Help: Fishing starting July 8th at Lake Roosevelt just South of the casino with Boy Scouts

[jonashlock]

My sons troop is holding their camp this year on Lake Roosevelt just across from the marina (7 bays I believe) Anyways I am used to fishing in the sound. I have volunteered to be the Fishing merit badge leader for this trip and will be brining over my boat (with downriggers and a lowrance system)

Any tips tricks or hot spots that time of year would be appreciated. I am sure we will be doing a combo of bank and boat fishing and I have a variety of rods and reels. Just don't know the techniques for the lake.

I really want to give the boys a fighting chance to land some nice fish. Any help or suggestions for the start of July would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance.

Jon

[Larry3215]

Ive never fished that lake, so cant give you any specifics, but I admire your courage! ;)

Sounds like those boys are in for an adventure and a lifetimes worth of memories. Good on you for doing that

[Larry3215]

Im sure others will be jumping n to give you tips, but you can also search reports for Roosevelt to get ideas of the gear thats being used, depths, etc.

http://www.northwestfishingreports.com/ ... tList/7180

Im not sure exactly where you will be so it might be this one.

http://www.northwestfishingreports.com/ ... tList/7186

[hewesfisher]

Im sure others will be jumping n to give you tips, but you can also search reports for Roosevelt to get ideas of the gear thats being used, depths, etc.

Jon - reading reports will help you a lot as will reading some of the posts in this forum about Lake Roosevelt. You do need to know two important things, (1) all trout with an intact adipose fin must be released and (2) all trout caught with bait count toward the daily limit whether kept or released (see current rules pamphlet pg15).

If camping directly across from Seven Bays Marina, I assume you'll be "rough camping" as there is no campground there and not sure if you'll be on reservation property. You may want to confirm where your group is actually camping. If at a campground, your group may be camping across from Two Rivers Marina, if so, that would be Ft. Spokane campground and launch (suspect this is actually where you will be).

Fishing is good right now for the net pen released trout. For those of us who fish Roosevelt, we consider those 8" - 12" fish pests because you just can't keep them away when searching for bigger fish. In the Seven Bays/Two Rivers area you can catch rainbow trout, kokanee, walleye, and smallmouth bass (maybe even a burbot) without much effort. Bank fishing the shore line around the bridge is good and should be fun for the boys.

By boat, you can go north of Two Rivers or head west toward Seven Bays to troll for trout and walleye. Trolling for trout from the no wake line all the way to Hawk Creek and up to Lincoln is productive. You can jig or pitch crank baits along rocky points or outcroppings for smallmouth and walleye. We have occasionally caught rainbow when jigging or pitching crankbaits.

Trout are spread out in the water column right now, from 5' - 25' of the surface and some deeper. Shallower depths will be very productive for the net pen fish, and always a possibility of picking up a good sized trout or kokanee.

Typical trout trolling gear will work well, wedding rings, trout plugs, trolling flies (my personal preference), and just about anything else that falls under trout trolling gear. Pop gear isn't necessary in Roosevelt. I'd recommend 7' - 9' light action rods for trolling (I use 8' 6" rods) and typical light action spinning rods for bank fishing. Of course, any available rod will catch fish equally as well as another, more fun with light action rods.

Btw, my adult son is an Eagle scout and I'm a former adult leader, so kudos to you for helping the troop.

Have fun on your outing!