How the HST Map helped me catch fish in Oregon

[oldranger]

Those of you that monitor "beyond the sierra Nevada" have probably noticed that I frequently fish Wickiup reservoir in Central Oregon. Except for the old river and stream channels most of the lake is extremely shallow. It is currently down about 12 feet from full pool but less than 1/2 of the lake is currently over 25 feet deep and the lake bottom can rise from 40 feet to 5 feet in less than 100 feet horizontally. While I have a chart plotter on my boat, it measures depth from full pool and thus does not give accurate warning of when the bottom is going rise rapidly. Nor does the sonar that tells me the actual depth of the water. So I scrolled the HST map up to central oregon and zoomed into Wickiup Reservoir. When it got zoomed in enough the map displayed contour lines of the lake bottom. I then printed the map then highlighted the two main channels in the lake with yellow highlighter. Then in bright pink highlighter I outlined the 4300 ft contour which given the current elevation of the lake contained the area that is 26 feet deep. with dark red I outlined the 4330 to give me a rough idea of the shoreline of the lake. This map plus my chart plotter plus my sonar enabled me to find some areas to fish that I hadn't recognized in the past and directly led me to the spot where I caught my biggest kokanee. I suspect anyone fishing reservoirs anywhere could do the same thing and enhance their fishing success.

[austex]

WOw Mike, we can learn something new every day. That said I hear learning new things, not just exercising the mind (Sudoku etc) helps ward off Alzheimer's !

[oldranger]

Not helping me much launched the boat with the drain plug out a couple of days ago. switched on the bilge pump and put the plug back in and pulled the boat out of the water as soon as I noticed it. What a dummy!

[Vaca Russ]

[oldranger]

Wickiup Reservoir.png

You got it. I could tell you where the fish are but then ....

[rlown]

Not helping me much launched the boat with the drain plug out a couple of days ago. switched on the bilge pump and put the plug back in and pulled the boat out of the water as soon as I noticed it. What a dummy!

You're gonna need a check-list. Probably impressed the heck out of the grandson!

Plug stuff happens. Happened to my dad in an old Dorsett; we pulled up anchor and speed around for a bit and the suction pulled the water right out, and we resumed sturgeon fishing.
Happened to a co-worker who knew nothing about boats; I decided to go with him to help. We got the boat back on the trailer but couldn't move it with all the water in it. As he attached the winch, he stuck his fingertip between the rope and said go! I moved the vehicle forward and then I heard a scream; bye-bye fingertip. As the paramedics attended to him, I had to sit in the tow vehicle as it's parking brake didn't work well, and the boat was still water-logged. I just asked which hospital was he taken to, and then after the water drained, I met back up with him.

[oldranger]

I decided to get some letter decals "check plug" and put on the bow of the boat so when I disconnect the boat from the trailer just before backing all the way in I'll be staring at a reminder. Suspect I'll receive some snickers but that is better than the alternative.

[rlown]

No one will laugh at you for being safe..

[MountainMinstrel]

Wickiup Reservoir.png

Always leave the plug in the drivers seat...I learned the hard way.

[oldranger]

Wickiup Reservoir.png

Always leave the plug in the drivers seat...I learned the hard way.

That won't work for me. As the boat is in the water several minutes before I board it.