LAKE ROOSEVELT PART II: REELING IN THE RAINBOW BY BENITA GALLAND | MACK’S LURE PRO STAFFER

wild and planted triploid rainbows those months, fish migrate to the are held within the system. In order shallower waters and are easier to to preserve the native species, wild target. All you need is a light rod with fish must be released. Hatchery a spinning or bait caster reel and you triploids — those with a clipped are good to go. Cast your line with a adipose fin — are the fish you need slip sinker out as far as you can. Use to target. As planted fish “hold over” a hook loaded with powerbait of a from one year to the next, they grow mashmallow and worm. Sometimes quite large. It’s more than possible to the simplest of techniques gives catch a 25-inch rainbow! the best results. A cast and retrieve In part one of my Fishing Lake method is also productive. Rainbows Roosevelt series, I aimed to give The combination of extremely can’t seem to resist Smile Blade® the reader an overview of Lake deep, cool water and the abundance setups. I suggest you give the Mack’s

Roosevelt. In part two, my goal is to of shrimp and other feed produce Lure Promise Keeper® a try, as well. detail the rainbow trout fishery and the tastiest fish imaginable. The It incorporates the Smile Blade® and specific techniques for “reeling in meat is firm and deep red, much like Wedding Ring® and its designed to some bows.” a sockeye. You can smoke or can the cast. catch, but it is most tasty right off The Lake Roosevelt fishery is co- the barbecue or cast iron skillet. “ If you have a boat and enjoy managed by the Spokane Tribe, trolling, the following tips should Colville Tribe, and Washington bring you success. I refer to depth, Department of Fish and Wilflife LAKE ROOSEVELT HAS THE BEST speed and lure presentation as the (WDFW). They have done an RAINBOW FISHING IN THE REGION. “Holy Trinity” of successful fishing. excellent job of protecting and — BENITA GALLAND enhancing the Roosevelt Reservoir “ fishery. There are currently 63 net pens on the reservoir, located north If you don’t have a boat, don’t to south from Kettle Falls to Keller worry. Grab a bundle of firewood, Ferry. Net pens are operated by a some hot dogs and cocoa, then group of volunteers and the WDFW head out to one of the abundant, Sherman Creek Hatchery and the sandy beaches along the shoreline. Spokane Tribal Hatchery produced I suggest you purchase the Franklin the rainbow trout for transfer. In D. Roosevelt Lake Map published the spring of 2017, about 500,000 by Fish-n-Map Co. It was made by DEPTH rainbows were released with a target fishermen for fishermen and has goal of 750,000 to be released in all the information regarding fish In the late fall, winter and early 2018. locations, topography, etc. spring when the water is cool, trolling boards or side planers are Lake Roosevelt has the best Winter through spring is fantastic an awesome advantage because rainbow fishing in the region. Both bank fishing for the rainbow. During usually the game fish can be MACKSLURE.COM Page 1 caught in the top 10- to 25-feet. In depending on your lure and how early January this year, the water active the fish are. Speed up or When the fish seem to want temperature was 37 degrees and slow down to find the magic tempo. attraction and action, use a Sling the rainbows bit between 9- and Bear in mind that it may change as Blade™ (4”, 6” or 9”) or a Double 12-feet. the day brightens, water warms up, D™ Dodger (4.4” or 7.6”). Did you or the fish decide to mess with your know that you can bend the Sling mind. Blade™ to increase its action? Try different dodger sizes to adjust lure When it comes to speed, I want action. Also, shorten or lengthen to know my lure speed exactly. your leader to slow or hasten Yes, your GPS on whichever sonar the action of your lure. A Wiggle unit you own, measures speed, as Hoochie™ Bill, available in clear or do some other high tech methods. UV options, rigged on the tip of your They, however, are not correct hoochie will also increase the action indicator of lure speed. One of the of your lure substantially. most important peices of fishing equipment on my boat is the Luhr Green, pink and orange lures Speed Indicator. Most of the time, and blades seem to be the most that indicator speed will be at effective colors throughout the odds with the high tech readouts. year. That being said, it is always With the use of equipment, such A difference as small as 0.2 knots wise to give some other color as trolling and planer boards may determine a successful day combinations a try if you are not you can troll your line along the of catching versus a day of sight getting the strikes you want. Give shallow shoreline, spacing your seeing. brown, chrome, purple and black lines at multiple depths using tones a try, too. Also, UV and glow weights or diving lures. This method LURE, COLOR & PRESENTATION setups will give you an advantage in also enables the angler to space deeper waters. Often, water color, presentations different distances Rainbows are the easiest of the temperature and depth will dictate apart, covering more water. game fish to target on Roosevelt. the winning color of the day. The Double D™ Dodger is also a They seem to love the bling! Smile good way to spread lines out in Blades® or Flash Lite® blades are combination with the action of a great attractors. You can attach a dodger. The added advantage of a 2-, 3- or 4-Bladed Flash Lite® Troll two-pole endorsement gives some to your lure’s leader. Smile Blades® trial and error options when finding can also be strung on the leader the desired lure, depth, speed or — just separate the blade from the presentation that works on that day. lure by using a bead or two. Using a Smile Blade® in front of a Pee When the fish are in the top strata, Wee™ Hoochie or a small squid, fly the leaded line also does very well. or Wedding Ring® spinner is usually Downriggers are effective, too, a sucessful combination, as well. I hope these fishing tips help you as is long-lining a lure with a light boat a batch of bows. If you want banana or snap weight. Rainbows My favorite setup is a streamer more information, join me at Mark’s tend to spook away from the boat or muddler fly with a Smile Blade® Marine, which is located north of and, for that reason, I try to space or Wedding Ring® Blade at its Coeur d’Alene, Ida., on March 8th. my lures 80- to 150-feet back, nose. I often place a Wedding You can also find me at the Big especially when fishing on the top. Ring® Tapered Bead at the head Horn Sportsman’s Show in Spokane, of my fly, then top it with a Smile Wash., beginning March 15th, where As the water warms, the fish Blade® 1.1 or 0.8. Use a two-hook I will be giving seminars on this follow the cool water and gravitate setup with a single- or treble- fishery. to the lower depths or areas of cool trailing hook, topping the front hook water flow. In the summer, they with a piece of night crawler or usually bite in the 30- to 50-foot maggot — rainbows love worms! As I zone, but fish don’t follow rules well. mentioned, these fish follow no rules and bling may not be their thing on TROLLING SPEED certain days. Give small, straight or broken back plugs, hockey stick- or A good speed for rainbows ranges plastic mini cut plug-style lures a try, from 1.6- to 2-knots or faster, too. MACKSLURE.COM Page 2 many respects. Show me the angler for lure manipulation that you can who has studied tackle, then taken achieve and enjoy with a level wind STAN’S SPACE the time to learn how to use it, and reel. One the other hand, no level I’ll show you someone who falls into wind reel comes anywhere close to that 10 percent of anglers who get handling really lightweight lures in in 90 percent of the fish. a clear water situation where heavy cover isn’t a factor as does light line Speaking in public early on used spinning. to scare the fire out of me. Thank heavens I realized I’d have to do The title of this column says it something about it. So I did. I joined all — the keys to becoming a really the Toastmaster orgnization and successful angler are practice, spent five years with them. preparation and common sense. All the things you need to become an I’ve never realized a great return on expert angler are out there for you, a selfish investment of time. I learned but you have to go get them. You do PROVEN WAYS TO BE A WINNER that preparation and practice are that through study, observation and BY HALL OF FAME ANGLER STAN FAGERSTROM keys to putting your message across practice. — whether your audience is one or For years, I’ve supplemented my one thousand. income as a writer by giving casting exhibitinos and lectures on the Again, much of the same applies subject all around the Unites States to getting to know your gear and, — and in some foreign countries, too. eventually, catching more fish. The library in your area has a whole shelf These appearances provided full of books on fishing and the tackle COOK YOUR CATCH opportunity to takl to thousands and techniques the experts employ. GRILLED SALMON RECIPE of fishermen. I got to hear their There are fishing shows on television comments and complaints and I had and how-to DVDs for sale or rent. a chance to help solve some of the problems they asked me about. Outdoor shows all over the country feature demonstrations by the best I wish I had a couple of bucks for anglers in the world. There are every time I’ve heard someone say outdoor clubs that will welcome your “oh, I’m not interested in learning membership. Many of their programs INGREDIENTS how to use that blasted level wind are instructive in nature. Guides reel, I only use spinning tackle.” If I make a living showing them where • 1/4 cup packed brown sugar • 1/4 cup soy sauce didn’t hear that specific comment, I to employ it. The list of learning • 3 tbsp. unsweetened pineapple juice might also hear from a guy who said possibilities is endless. • 3 tbsp. red wine vinegar he used only a level wind reel and • 3 garlic cloves though spin fishing was for the birds. Whenever someone complains • 1 tbsp. lemon juice to me about the poor luck they are • 1 tsp. ground ginger • 1/2 tsp. pepper Some of the individuals who made having catching fish, I respond by • 1/2 tsp. hot pepper sauce those comments were supposedly asking a few questions of my own. • 1 salmon filet (2 lbs.) serious fishermen. This boggles me. My first question is ‘what kind of Why in the world would any angler rod and reel are you using and how COOKING INSTRUCTIONS choose to handicap himself by not much time have you spent practicing taking advantage of the equipment with it?’ 1. In a small bowl, combine the first nine available to him? ingredients. Pour 3/4 cup into large Nine times out of ten, I know what resealable plastic bag; add salmon. Seal bag and turn to coat; refrigerate Can you image a carpenter that answer is going to be. The for 1 hour, turning occassionally. Set who wouldn’t learn how to use the complainer will be one of the types aside remaining marinade for basting. different implements of the building I’ve already mentioned — someone trades? Consider the golfer again. who is handicapping themselves by 2. Drain marinade. Moisten a paper towl needlessly trying to use one outfit for with cooking oil & lightly coat grill rack. How far would a golfer get if all he Place salmon skin side down on rack. carried was a putter and a five iron? everything from shad to salmon. It Grill covered over medium heat for 5 just doesn’t work. min. Brush with leftover marinade. Grill Those comparisons aren’t that or broil 15 min. longer or until fish flakes farfetched. Fishing is no different in No reel offers the control required easily with fork.

MACKSLURE.COM Page 3 cast directly up or downwind. Fish Rods. The most important feature SONIC BAITFISH™ (SBF) with the lightest braided main line is a fast-action tip for a fast-action as possible so you can feel your response to a strike. Basically, a TIPS & TECHNIQUES lure over bottom structure. In most medium or medium-heavy 5 1/2- to 6 situations, fish the smallest lure to 1/2-foot long spinning rod will cover effectively reach your target fish. most applications.

Hooks. The smallest SBF come Lure finishes. Metallic finishes factory-equipped, in the blade bait work best in clear, sunny water. UV version, with attached self-sleeving and high fluorescent finishes work double hooks and a duo lock snap. best in daylight clear, tea-stained This is the vertical jigging version. and murky water. Glow-in-the-dark If your state requires single hooks, works in the same water conditions, replace the double hook with a single both day and night. siwash-type hook. Attach hook with smallest possible split ring or attach Scent. If scent is necessary, add it directly to the tail. nightcrawler pieces for yellow perch SONIC BAITFISH™ TECH GUIDE and walleye in open freshwater BY CAPT. PETE ROSKO SUGGESTED SINGLE HOOK SIZES and minnow or Gulp pieces through the ice. Also works for crappie and • 1/16 oz. #10 An entire book can be exclusively • 1/10 oz. #8/6 trout. In saltwater, scent is usually devoted to the Sonic BaitFish™ (SBF) • 1/6 oz. #6/4 not needed. At times, adding shrimp because of its unsurpassed versatility • 1/4 oz. #4 or squid pieces will increase strikes • 1/3 oz. #4/2 from snapper and grouper. and multi-species effectiveness. • 1/2 oz. #2 The purpose of this tech guide is to • 3/4 oz. #1 provide you with basic information to • 1 oz. #1/0 Lure size. Think big but use the use as a springboard to increase your smallest SBF as possible to reach knowledge, success and enjoyment Hook files. Sharp hooks increase your target. This is especially on the water. hookups. Simple enough. effective when the bite is dead. Going as small as possible will often — TIPS — Snaps and swivels. When beat “matching the hatch.” attaching leader to braided mainline, Don’t fish blindly. Whether on swivels are not necessary because land or in a boat, use your vision line twist is usually not a problem. and/or electronic fish locator to However, a swivel attaching locate baitfish schools or game mainline-to-leader creates a fish before fishing. Look for working stronger connection than a direct birds or “disturbed” water caused by leader-to-line knot. Conversely, swirling, boiling or leaping fish. a swivel is recommended for all monofilament mainline applications Locate fish attracting structure. to minimize its chronic line twist For freshwater, look for weedbeds, issues. Attach the swivel 3- to 5-feet standing timber, rock piles, rocky between the mainline and leader. reefs, submerged structures, bridges, docks, deep holes, river mouths, etc. Leader. Fluorocarbon leader For saltwater, find kelpbeds, tidal is necessary to increase strikes rips, color lines, floating debris, oil when cutoffs by sharp teeth are For an in-depth look at the SBF Tech rigs and shrimp boats. not a problem. Use longer, thinner Guide, visit MacksLure.com. Next diameter leader in clearer waters. month we’ll tackle basic techniques Adverse conditions that will Attach leader to mainline with for casting, jigging and trolling. affect fishing. These include strong a double uni-knot to minimize tides, muddy water, excessive hardware for line-shy fish. Only use wind, full moon phases, fast-falling wire leader if absolutely necessary. barometric pressure. Main line. No-stretch braided line Line control. This is important. is superior to mono for longer casts, Fishing a tight line maximizes your better hook sets, reducing line drag sensitivity, lure presenation and hook and better sensitivity for feeling sets. To remedy a bow in your line, strikes and structure.

MACKSLURE.COM Page 4 Q: It sounds like you recently rigs and anxiously awaiting the next MEET THE PRO STAFF won a derby on the Western Ohio tournament. Thank you, Mack’s Lure, Walleye Circuit. Congrats! What for outstanding products and your JOHN STALLING were your techniques that day? continued support. JS: We started the day throwing jigs and blade baits in some traditional spawning flats are were only able to stick a couple keepers. I kept a close eye on the rising water temperature throughout the morning and when the water reached the correct temperature, we started pulling Smile Blades® behind bottom bouncers at 0.8- to 1.1 mph. We mainly fish shallow inland lakes in central Ohio, so we use short leaders Mack’s Lure is proud to introduce and I prefer to tie my own leaders for the members of our Pro Staff, Guide that reason. Staff and VIP Angler programs. These team members ensure our Q: Do you have any proven, go-to customers get products that have presenations for walleye fishing GUEST COMMENTARY been field proven to catch more fish. and for derbys, in particular? Each month, we’ll profile an angler. JS: I love Smile Blades®. When — NEXT UP — presented slowly, the Smile Blade® will pick off even the most neutral JOHN STALLING (OHIO) fish. I am not the best jig fisherman out there, so I needed to find a Q: Tell us a little about yourself, presentation that would catch these John. neutral fish when everyone else was jigging. Smile Blades® and slow JS: I’m 43 years old, married to a trolling gave me the best of both wonderful woman and I have two worlds because I can entice these children that are everything you hope neutral fish and I can cover a lot more for when you think about having water than someone just casting jigs. TROLLING LEAD CORE LINE children. I have been fishing my entire They have changed the way I and a FROM A KAYAK large portion of our competitors fish life. I was first introduced to it by my BY BRAD HOLE, MACK’S LURE PRO STAFF parents growing up. I have always during our club events. had a great love and appreciation for the outdoors, especially hunting Q: Any additional walleye fishing One of the challenges with kayak and fishing. tips you would give our readers? fishing can be trying to target fish that are deep in the water column. I have an uncle that took me fishing JS: Slow down! Crank baits can cover There’s nothing more frustrating than at Rice Lake in Canada several a lot of water fast and can produce seeing a fish on your fish finder at times when I was younger and that a lot of fish, but it is my experience 10- to 25-feet below the surface — is where I developed an addiction that the quality fish are taken by and knowing your top water trolling to fishing. I was raised in a very slow moving baits, especially with a presentation will never be seen by competitive family — played sports Smile Blade® and crawler at 0.8- to that fish. Getting your lure deeper and eventually had the desire to fish 1.1 mph. The other thing I would tell and in frton of that fish will only competitively. others — and I need to do more of increase your odds of getting that myself — is enjoy what you’re doing. fish to strike. I started fishing tournaments and Enjoy the company of your partner. I actually won some Mack’s Lure Smile fish tournaments with my father and When it comes to kayak fishing, Blades® for a third or fourth place my son and I need to worry less about less is more. Skip the downrigger. finish at a tournament and carried where we finish, and take the time to Trolling lead core line from a kayak is them around in my tackle bag for a appreciate who I am enjoying 8 hours an easy and effective way of trolling full year before I learned what they on the water with. That being said, I for fish at deeper depths. were and how well they work. am already tying additional spinner

MACKSLURE.COM Page 5 Lead core line is a thin guage of Mack’s Lure Pro Staffer Brad Hole hits Lake wire protected by a braided outer Sammamish near Seattle, Wash. with YakFish sleeve. The line is color coated every WATCH THIS! TV to chase cutthroats with Wiggle Hoochies™. 50-feet, easily allowing anglers to count the number of colors they are letting out; each getting your line further down into the water column.

For targeting trout in local lakes, I use 18-pound lead core line with a 50-foot mono leader. The long 10- to 12-pound mono leader helps to not spook the fish while giving your lure a natural presentation in the water.

I’ve been a longtime fan of Mack’s Lure’s Pee Wee™ Wiggle Hoochies™ tipped with a small worm, which produces some great action that predacious fish can’t resist. I like to maintain an average trolling speed of 1.5 mph while letting out one to bent over. I though, for sure, I was walleye. although they come in many four colors of lead core. Each color snagged until I heard the splash of a sizes, using these worms can be puts your lure down roughly 5- to fish going aerial behind me. extremely effective and can provide 6-feet in the water column, but the a lot of movement to the lure you’re depth can vary based on current, As I reeled in the slack of the line, using. speed and water conditions. the fish leaped a couple more times and made several runs under the For example, when using a Smile Placing your rod in a forward rod kayak before I netted my first 20- Blade® Slow Death or Super Slow holder will help you focus on the tip inch cutthroat. Death Rig, start threading the very of your rod and knowing when to tip of the nightcrawler up the hook respond to the fish strike. Practice and all the way to the eye. Make making gradual S-turns and reducing sure the hook itself is not exposed and increasing your trolling speed and the barbs on the hook make will help to trigger that next bite and QUESTION the crawler stick into place. Once hopefully land you that trophy fish. the crawler is threaded, bend it so OF THE MONTH it’s perpendicular to the hook, then pinch off the crawler an inch from Have a question? We’d love to the back of the hook. This is only a answer it for you! Shoot us an email preference. at [email protected] with your question and you may see it featured Some anglers like to use an entire in an upcoming issue of the Mack night crawler when fishing. The Attack Magazine! same concept applies when using a crawler harness, such as teh Q: How do you rig a night crawler Double Whammy® Walleye. The to a Smile Blade® Slow Death or hooks are smaller, but the same Super Slow Death Hook or crawler concept applies to the first hook. Several years ago, I remember harness? Some anglers let the trailer hook experiementing with lead core line dangle and others pinch the hook for the first time. I was so afraid that A: That’s a great question! into the night crawler. Again, this is this sinking line was going to snag There have been many people a perference and either way works! the bottom. My line was roughly 15 calling in and asking about the feet down and 150 feet behind me. same thing. So, one of our Pro For several minutes, I was so fixated Staffers made a video about it! on watching the tip of my rod for any But we’ll answer it here, as well. HOW TO RIG A WORM ON A action that I failed to notice that I was now in 18 feet of water. I turned A nightcrawler is an effective bait SLOW DEATH HOOK abruptly and that’s when my rod for many species of fish, particularly

MACKSLURE.COM Page 6 #MACKSLURE HOT DEAL OF THE MONTH POSTS OF THE MONTH

PHOTO OF THE MONTH BCFishn.com’s Danny Coyne (L), Lone Butte Sporting Goods’ Mark Rosenboom (M) & Mack’s Lure’s Bobby Loomis (R) show off kokanee caught on British Columbia ice.

PHOTO CREDIT: Harrod Outdoors VIDEO OF THE MONTH Mack’s Lure’s Bobby Loomis and Lance Merz joined Richy Harrod and the Northwest Outdoorsman for some spectacular spring trout and kokanee fishing on Roosevelt.

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