Fall Fishing at East Lake

Fall fishing can be great. And last week, I wanted to get back and try a little fall fishing at East Lake.

It was worth the trip. Here is a picture of a Rainbow Trout caught in the cold, windy weather. But read on for the whole story.

My wife and I enjoy fishing East Lake and I’ve written a few blogs about it. Fishing East Lake in the Fall and Fishing East Lake are a couple posts you may enjoy along with the East Lake Fly Box which includes many flies I use at East Lake.

We decided not to take the boat for a couple of reasons. I’d seen pictures of snow and learned the boat docks were being removed and most importantly, the wind was in the forecast.

Our past experience this time of year is that the fish could be found in shallow water. The trout seem to find areas where Kokanee congregate to begin spawning and we try to target the Rainbow and Brown Trout around them. This strategy has been successful in past years. Would it work again?

We arrived at the lake to waves breaking on shore with the wind in our face. We’d learned our lesson last year and brought our waders specifically to wade the shallows while casting streamers.

Would the fish be there?

It didn’t take long to hook up. This Rainbow was a strong fish.

A few Kokanees took the fly as well. They were in their full spawning splendor.

But the real treat was both of us hooking up at the same time. A double! Actually, a double Brown! An 18 and 20 inch fish…yes, mine was the smaller one.

Sure, it was tough casting into the wind. There was still snow around the campground and shady areas of the lake. But it was good to be out.

We took a long lunch break to warm the fingers and my toes, but hit the lake again…and caught more fish.

A few other fish came to the net for both of us. Here are a couple more Brown Trout.

It was a great day! We landed 15 – 20 trout between the two of us and more Kokanee.

If you look closely, you’ll see a fish in the net.

There’s still time for you to give it a try. We’re headed there again today!

Enjoy…go fish!