Klamath Lake

[Rockman]

For a long time, I have wanted to fish Klamath Lake/Agency Lake for the large rainbow that it is known for. I finally got to fish it last Friday and what a unique fishery it is. I fished with a friend in his boat for the day. I was warned that it is not a lake known for big numbers, just big fish. He fished two days before and landed 3 nice fish. We actually had a good day as we boated around 18. The smallest being just over 20”s, my largest was 27”s. I will go back and learn more about it. Some fish would jump 3-4 times, others you would not see till just prior to netting. I was using 8 lb tippet and had two break me off. One of those jumped prior to the break off and Grant said it was easily a 30” fish. What a rush.

Fished my local lake today and caught a couple 16” fish, they fought well, but those southern Oregon fish were still on my mind. Nice to chalk one off the bucket list.


Here are a few from last Thursday.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Wow.......what an amazing post and great photos too.

I now recognize Rockman, who I have known for many decades.

I don't always know who is who on here by their handles alone.


30-40 years ago the Klamath Lake area seemed to be more popular.

There is Klamath Lake, Agency Lake, the Wood River (hoppers) and the famous Williamson River.



In the 1970s old Joe Shirshac would take his wife and travel trailer to "Walt's Cozy Camp" in June.

Many of us were able to wade fish the Williamson with old Joe.

He fished a dry line, tapered leader and big dries and leeches.

A 5# wild Rainbow trout was a common thing there and fish to 15# were caught too.

Don Childress, a dentist and top fly fisher from the Davis club, actually discovered the Williamson River for all of us.


On our way up to fish Crane Prairie Reservoir each summer we would stop in Dunsmuir and in Chiloquin to fish.

Back then Denny Rickards was the Klamath Lake man.

https://wetflyswing.com/wfs-064-denn...ake-ghost-tip/


The 1970s was the explosion of fly fishing in Nor Cal, Southern Oregon and Nevada.

All these fisheries could be driven to in a day and made great one week fly fishing vacations.



I fished it once with my old friend Al Perryman from his boat.

We were fishing a spring that flowed into the lake near Rickards home.

I think we were using a 15' leader to maybe 3x with a tiny nymph.

You could see the big fish like in an aquarium.

[Woodman]

Nice. That's one that is still on my bucket list as well. I am scheduled to do the Williamson for a couple of days in August.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

By then the fish will be at all the Springs in the lake.

Some big trout will be up in the Williamson River to get out of the warm shallow waters of Klamath Lake.