11/22/2024 – The road up to East Lake is now closed, though the lake remains open all year. If you find yourself up there, consider fishing the deepest water you can find as the fish have left the shallows and starting to hunker down for winter.
11/8/2024 – East Lake has progressively got better as the weather has gotten colder. Many of the fish have taken to cruising the shallows, perhaps in hopes of a nice meal in the form of a dying Kokanee or leeches along the weed-beds. However, the forecast is suggesting that the road up to the lake may soon be closed for the season due to snow. While the lake will remain open, it will become virtually impossible to reach. As such, this may be your last chance to fish East Lake this season.
In case your heading out that direction in the next few days, a few patterns to try are: #8-12 Woolly Buggers, #8-14 Balanced Leeches (which can also be stripped without an indicator), or #16-20 Zebra Midges (red) are all killers. An egg pattern may also be effective as the Kokanee continue to spawn in the shallows.
10/26/2024 – For those willing to brave the (potentially) poor weather, East Lake is a great option this time of year. The brown trout have chased the Kokanee into the shallows, and are now just cruising in a couple feet of water, waiting for something to cross their path.
As per usual, leeches are a staple in the diet of just about all stillwater fish. #8-12 Leeches (especially those with a fluorescent bead) are a great option; as are #12 Pine Squirrel Leeches. Chironomids and midges are also present in the lake at this time: #18-20 Flexi Midges, Tungsten Zebra Midges, and Demon Midges are killer patterns. Chironomids like #12-14 Gray Money Chironomids, Chan’s Holographic Pupa (same sizes), and Ice Cream Chromies all will fish well.
