Whiskeytown Report 5/29-5/31

Left Sac at 2pm. Arrived at our campsite at 5 after a few missed turns to find the site. In years past we always camped at one of the shore sites at Oak Bottom but they were all booked when I made my reservation. We ended up at Brandy Creek site 02 up on top of the hill, overlooking the lake. Missed the turns because the sign said Brandy Creek Falls, nothing about camp sites. There are only two sites up there and they are about 100 yards from each other so we never heard our neighbors. Hopefully they never heard us! Each of those sites have their own Pit Toilet. This may sound weird but we were impressed with the Pit potties. Usually they are smelly, wooden spider and wasp infested shit shacks. Not these. White painted concrete and as clean as a 5 star hotel!
The site was easily large enough for the 3 of us but the parking area was a bit small. That made things interesting trying to turn around our vehicles with trailers.
I got turned around after 3 back and forth maneuvers with out issue. Ken made it in about the same but we found out that he pulled one of the trailer wires due to not enough slack. We set up camp and then spent about an hour repairing the wires. (Note to self)... bring extra wire, butt connectors, solder .... all we had was some pilers and a roll of bailing wire but we MacGyvered the shit out of it and got things working as they should!
Decided that it was too late to drive down and launch, so we just hung out and broke out the Bourbon.
We wanted to keep things super simple this trip so there was no cooking. Ken brought a tub of KFC and all the other fixin's for Friday nights dinner. Later that night, after the Bourbon had kicked in, we packed everything into the Bear Box. Or so we thought! Ken brought the KFC in a soft sided ice chest. He had taken the food out and placed it in a different cooler that was in the box but left the empty soft sided chest out. About 2:30AM Mr. Bear comes though and tears that soft cooler to shreds. He then heads towards my tub that had all of my rod holders, fish finders.....He dumped that stuff all over the place! Turns out he was after the 4 bottles of Pro-cure scents that were in there. He chewed Three bottles and my bait wax. Turns out Bears really like Bloody Tuna scent as it was the only bottle we never found!
Saturday Morning was clear and and a slight breeze. Launched at Brandy Creek ramp at 7AM and headed straight across to the Green bridge on the other side. Marked lots of scattered, single fish and a few small schools. We all managed to land a few Small Kokes. All going about 12 inches. Couldn't bet the big boys to bite at all. We trolled all the way down to Oak Bottom and had the same results. At noon we headed back to the ramp. I did manage to land one nice 16" Rainbow on the way.
About a 1/2 mile before we got to the ramp, Kens NV180 motor died and he said that he smelled plastic. Got things loaded and back up to the camp site. Turns out the the Anderson connector had failed and welded itself together. Had to bust out the Hammer and break the connector apart. Obvious signs of arching. (Note to self#2)... bring extra wire, butt connectors, solder .... all we had was some pilers and a roll of bailing wire but we MacGyvered the shit out of it and got things working as they should!
Mike(SaltyTherapy) showed up about 5PM. He is a Wealth of Knowledge when it comes to the lakes up in this area. Turns out that most of the fish were down on the south end towards the dam. We all get back on the water. Now it's my turn for problems! Couldn't get my ePDL to power up to save my soul. First time I've had any issues with it. Screw it, I'll just pedal! Fishing was much better toward the south. We all had many strikes and Kokanee or Rainbows landed. I even got a Double!
Still nothing trophy sized to brag about though.
Back to the camp site at 8PM. Ate the remainder of the Chicken with Refried Beans and Cheese in a Flour Tortilla. Killed the remainder of the Bourbon. Guessing about 10:30-11:00, we saw the Meteor that came over California. What a spectacular site!!!
No bear issues Saturday night. We learned our lesson well.
As many of you may know, I had Cancer surgery and finished Radiation Therapy 3 weeks ago. I'm still suffering from the remaining burn. Our plan was to break camp Sunday morning and then fish for a few hours before heading back to Sacramento. When I rolled out of the back of my Sequoia, I proceeded to tear open the scabs on by backside. With my butt burning and having no motor, I decided it would be torture to pedal for any length of time, so back to Sac I went.
This may not have been the trophy fish trip that we all dreamed of, but it will definitely be one we'll remember. I still had a terrific time. Thanks to Ken, Jerry and Mike for coming along.
Kevin

Hi Kevin,
Sounds like fun.... I plan to go soon.    Was up at Stampede this last weekend and all fish were tiny like at Bullards.   So I got to get some decent sized kokes..... probably get to whiskey weekend after next.    I pulled a little 6" around the lake for about a half hour not seeing his bite..... had to eat him since he was very dead..... bout two bites but it was good.

Thanks for the story and the reminder that " Shit happens" and bringing my whole garage is not a bad idea.

Troy

Thanks for the report and sharing the incident with Mr. Bear.  Hope you heal well after the treatment.

Thanks for the great write up and sorry about the bear problems ... and the cancer stuff.
There are some 18" kokes at Berry, but they are not easy to find.

Was up at Stampede this last weekend and all fish were tiny like at Bullards.   So I got to get some decent sized kokes..... probably get to whiskey weekend after next.    I pulled a little 6" around the lake for about a half hour not seeing his bite..... had to eat him since he was very dead..... bout two bites but it was good.

Troy

What was the average size at Stampede?
I will probably go anyway. I also heard they are biting at Donner this year but still at 10" size.

So far, it's been a weird year for Kokanee. Well at least for me. Every lake I've tried at, Bullards Bar, Sly Creek, Whiskeytown have been nothing but dinks and not even a lot of those. Haven't been to New Melones or Shaver yet but I hear they are on the smaller side compared to this time of year in the past years. Maybe something to do with the wacky weather preventing Plankton blooms?

Side note: I've heard reports that they are planning on stocking Bullards Bar with Kings soon. It may or may not be a good idea. I'm hoping the the Kings would feed heavily on the Kokes, Thus growing quite large very fast. Also reducing the abundant # of Kokanee should allow them to grow bigger. On the down side, it could devastate the Koke population at the closest Kokanee holding lake to me.
Kevin

Hi Joe,
Caught about ten all about 6 to 7 inches.  All but one realeased with water cold and those released clean hooked.   One I drug around for a half hour or more without any indication it was there.... two bites and delishous but wanted much much more.

Think I am going to whiskey town soon..... want to go?


Troy

Thanks for the report Kevin!

I've always thought Whiskeytown was a cool lake - but I've never fished it. Looks fun!