Ice Fishing for Kokanee close to Winthrop, WA with my buddies at Patterson Lake near Sun Mountain Resort. I have been ice fishing for 50 years in North Central Washington and this year is crappy ice on all the lakes I normally fish. Patterson Lake has 5" of solid ice so far and only 3" of snow on top. This is going to be the perfect hang out for those ice fishing enthusiasts. Patterson Lake is not rated excellent for catching Kokanee or Trout by WDFW. It just doesn't produce very big fish. The average size of the Kokanee & Trout is about 9 inches. If the average size was 12"+, then I would put a 5+ rating on this Lake for ice fishing.

Why do I ice fish?
1) I love to start my Jiffy Ice Auger up and drill holes in the winter time.
2) I enjoy eating all the lake fish in the winter. I never get a muddy taste
3) I enjoy getting out with my buddies to relax and have a little sport at catching.
4) It is great exercise walking all over the ice to find the right hole.
5) You don't need a boat.
6) I learned how to fish off a dock and love the challenge. Ice Fishing is just like fishing off a dock or anchored.
7) Fried Perch is my #1 reason for Ice Fishing... Smoked Kokanee is the #2 reason for Ice Fishing
8) Innovation - I love to challenge my buddies to the best rig contest!

Our party of (4) caught a limit of 15 Kokanee and 5 Rainbow in less than one hour directly in front of the WDFW Discovery Pass parking lot on Patterson Lake about 75 yards from shore. The depth of the water is about 40 feet where we fished. We used a variety of Bay De Noc Swedish Pimples rigged a variety of ways. I put together a Swedish Pimple dropper rig using a 3 way swivel and some surgical tubing and it worked better than all the rigs out on the water. Take a good look at this beauty in the picture. We baited all the size #6 hooks with a minimum of 5 maggots each to cover the hook completely. The fish will not bite very hard if any of the baited hook is exposed.

We smoked these Kokanee & Trout whole for a delightful winter time snack. MMM good!!

I will guide for ice fishing on a limited basis throughout the winter months and provide all the gear, bait, and Jiffy Ice Auger. Just give me a call to set up an ice fishing adventure.



Don Talbot Fishing - call 509-679-8641
Don Talbot's Fishing Guide Service

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