I am getting geared up to fish Drano Lake next week. Can anybody give any hints on tackle. I have a 21' sled, kicker and a great fishfinder. Help!..........thanks

Pull Mag Warts.

Griz is right! There will be 10,000 mostly orange mag warts trolling in one of the tightest trolling situations you'll ever see. @ Drano stay to the right! Wind follow the pattern. Its easy just gotta pay attention and use your head. The Game Dept hangs in the shore area writting down numbers of boats that troll over the line @ Wind. They award tickets at the end of the day...

Be there at the end of April.

Good fishen

The Wind should have a near-record return this year, I'd be there the last week of April and the first couple weeks of May for sure. Hot orange magnum Warts are the lure of choice and you'll be trolling in about 1--15 feet of water. I use fairly stout line to keep my fish under control and away from the 10,000 other boats - most of which are run by near sighted retired schoolteachers.
Good news is that the bubble area has been expanded downstream for several hundred yards and this should help ease the crowding. The launch area is crowded and the immediate area is shallow. Me careful not to troll close to the point or the bank maggots will pitch lead at you. Lots of traffic, but it's a kick...

ctflyfish, whats your problem, I don't personally fish there and don't plan to, I just wonder why you feel its necessary to refer to guys stuck on the bank as maggots, if this fishery is anything like Blue Creek, very limited bank access, I give those guys plenty of room and don't bad mouth them doing it, if you can't handle a crowd, get the hell out.

Akking, "bank maggot" is acceptable jargon. Although, I can think of a more derogatory term for those North Bonneville and Stevenson natives that plunk on the point every morning...

Hoh, Guess I hadn't heard it before, thought the dude was being a smart ass.

Hoh, I agree we all are "b.m's" sometimes. The "local boys" are something else too. I had one local in my boat swim over to the tressel from my boat and fight a guy who rocked my boat. Some very different people in the Gorge (like everywhere), but I'm lucky that I have some good friends from there, plus it's hard to outfish a local on his own water. Plan to be down there for the circus starting in a couple of weeks.

Hell
I have never been but want to go just to watch the idiot show. Use to go to our local boat launch just to watch guys drop their boat on the concrete. Ever seen a 26' bayliner get dropped on the turf? Or they will bury there truck up to the doors in saltwater trying to free a frozen roller. Feel bad for the guys, but it's funny as hell.

Skiffman,
There is an article and map in the latest edition of the F&H lie sheet this issue. Just got mine today. Sounds like the Pt. Defiance zoo. I going there in a few weeks so it sounds like it will be a ball.
Smilesforu,
I have always said the best comedy show in town is the loacal launch ramp on a weekend, just bring the lawn chair and a six pzck and your in buisness!!!!!!!

Best place for combat fishing is Drano! Live close and won't go there myself. I'll catch less fish and be a lot hapier elswhere. All us local gorge boys aren't nutso, Although I can't argue the point there are a bunch that went over the deep end. As far as "Bank Maggot" being acceptable jargon. Being called any kind of maggot will get anything but acceptance by me. I don't use the jargon and would discourage the same of anyone else. Lets not make a bad situation any worse then it allready is.

I went to the wind in 96 or 97 after reading about it in the P.I and fished off of the bank because the fish follow the shorline up to the river, I guess. Anyways It was elbow to elbow with everyone throwing mag warts in brite orang,pink or Red, it did not seem to matter on the color the day I was there, I hooked and landed one about 21 lbs and that was my day, but I sat around for about an hour to watch the show. I did not think you could get that many small and large boats in that small of an area, then throw in the bank fisherman with it and you have the makings of friday night fights crossed with america's funniest home video's. If you go, do take your video camera, and remember cool heads prevail. Peace Superfly

hello peeps, jus a few questions..where is windy river loacted? drano lake? and was wondering if they toss mag warts from the bank? that sounds crazy..is there alot of hang ups? and whens the best time to go, i love watching the crowds too, and how far is the windy river from tacoma? any answers will be helpful..and is windy river open for kings or jus the lake? well g'day peeps

Schitzo, head down I-5 to i-205 East HWY 14 about 50 miles. Drano will be on the north side of the highway just past Carson turn off. Can't miss it, just look for the big cluster of boats in the lake and boat trailers parked all along the highway. Mag warts seem to be the norm. They may be drivting eggs and such up the Wind from Drano. Spring chinook is about all there is but there should be a lot of them. I may dare to try the Wind this year myself.
Good luck and keep smiling!

[This message has been edited by LEADHEAD (edited 04-01-2000).]

bank maggot is kind of a strong term for us boatless souls. i have fished both drano and the wind the last 2 years. very few bankies throwin warts(unless your are very strong-constant 20mph wind). generally you plunk with sand shrimp or eating shrimp that have the shell on. fresher the better. if you go take a cooler with lots of sand shrimp from here as it is next to impossible to get it there(don't forget to changes the sawdust on your shrimp daily). the only problems occur when the assholes with boats that can go anywhere they want troll 30' off the bank and take out 15-20 plunkers who are casting 100'to where the fish are. take a rod that will handle 4-5 ounce leads and has a fairly sensitive tip to detect the bite. again the wind there is brutal. and don't fish to light a line as these fish are tougher than hell and you don't want to screw everyone else up. there is a decent county campgrond just east of the wind and it cost $12/day for out of county residents.

Hello: wind river is about 4 miles east of Stevenson, Wa. on highway 14,Drano is about
15 miles or more east of stevenson wa.If your heading east on highway 14 the first bridge you cross after going thru stevenson is the wind river the boat launch is on your left after crossing the bridge.You can't miss drano further up you'll cross a bridge and on your left will be a bazillion boats going in a circle,and no place to park.there will be that many boats on the wind too this is almost like combat stay out of the way of the bank fisherman they only have so much room to fish in and if you get to close they will rock you !!!!.I always try to go in the middle of the week early before everyone gets off work and its still really crowded
it can be a real nightmare, just stay cool
remember fishing is supposed to be fun and relaxing not stress and fighting.If nothing else its fun to go watch.
Bob

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Bob Dawson

hey again..ok so the wind river is a kazillion miles from tacoma..i go to stevenson one time a year to tomfest. ever heard of it..? well back to fishing.. so if i was gonna go there..what would be a perfect time..say the middle of the month? or a lil sooner or later... cuz if i go that far..im gonna stay a couple of days, camp and stuff.. do many people camp out there..? or is it off limits? well. i was wondering is there 30 and up # fish on the wind? what line size should i use..i usually go with 17# trilene..it seems to work for me..well any info will be appreciated..thanks..g'day

After the middle of april like the last two weeks and into the first couple weeks of may
should be the very best time to go.For sure the last two weeks of april.I have a friend
lives in carson and he's already caught six!!!.I hate him :-).Good luck

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Bob Dawson

hey there..thanks for all the info bob..ya im gonna take a day or 2 off of work at the endish of april and go down there for a few days..how big do the fish get up to that go up the iwnd..any over 40#'s? and what type and size of line do you use? welps..g'day

I don't know about 40# fish they ave. around 15 to 20 there may be bigger but I've never
caught one.theres alot of boats up there I would use at least 20# line and really trry to control the fish more then useual.there are really a lot of boats fishing there be careful and go with the flow !!! Ppaf very close attn. when leaveing the launch there are alot of logs and sandbars to watch out for you can see them if you watch and go slow leaveing.

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Bob Dawson