It was touch and go but I made it up to Lake Cavanaugh today. I have a million things to get done this evening so this will be short. On the water around 9:30 and headed across the lake from the launch. My game plan was to work the hard drop-off in 50-60’ of water pulling kokanee gear on one side of the boat and trolling a fly on the other. Gear set and trolling at 1.4 mph I got to business. Off the downrigger I was chasing meter marks running a pink/gold dodger followed 14” behind by a variety of home tied kokanee lures. The two kokanee hooked found a shrimp pattern that I tied for Chelan irresistible. Both were meter-mark fish at 28' in 50 feet of water. Unfortunately after a classic kokanee battle both popped off the double hooks just short of the net.

On the surface line, I was switching back and forth between an olive egg sucking leach pattern fly and a variety of 2 ½” Rapala type lures. The leach accounted for most of the fish and considering the cold 35.5 – 37.5 degree water had solid action the whole time I was out. A blue/white Rapala running about 60’ back took the big fish of the day.

It was an incredible feeling to get back on the water again. The weather was picture perfect and in 4 - 5 hours of fishing I managed to scratch out 2 kokanee (short releases). I also hooked 19 cutthroat to 20”. The surface line was scent and bait free so all but 5 fish were released unharmed.

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