Bullards Bar is an overlooked winter and early spring trout reservoir that also gives up limits of kokanee. Brett Brady chases winter rainbows on light 4 pound line and soft plastics, fishing incoming water tight to the bank up in the North Fork arm. The early bite is quick, about an hour and a half before the sun pushes the fish down. For kokanee he slow trolls standard gear, a T-Pex and hoochies in pink, orange, and purple, from 65 to 85 feet in summer. In late winter both trout and kokanee often stack around 60 feet.
Can you catch trout at Bullards Bar?
Yes, and most anglers overlook it. Bullards Bar is an excellent winter and early spring trout lake if you know where to look. Brett Brady fishes incoming water up in the North Fork arm, working right along the bank line for silver hatchery holdovers running 15 to 18 inches, even with the water at 32 degrees.
What tackle works for Bullards Bar winter trout?
Go light and finesse. Brett runs 4 pound line and casts or trolls soft plastics like a Brady Bug or a Trout Trap for scattered winter fish. Early in the season the trout hold in small pockets anywhere from 20 to 60 feet deep, so keep moving until you find a group.
When is the trout bite best at Bullards Bar?
First light. The morning bite is quick, maybe an hour and a half of good action before the sun hits the water and the fish lock down. Both trout and kokanee often come at about 60 feet. The North Fork arm holds more fish than the debris choked Willow Creek arm.
How do you catch kokanee at Bullards Bar?
Slow troll standard kokanee gear, a dodger ahead of a T-Pex or a pink hoochie. Pink, orange, and purple are the best colors. In summer the kokanee run 65 to 85 feet deep, and Brett has caught them down to 95, which is deep for the season.
How deep are the fish at Bullards Bar?
It shifts with the season. In late winter both the trout and the early kokanee tend to stack around 60 feet. By summer the kokanee slide much deeper, holding 65 to 85 feet and sometimes as deep as 95 feet when the water warms.
What is the kokanee limit and size at Bullards Bar?
Bullards Bar kokanee run about 10 to 12 inches, a bit bigger than a Stampede fish, and you can keep a 10 fish limit. Two limits come fairly easily on a good day, so it is a fun family lake once the summer kokanee bite is on.
Where should I fish on Bullards Bar?
Focus on the North Fork arm, roughly a quarter mile down from the no wake buoys on the east side. Look for the pack of boats, since that is where the fish concentrate. It needs incoming water to fire up the chop bite, so watch the lake level.
Watch the technique
Trout and kokanee trolling at Bullards Bar Reservoir FAQ
It is not the first lake people think of for trout, but in winter and early spring it can be very good. With the right knowledge you can find bank hugging rainbows up in the river arms, including holdover fish to 18 inches.
Pink and orange lead the way for both trout and kokanee, with purple and a touch of green as backups. Those pink and orange tones are the reliable go to through the cold water season.
A T-Pex ran clean behind a dodger produced all day for Brett, and a pink hoochie was right behind it. Uncle Larry's spinners also earn their spot in the spread on a slow troll.
Incoming water pushes feed into the North Fork arm and turns on the chop bite. When the lake is dropping, the trout bite backs off, so time your trips around rising or incoming flows for the best action.
The North Fork arm holds more fish and cleaner water. The Willow Creek arm collects floating debris and garbage that make trolling difficult, and it tends to get worse as the lake comes up.
Be fishing at first light. The good window is short, about an hour and a half, and the minute the sun hits the water the fish tend to lock up. Get on them fast.
You will run into bass, especially along the bank lines while chasing trout, but they are incidental. Sort through them and keep working the trout and kokanee marks.
Deep. The summer kokanee bite runs 65 to 85 feet, and Brett has taken fish clear down to 95 feet, deeper than you would expect for the time of year, so be ready to send your gear well down.
