6-14-23: Trollers are working a bit but quality fish are coming in just fine. Water column temps are changing a bit. Thermocline dropping 5F from 66F at 20 to 61.7 at 25ft and an additional 5F+ between 25 and 30ft. Now, we’ve always seen the thermocline appear this time of year, and then it washes out. But while we have it, it’s not unusual to find fish at that depth, especially later in the morning. Today the trout were biting between 14 and 24 ft deep in water 25 to 45ft deep. Leadcore: 3 to 4 1/2 colors IN the water. Best speed today was 1.5 to 2.2 mph. Although Eagle Lake trout are often found in warmer temps, our warmest temp was only 66F to 20ft which keeps them moving up and down the water column.
Trout remain scattered. We have some on the west side, the east side and some at Shrimp Island and Miners Pt and rock piles are a bit lazier. (tui chub are also moving up north, carpets of fish on your scope are most likely the northern school of tui chub moving north to spawn. The others spawn in the south basin). If we get too deep, we’ll find a chub. Water temps are still good but changes are beginning to show. Most of my shallow fish have been off outer rock piles, closer to deeper water than the shoreline.
We did work out from Merrill and moved around the depths. We did catch a few trout on gold/red (1/6oz), Red/Gold (1/4oz) and red dog lures and smacked around quite a bit on various other lures in. I have been running water 25 to 45 ft deep. Leaning to the west side, middle and southern section of the lake. I was running the red/gold Thomas Buoyant, red-dog, orange and pink. Worthy mentions: Sure Catch goldie locks, pink cyclops, pink buoyants, Dick Nites, red-prism needlefish and orange. Some chartreuse are also working such as Baby Simons (chartreuse/white & pink white have caught fish for me here and there)
There has been very few trout foraging in close but they are still holding out off some outer rock piles mostly up by Shrimp Island and Slough Pt. Small dark or orange leeches, scuds, shrimp patterns and various nymphs & midges have worked and the fish are loaded with them all as well as snails. If you’re not nymphing or midging under indicators, you might as well stay safe in deeper water. Basically there’s a smorgasbord of critters on the west side. On the east side my fish were filling up on daphnia & laying in the thermocline…a bit lazier too.
I have had several one hit wonder colors for lures…. Copper/red, rainbow trout patterns, perch colors. Baby Simon’s nickel/chartreuse and orange. Rainbow Runner in orange. Pearl and fire tiger colors seem to work better under a cloud cover or haze. The trout still seem to be leaning towards something with red or orange on it for trolling.
Our mornings have been nice. We’ve seen some pond fog here and there but lifts early and isn’t nearly as bad as fall when temps are lower. We’ve had thunderstorms form in the afternoons and evenings most days. Winds can pick up right before the storm hits.
Also something to note for weekend warriors. Bandwidth. When all the campers show up, cell signal and internet goes way down. Stop and enjoy the outdoors, fishing, friends and conversations around the campfire! It’s okay to be free from your devices.
Eagle Lake RV park has off sight cabins too so be sure to contact them at 530 825-3133. There are a couple realtor’s taking on a handful of cabins. You can text or email me for some phone numbers. I’m not the cabin rental business. If you have a cabin listed for vacation rental, perhaps you or your realtor should advertise these to those coming up to the lake. Campers, the Eagle Lake Marina Store is open M-Th 8am-6pm. Friday-Sunday 7am-7pm. Their number is 530 825-3454
