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Rock Lake Report
Whitman County, WA

Details

01/30/2009
Rainbow Trout
Noon
01/31/2009
3
1218

I thought that it would be good to update people on Rock Lake.

First, the water ran from 34 degrees in the inlet to a high of 39 degrees F at one point. The water is generally very clear, except at the inlet. The ice is off the boat launching spot, the ground is firm, the water about as high as it gets.

The fish are awake, but sleepy. We ended up catching 10 between two of us, but we saw far more that followed up until they saw the boat and turned away at the last moment.

I would say that we did OK, a 3 - 4 for the day, but like I said, the fish were followers today. I kept a few for our diet and was amazed that none of them had anything in their stomachs, so I think we must have awaken them from a deep slumber to get what we got.


Comments

Captain Jim
2/1/2009 5:14:00 PM
My wife and I experienced the same thing about 3 weeks ago. The big ones are all down 50' or deeper; and the small hungry ones are on the surface. But they are extremely picky. I caught 3 fish on 3 different lures. I think as it gets warmer they will start moving around more. I hope! Bring on the spring!
eustace
2/1/2009 8:11:00 PM
Thanks for the update Anglinarcher, me and my buddies were on Bead the other day and wondering about Rock. They thaught Rock would be frozen over, but it seemed to me I had been told in the past it rearly ever freezes over. Have you ever seen the Lake completely frozen over or at least safe enough to fish through.
Nik
2/2/2009 9:49:00 AM
I don't think Rock ever freezes over completely, and some years it barely gets any ice. Thanks for the update though, almost time to get out!
Anglinarcher
2/2/2009 11:30:00 AM
I have never seen ice on Rock except at some of the smallest coves. This year I visited the lake just after the worst weather and except for an icy launch it was ice free.

Simply stated, the lake is too deep (huge heat sink), too narrow (wind tunnel), and has too much dark rock around it (more heat sink).

As for the fish, the ones we got were not small. The average was about 18" and only one was 16". Several of the followers were bigger then what we caught. I saw trollers using downriggers that went fishless. I saw long line trollers catch some. I won't tell you my method (would not do any good - would need to show you), except to comment that Rock can be very technique specific, with each method working for those that have tweaked it "just right".
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Available Guide

Available Fishing Guide:
Website: Darrell & Dads Family Guide Service

Phone: (509) 687-0709