the close stuff first. I'd like to know if anyone is fishing the tressle since the water went down. I'm thinking lots of fish should be packed in that area, maybe at the marina bridge too since its a good deep spot. May have to go toon those spots. Ya think catching fish in a barrel ought to be easy, but it seems as tough as ever. Later J
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[gstott]

You would definitely be pretty far away from it on the road, but it would offer an aerial view that would give you a rough idea anyway.
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[SkunkedAgain]

Thanks for the intel, I haven't been across that road for years so I appreciate the thought. So are you fishing trout now days or still playing in Idaho? Thanks again. J
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[CoyoteSpinner]

I'll be all over some scouting trips, but I'd still love to up the anty, and either take flight for an aerial survey and/or see about tapping into current satellite imagery!

I might still float it, there's still some small water.