Kokanee Fishing On Paulina Lake

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A drive up to the top of Paulina Peak late in the afternoon is absolutely spectacular. At 8,000 feet, a clear day reveals sights from Mt. Hood south to Kalamath Lake. The view to the East seems endless over the desert plain. Paulina Falls just downstream of Paulina Lake is a nice close-in side hike. There’s a maze of well-developed trails and lunch stops that follow pristine Paulina Creek as it tumbles down the hill bound for the Deschutes. East Lake, Paulina’s twin on the other side of Newberry Crater has been a terrific fishery the last 5 years. Kokanee, brown trout, rainbow trout and hard fighting Atlantic salmon are all available. It’s a great troll fishery and in the Fall, diligent fly anglers pit their skills against giant brown trout and rainbows that move into the shallows feeding heavily in anticipation of winter.

John Hofferd’s Paulina Lake Kokanee Rigging: John has honed his fishing presentation to the lake’s kokanee to a fine, tested science. John prefers to fish a simple trolling combination that includes: a five blade Cowbell lake troll, 7 feet of 4 lb. test leader, a size 6 baitholder hook, and three kernels of white corn threaded up the shank into a straight row. John recommends 4 ounces of lead although 3 will do. He prefers to fish lead over a downrigger. Says Hofferd, “I’ve tried 3 and 4 blade lake trolls, short leaders, other baits, but this system will out fish any other presentation method we’ve tried…hands down.” This is the ideal system when the fish drop below 40 feet deep.

Vertical Jigging: When the kokanee are schooled up in 40’ of water or less, the preferred technique turns to jigging pink pearl or flourescent red #25 Nordic jigs or small Buzz Bombs into the tight schools. The hits are wicked and the action’s fast. John Hofferd says the vertical jigging is best early in the season with Memorial Weekend as the peak of the kokanee bite on vertical jigs.

Show#:	3010
Host:	Trey Carskadon
Guide:	John Hofferd
Phone:	Paulina Lake Resort 541-536-2240
Location:	SSE of Bend, Oregon in the Newberry National Volcano Monument at 6,330 feet
Species:	Kokanee, brown trout, rainbow trout, Atlantic salmon
Date:	11/7/99
Equipment:	Medium action 6 - 10 lb. test, 7’ to 8’ long South Bend rods and matched reels; 8lb. Trilene XT Line; Flatfish and Roostertails for rainbow trout.
Tips:	Paulina Lake and Paulina Lake Resort are equally wonderful destinations. The hospitality of the Resort as a weekend or weekly getaway is as welcome as the setting. If you follow John Hofferd’s advice on how to fish the lake to the last detail you’ll catch fish. Take notes. John is really tuned into the seasonal locational patterns of the lake’s fish and has developed techniques that work very well. You can rent boats, cabins, even fishing gear at the Lake. The store is well-stocked, and if you forgot your tackle box…don’t worry John has everything you’ll need to catch fish on the Lake.