Diamond Lake, OR

[Langenbeck]

Yesterday my neighbor and I went to Diamond. All chironomid fishing. Hooked 17 and landed 13, 2 were 2007 plants, 5 were 2008 plants and 6 were 2009 plants. Here is the largest fish taken by my neighor. An absolutely beautiful rainbow.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/gordonl/DiamondLake9-3-09001.jpg

[jbird]

Gordon.

How deep are they now?

[Langenbeck]

Jay,

Did the bulk of our fishing in the south end in water from 8-12 feet deep betwen the big weed beds.

[jburge]

Gordon,

That's absolutely one of the most beautiful fish I've ever seen. Thanks for the pic!

I'll demonstrate my ignorance now... how do you know 2007 plants, vs. 2008, vs. 2009?

Thanks!

John

[jbird]

Gordon,

That's absolutely one of the most beautiful fish I've ever seen. Thanks for the pic!

I'll demonstrate my ignorance now... how do you know 2007 plants, vs. 2008, vs. 2009?

Thanks!

John

John

Your question can be answered with one word....SIZE. The lake was poisoned prior to 07 so they are the oldest fish in the lake. They grow very fast in Diamond.

Gordon, thats interesting. They must be moving back onto the sholes already. I need to get up there.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

For years Diamond Lake in Oregon has been called "the fish factory".

That is a really beautiful fish.

I love real quality lake fishing.

[jburge]

jbird, thanks! Makes perfect sense ;-)

John

[Langenbeck]

Here is one more fish from Thursday's trip
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/gordonl/DiamondLake9-3-09002.jpg

[MTaylor]

What size and color chironomid were you fishing? I would guess that the bugs are pretty small this late in the year. Hope to get up there in the next week or two now that the weather seems to be cooling.

[betty]

Can this lake be fished from a float tube, or is a boat a better bet? I ask, because some friends fished the south end of the lake in June and said they had to kick a looooong way out to reach 7-8 feet of water. Have you fished other areas of the lake (the east side, for example) and would any of these have a shorter kick out? Thanks for any info. Would like to fish this lake sometime soon.

Betty

[Langenbeck]

Answers to both questions. Am using a Size 12 caddis hook for the chironomids. The bottom fly is a blood midge and about 18" up is a zebra midge. About 85% of my takes are on the blood midge. Tied with a small white bead, burnt orange antron for the body and ribbed with red thread and then coated with Sally's Hard as Nails polish. The polish turns the burnt orange antron a reddish tone that looks EXACTLY like the real blood worm.

It is an easy kick, about 300 yards, from the south boat ramp to fishable water in the 8-10 foot range. The largest expanse of shallow water, under 12 feet, is out in front of the south end boat ramp.

[BruceSmith]

Very good report and thanks for the follow up answers. Diamond is on the list of some day I will make it there. My friend Phil guides fly fisherman at Diamond, I guess I ought to give him a call.

Beautiful pictures.:nod: