Lake Cocolalla 3.31.17

Ice out has begun!

Half of the lake is open, while the other half is still slushy rotten ice. The lake is currently kayak access only because the public boat launch is surrounded by ice. However, the fishing is great!

Browns, Cutthroat, and Rainbows are hungry and willing to hit a #6 Thin Mint, #6 Olive Woolly Bugger, and a #6 Olive Balanced leech. I tend to fish olive or brown in this lake because the lake is loaded with small perch, a perfect trout treat.

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With the surrounding shores completely saturated from the recent rain, some trout have keyed in on the large nightcrawlers washing into the lake. Because of this, the trout are cruising feet from the shore in 2-8 feet of water.

All of the trout were skinny except...

Water clarity is pretty good, but heavy rain could change that in a day. All of the trout were skinny except for the browns that found the nightcrawlers. Skinny or not, the trout were very willing to eat my fly, and with an attitude.

If you have a kayak, float tube, or small boat that doesn't need a proper boat launch, I would definitely fish this lake.

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