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Silver Lake

Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2006 7:10 pm
by Sportspal
I officially completed my first ever launch of my new-to-me boat at Silver lake this afternoon. It was a super chilly day, with pretty decent winds.
I remembered my safety kit, keys to the motor, oars, life jackets, fish finder, etc.... The one thing I didn't bring, but really should have brought was a jacket. I think it might have hit +10 out there, and with thew wind, well, I was frozen even with my built-in body insulation.
Now, I didn't bother bringing my fishing gear, because I only had 2 hours, and I really wanted to give the motor a good run for its inaugural launch.
I ran the full length of Silver lake twice at full to almost full throtle, and I was amazed at the power that my little 25hp johnson had at pushing the 16 foot fibreglass boat around. 8)
I did run into some trouble getting the motor to start. Its a 1998 25hp Johnson, and it took me about 5 minutes to start it. I think I figured it out, and all I really need to do instead of flooding it ;) is to just turn the key for half a second, and it starts....any longer, and well, the engine gets flooded and I need to wait a few minutes....
Maybe this is normal, I'm not sure, I've never owned a boat before.
I know, this post isn't super interesting for a lot of you, but it here comes the good stuff:
The surface water temp was between 65 and 66 degrees depending on where I was on the lake.
I was marking HUGE, and I mean HUGE schools of fish on drop offs anywhere from 40-75 feet deep in 85-90 feet of water. I'm assuming these schools were the resident Lake Trout population, and I marked some grand-daddy size trout. :shock: Has anyone ever jigged for them at this time of year? I've trolled with downriggers in my uncles boat about 10 years ago with good success, but the shear volume of fish I marked and in the HUGE schools they were in has me excited beyond belief to go back and check them out!!!!
I also marked alot of good sized fish on the flats in about 30 feet of water, suspended between 20-25 feet.
I've never gotten to the end silver lake before, and on the right is a spring that feeds into the lake...pretty neat to see, and I'll definately be back sometime this month to check out the fish that sit around that back bay since it looks like it has real potential.

Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2006 8:18 pm
by Slammy
Hi Sportspal, turning over any motor too long may cause flooding. My 90 hp 4S does the same, if it doesn't start immediately, wait a few minutes. As far as Silver lake goes, I have had success only after ice out for lakers when they are shallow. Have tried jigging may times & downrigging but never any hook ups. Silver lake motel used to have a print out above the counter from someones sonar "worth a visit". Pike are an easy target this time of year, & I have actually caught a "blue pike" cross breed/musky.

Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2006 8:35 pm
by Slammy
Congrats on your new toy, sometimes if you push in on your key while starting, your choke will automatically be activated & cause flooding. As far as Silver Lake, early spring after ice out has produced for lakers. Jigging at those depths has never been productive for me. Good luck!

Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2006 12:02 am
by Jebby
congrats... and yes silver is a beauty.... near the waterfal at the end oppositew eht provincial park theres a hudge osprays nest at the tip of that inlet not to mention a bay perfect for toothy pike......in the summer go back for killer bass (when it opens in a few weeks :) cant wait) we have only cought a few small accidental lakers on it but from what im told its great for them....

good luck and have fun with the new toy

jebby