Category: Lakes

Carp Outing Aug 3rd 8:30 Banks Lake

Hello all you Carp hunters …

Just a quick email to find out who is interested so we can nail down some details over the next weeks before the outing. The date is Saturday, August 3rd starting at 8:30 at Banks Lake although I will be there the 2nd on Friday scouting out the known carp habitats so we can get on some Saturday.

As a few of you witnesses last summer at the outing the conditions have to be right for everything to come together and end up with the behemoth on the end of your line. Conditions such as sunshine to spot them, no wind and no chop on the water so we can see then, water temp at about 71 degrees or better, water levels which should not be a problem at Banks Lake at that time, the carp need to be feeding in groups … need I say that it is a hunt to be sure. Just laying this out so there are no disappointments if the conditions do not come together. I have been on Banks when they do and had 20 fish to hand in four hours, also have been skunked.

So if you are willing to take a chance on a good day, let me know. Ron Romig is bringing his jet boat and can get a few into position with that … if anyone else wants to bring a boat let me know. I will be wading in a couple different spots and can lead that group. If you are coming Friday we can camp at a campground near the lake that Ron’s friend owns, more details to follow.

Please let me know if you plan on coming and which days so I can plan accordingly. Any questions just shoot … Mark

Mark Koch

Reading the Water at Beaver Lake

On November 8th, I went to Beaver Lake with a fishing buddy.  The WDFW had closed their public access on the lake, but we accessed the lake from a city park across the lake from the WDFW access.  [The city park road is about 50 yards from the lake, so one needs a dolly or be able to carry the boat that distance.]  The fishing was slow for the first hour or so.  We trolled around the lake and caught nothing but the bottom.

Mid morning the WDFW truck arrived and dumped a load of nice fish into the lake.  For those who have difficulty reading the water, that is a good sign.  Shortly, everyone was catching fish.  The problem for most was that the limit could only contain two fish greater than 15” in length; and the new fish were all larger than 15 inches.  We didn’t have a problem because of catch and release can be done with artificial lures/flies.  After about an hour, the fishing started to slow, but another truck arrived and the fishing became exciting again.  Shortly after noon, we decided we’d caught enough fish and left to get lunch.

— Dave Nielson, Club Member