Finally.

After years of environmental impact studies, debate, and loss of aquatic bug life, the “Gem of the Cascades”, is about to begin it’s comeback as one of the best trout lakes in Oregon.

Once known for it’s rich aquatic life and fast growing trout, Diamond Lake in the southern Oregon Cascades has been battling an infestation of “chubs” for over a decade now. Without sugar coating it, some “YAHOO” decided to introduce live bait-namely the tui chub- to try and catch some of the large trout that used to swim in Diamond Lakes cool waters beneath the mighty sentinels of Mt. Thielson and Mt. Bailey.

As the chub prolifically reproduced to ungodly numbers, the trout were slowly squeezed out, as well as the bug life that once thrived in the shallows of the lake, leaving a “trout dead” lake and a ruined natural ecosystem. (Note: Diamond Lake historically is not known to have any native fish to it’s waters.)

That is about to change.

This September, around Labor Day, Diamond Lake is scheduled for a rotenone cleansing, which will kill off more than 200 million tui chubs, as well as what is left of the 35,000 -mainly planted- trout that are estimated to be left in the lake. Obviously, not a scene for the squeamish, the rotenone will choke off the oxygen in the lake, and it will be like Thanksgiving come early for hawks, eagles, racoons,and any one else who likes “chub chowder”.

The suffocated fish will float to the surface and the banks will be littered with the dead fish in what will surely be a memorable, albeit ghastly killing fields scene. I also guarantee that if you happen to comb the shores after the dirty deed is done, you will see some VERY LARGE Williamson River Trout that had been introduced into the lake a few years back to try and take a bite out of the chub population. Surely, many of these trout have been surviving, and showing up on fish finders as large 10 to 12 pound uncatchable blips.

Rotenone is a chemical/ plant extract which quickly breaks down in sunlight. According to numerous sources,when administered properly, the effect on wildlife, other than fish, is minimal. However, it is considered toxic prior to it’s chemical breakdown, and even though I have heard that humans can eat fish that have been treated by rotenone, I think I am going to opt for the pizza at Diamond Lake(which can be equally toxic) rather than the “pan fried poison trout almondine”.

There have also been some “bad experiences” with rotenone(see Davis Lake California) so I am sure many environmental groups will be monitoring the pre and post treated lake.

The last time Diamond Lake was treated was in 1954, and it took three years for the lake to return to an aquatic rich, trout smorgasbord.

But it did return, and there is no reason to think it won’t have the same results this time.

The bad news is, that sometimes the rotenone does not get all the invasive fish. Fish will find underwater springs where they can draw enough oxygen to survive, and the chub life cycle begins anew. That is why it so hard to eradicate illegally introduced fish once they are set free.

So MR. YAHOO, don’t put any chubs, goldfish, or other invasive fish into any body of water…PERIOD!!

While we wait for the treatment of the lake, the ODFW has increased the daily limit to 20 trout per day, with no size restrictions.So, if you are a guy or gal who likes to eat trout, or if you are normally a catch and release fishermen, now is the time to put some trout in the fridge–guilt free- because these fish are not long for this world.

I myself smoked up about 18 nice Diamond Lake trout the other day,so you better hurry because there are only 34,982 left!!

Or, you can come back mid-September and fill your freezer with 200 million Rotenone treated chubs….

A.J. Klott
Author, writer of fishing humor,and “fly tack” peddler.A.J. writes about the people,characters and modern day events that surround the fishing world. His first book is due out in December of 2005.
If you need a laugh or a fun gift, visit his website at:
http://www.twoguyswithflys.com

Many of us dream of sportfishing but how many of us really have the means to pursue such an elitist sport? Here in Hawaii, the cost of chartering a boat for a day could easily run around $600-$900 and most will agree that owning a boat, even a relatively small one, is the proverbial “hole in the water.”

Over the last few years, a quiet version of sportfishing has evolved into a class almost unto itself, kayak fishing. Although kayak fishing may have been around for years, the innovations and trophies being pursued these days have been turning heads in the fishing world along while attracting ranks of new paddling anglers!

Take the “tupperware” kayaks that have long been the durable go-anywhere beach toys, rig some rod holders, fish bags, and even fish finders and you’ve created a mean and lean fishing machine. With a price tag of under $2,000 for a dream cruiser and some decent tackle to boot, kayak fishing could be the biggest thing to happen since Bertram Yachts came out with the Deep-V!

Propelled with nothing but a paddle, kayak anglers can often be found working the coastline far out enough to where they’re boating pelagics like wahoo, dorado, sailfish, and even marlin! It’s a fishing combination that gives the angler an opportunity to fight a fish like no other. The slow trolling speeds required and relatively great stability of most of these fun kayaks make kayak fishing something most can slide into pretty easily. You don’t have to be one of those macho-types associated with the tippy surfskis or one-man outrigger canoes that have exploded in popularity in recent years.

Trolling on a kayak is to glide silently through the water in anticipation of “the bite.” The lack of any engine noise adds to the drama when the reel starts screaming and line starts to peel out from the spool with the fish’s initial strike and run. Then the excitement takes on a whole new dimension as the light weight of the kayak allows the fish to tow it through the water, a sensation one would never experience on even the smallest of conventional fishing craft.

It’s been nearly two years since I started kayak fishing and I can’t believe it took me so long to give it a try. Having fished from boats and from the shore, I really thought I’d “been there done that” until I got my first big strike trolling a lure on a kayak. What turned out to be an eleven-pound trevally on light tackle got me hooked on fishing like I’d never been before. Soon, we moved up to larger tackle and eventually began working much deeper water for the pelagic trophies.

Certainly, we’ll never come back with a collection of fish to cover the dock like many of our “bigger boat” counterparts, but when fishing from a kayak one or two are really all you need as the memory of landing a bluewater tropy from a kayak is more than enough to satisfy the saltiest of us all.

Richard Young is the creator of http://www.hawaiibeachcombers.com
A lifelong native of Hawaii, Young is an avid beach lover and has been involved in many of the ocean activities Hawaii has to offer. The sections on Kayak fishing and Hawaii shore fishing are among the site’s most popular and offer a good overview of fishing in Hawaii.

1. Fish slowly, providing better action and enabling the fish to have ample eye contact.

2. When the bite seems to slow down, you should slow also down. Work methodically until you find the fish.

3. Always be aware of your weather forecast. Wind, storms, and lightening kill. Safety comes first.

4. If wet feet bother you on rainy days, try a pair of GORE-TEX sox. They are waterproof and can be worn in any shoe or boot.

5. Be alert and watchful. Fish give away their presence 90% of the time through baitfish fleeing; surface action; or vegetation movement.

6.Always look in a bass’ mouth before releasing it. Most of the time, when fighting a lure in his jaw, a bass will try to throw up whatever is in his stomach. You may be able to determine what prey the fish are actively feeding on and choose a lure/presentation to duplicate it.

7.Set the hook on a fish by feel rather than by sight.

8. Regularly check your knot for weakness and hook for sharpness.

9. Bass are not that smart. A swivel does not affect the action of a lure in a negative way and fish don’t really care about it. Use one anytime there is the potential for line twist.

10. If you are using small hooks, don’t jerk hard on the hookset; just tighten up the slack with the rod and reel faster.

11. Check your line just above the lure frequently when fishing crankbaits around rocks, gravel, stumps, and other hard obstructions. They can quickly fray your line.

12. Bass normally respond best to an erratic retrieve and a lot of motion. Keep that lure in front of the fish as long as you can.

13. Hold your rod tip down and to the side for better feel, keeping the angle between rod and line at around 90 degrees.

14. Black buzz baits seem to produce more strikes than bright colors.

15. Since the bass’s metabolism is high, use large crankbaits in warm and hot weather. Switch to smaller baits when the water is cooler.

16. Use a wire cross-locking snap when fishing crank plugs. It allows you to change lures quickly and enables the bait to vibrate more freely.

17. If you notice feeding fish and baitfish movement, the predators are actively after the prey. Switch to a fast moving crankbait and burn it through the area of activity.

18. Protect your eyes with a good pair of plastic polarized sunglasses. They will protect you from the sun’s rays and also provide a shield against a snagged slip sinker or lure flying back when pulled loose.

19. Keep baits fresh and airtight with a food vacuum sealer. You can also store hooks and other terminal tackle this way.

20. Store small quantities of hooks with a few grains of rice and they will never rust.

Using these tips will help you increase your bass catch!

Joan Yankowitz publishes consumer and business “Kwik eGuides” at http://www.kwikeguides.com Instantly download “Bass Fishing 101: How to Catch the Next Big One Kwik eGuide at http://www.kwikeguides.com/bass.htm