With the weather forecasts looking pretty bad last week, I chose to run up to Keller and troll for kokanee on Thursday. I should have stayed home, or maybe just tried the fishing from shore, where we got two limits of big rainbow the week before.

I had some doubts about going to Keller and trolling for kokanee on Lake Roosevelt last Thursday. The fact that it wasn’t going to be snowing and there wasn’t going to be much wind made that particular day the best choice for the week. The reason for hesitation was that there was a full moon and a big shift in temperature. This combination has worked against me in the past. Still, I talked Tom Verschueren into making the long drive to Keller. I had been out the week before with Austin Moser, and in spite a howling wind he got me a dandy 19-inch kokanee. It hit one of the new Copper Series blades from Kokabow Tackle and a Ravisher spinner. I really wanted to get some of those big kokanee that are showing up in Lake Roosevelt this year.

We ran from the launch up to a spot above the mouth of the San Poil. There were a bunch of boats here when we arrived. The first one that passed near us yelled that the fishing was very slow. We had just put out our gear and actually got a fish fairly soon. It was a red band rainbow that we released. We got several hits, lost a couple of fish and retrieved Kokabow blades and spinners that had been stripped of corn, and released another red band. I decided to run down to Camel Nose to see if it was better down there. It wasn’t. Tom reeled in a nice rainbow that I kept for dinner and we headed for home. I noticed that the parking lot at Keller was still full of trucks and trailers. Most anglers were still out on the water looking for fish when we left. This week’s photo is of the fat rainbow that Tom reeled in. It was taken near where we fished from the shore the previous week.

The fishing for giant kokanee on Lake Roosevelt is the best in four years. Last time I was up there every boat at the ramp that I talked to had caught kokanee, and some of them measured 22 inches. I recently fished for trout from the shore at Keller for the first time and my fishing buddy and I landed two limits. The trout were 16 to 21 inches. Fishing is so good that I have dedicated the FishingMagician E-Letter for Winter 2020 to fishing on Lake Roosevelt. I talk about where to fish, including Google Earth maps of the best fishing areas. I also describe in detail what tackle and what baits to use for a successful day on the water. This e-letter is absolutely free, and I don’t share my subscriber list with anyone. If you have an interest in getting in on the action this winter on Lake Roosevelt for kokanee and rainbow, either from a boat or from shore, you will want to get a copy of the FishingMagician E-Letter #49, Winter 2020. Just go to www.fishingmagician.com and click on the E-Letter button at the top left hand corner of the Home Page. Your free copy will be on its way.

It’s that time of year the for big sports and boat shows all over the state. The timing is great for these events, as many anglers have their boats stored for the winter, and the weather keeps many indoors. These shows offer a way to learn and talk about their favorite hunting and fishing activities, even though they can’t participate in them during the winter.

Starting on Friday, January 17th is the 27th Annual Tri-Cities Sportsmen Show. It will be held at the HAPO Center, which was formerly known as the TRAC, so it’s the same location. As usual, there will be lots of things to see and do for the whole family. There will be hourly seminars for Dad, cooking demonstrations for Mom, and the Trout Pond, air rifle shooting and other things for the kids to do. The doors open at 1 p.m. on Friday, and close at 7 p.m. The show opens at 10 a.m. on Saturday, and close at 6 p.m., and on Sunday the hours are from 10 a.m. till 5 p.m. There are door prizes given out hourly during the show, and there will be bonus prizes handed out to the first 150 to 200 people who enter the show each day. The special attraction for this year’s show is the Walk on the Wild Side exhibit. This has been a feature at the Tri-Cities show in the past and was a huge hit.

The following weekend is the big one in Washington State. It’s the 33rd Annual Washington State Sportsmen’s Show in Puyallup. It runs from Wednesday, January 22nd through Sunday, January 26th, and is held at the State Fair Grounds in Puyallup. Every year I see more and more familiar faces from our area at this show.
The Washington Sportsmen’s Show Outdoor Cooking Competition proved to be a huge hit last year and is back all five days of the show with some of the biggest names in barbequing and grilling in North America! The Kayak Fishing Pavilion makes its return as well with even more kayaks and new seminar speakers and topics. 

The Head and Horns Competition is open to everyone with incredible prizes for winning entries. You may have a set of horns or antlers, an old mount or a skull gathering dust that qualifies…bring it in! And where else will you find more than 500 hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation-related companies under one roof? From Baxter’s Kid’s Trout Pond and all kinds of hunting and fishing-related gear for sale to outfitters, resorts, ATV’s, boats, RVs, apparel, outdoor art and much more…it’s all here, for five days only at the Washington Sportsmen’s Show. For more info visit TheSportShows.com.

I have a very full schedule for the next month. Between commission meetings and sports shows I will be on the road much of the rest of January. When my time frees up you can bet that I will be back out on the water. I hope to see you out there!