Cascade lakes advice? (Oregon)
- Thread starter boltej
- Start date
Para_Adams
Life of the Party
Hey All, this is NFR, except that the mention of Lava Lake reminded me of when I was standing in the dark on the shoreline of nearby Elk Lake last June shooting the dozen images that combined into this, I kept hearing trout jumping in the dark along the shore. Magical. (note: it was far, far darker to my human eyes than the camera was able to capture, it didn't look like this in person). Cheers! Ron. 
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Have you tried Hosmer Lake? Fly fishing only, nice variety of campsites with a few having stunning views of Mt Bachelor and the Sisters. Small enough that you aren’t likely to get blown off the lake when winds pick up. I’ve only been there before or after Memorial Day weekend, so crowds weren’t an issue. Also the water was very clear. I could see big trout navigating the narrow channel that connects the main part of the lake to the northern shallow part.
Beetles were fun at Paulina on Tuesday. The fish hide out under the vertical ledges, shoot up and either bite or U-turn. Heading back saw some swirls on the flat in front of the main launch ramp, parked it and picked up a half dozen on Beetles, smaller than the ledge fish. Yesterday was apparently flying ant madhouse carpeting the lake mid day, glad I didn't have to deal with that, almost impossible for your ant to be singled out.
Crane can be tough, especially when no wind, in which case I use two set-ups. My go to is a bloodworm down in the mud under an indy, and a small Dark Assasin suspended under a Red Hippy Stomper, either can get the take. When the wind is moderate I go to chironomids with rmicro retrieves, and once there is some chop on the surface I switch to balanced leeches. Couple of float tubers I know who routinely kick troll the Cultus channel mix it up with leeches, soft hackle and callibaetis nymphs and usually do well. When the damsefly hatch is on I run to the east side flats where fishing a damsel nymph can be really good, while my track record with damsel dries sucks.
East Lake is a complex puzzle to solve...on the same day browns can be chomping deep leeches by the 'cliffs', bows can be taking callibaetis nymphs 10' over the NW 'hump and the nearby point, and the south shore weed bed bite turns off and on as the callibaetis dry fly hatch cycles. A very good way to fish the main body is to wind drift with a drogue, casting a sink line ahead of the boat and strip Launching the main public ramp sucks..steep incline into a no ramp shallow with a large rock waiting for an outdrive. Mo betta to use the marina launch ramp which is just packed beach leading to a floating dock, has a small parking lot, worth the $5 fee.
Hosmer, Big Lava, Little Lava, North and South Lake, Wickiup, Diamond Lake, Prineville reservoir, Cultus, some 'not discussed' smaller gems out in the high desert...we're surrounded by damn fun fisheries.
Crane can be tough, especially when no wind, in which case I use two set-ups. My go to is a bloodworm down in the mud under an indy, and a small Dark Assasin suspended under a Red Hippy Stomper, either can get the take. When the wind is moderate I go to chironomids with rmicro retrieves, and once there is some chop on the surface I switch to balanced leeches. Couple of float tubers I know who routinely kick troll the Cultus channel mix it up with leeches, soft hackle and callibaetis nymphs and usually do well. When the damsefly hatch is on I run to the east side flats where fishing a damsel nymph can be really good, while my track record with damsel dries sucks.
East Lake is a complex puzzle to solve...on the same day browns can be chomping deep leeches by the 'cliffs', bows can be taking callibaetis nymphs 10' over the NW 'hump and the nearby point, and the south shore weed bed bite turns off and on as the callibaetis dry fly hatch cycles. A very good way to fish the main body is to wind drift with a drogue, casting a sink line ahead of the boat and strip Launching the main public ramp sucks..steep incline into a no ramp shallow with a large rock waiting for an outdrive. Mo betta to use the marina launch ramp which is just packed beach leading to a floating dock, has a small parking lot, worth the $5 fee.
Hosmer, Big Lava, Little Lava, North and South Lake, Wickiup, Diamond Lake, Prineville reservoir, Cultus, some 'not discussed' smaller gems out in the high desert...we're surrounded by damn fun fisheries.