Bruiser cutts of Heenan with pics

[mrsockeye]

http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/1912/1020132ar8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
It isn't often that a fishery is better than I expected it to be. *Heenan, is definitely one of the best fisheries I've fished in our area. *I had a tough start, one fish for my first 3 or so hours of trolling, but once I found the right depth, lure, speed, and most importantly... color, the fishing got good. *This lake rocks, and I will be back soon. *The pictures of these fish do them absolutely no justice, as these are definitely the most uniquely colored cutts I've ever seen. *Actually, I'd rate them up there with any salmonid I've ever seen. *The water of Heenan is downright soupy, and not all lures are the same. *Some lures collect all the algae, while others run weedless. *The other thing that blew me away, was that these fish are bigger on average than Pyramid fish. *The average size was right around 19-20". *I also caught my biggest Lahontan Cutt to date. *I didn't measure or weigh the fish, because of strict catch and release, I just wanted to take a picture, but it was a at least 24", and with the girth it was packing, close to 5 pounds. *Trust me, I know, I boink lots of salmonids on the head, and weigh them. *
http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/2803/1020135yw5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img518.imageshack.us/img518/8789/1020134np1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Heenan Lake
http://img518.imageshack.us/img518/3919/1020140vp9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img518.imageshack.us/img518/846/1020141ph7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


http://img518.imageshack.us/img518/1593/1020143kc1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
This one is the big girl of the bunch, I just had to remove her from the water to feel the weight, it was such a pig. * :)
Thanks Captain Compassion for your insight on the lake, you better plan your trip soon.

[Captain Compassion]

I coulda gone. :'( Congratulations Mike. Beautiful Cutts. Glad you found the right stuff. How was the wind?

CC

[mrsockeye]

The lake was calm in the morning, and then it got moving in earnest around 10-11:00. There was still some sheltered water to be found. Interestingly, I was reading some of yesterday's posts, and the fly guy's did better yesterday. Today, the fly guys were really struggling, especially with the wind. My boat, and 2 other boats did 90% of the catching. I almost gave up, then I figured out the what's and where's.
By the way Richard, one of the colors you mentioned was the hot one, and it wasn't the "frog". ;) ;) ;) Go get them.

[tinytrout]

Sweeeet fish!

[hooks]

Wow!! Great report and pics. All beautiful fish. Never heard of this lake before.

Is that "stuff" floating in the water algae or something else? Seems like a smaller lake. Any special rules for boats or fishing?

Oh yeah, it's OK. You can tell us what the "hot" color was, is, might be. ;D

[Denny1969]

Heenan is such a great place to fish. We are blessed to have that piece of water opened up for fishing.

Here are the regs for Heenan.
Only on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from the Friday before Labor Day through the last Sunday in October. Fishing hours: only from sunrise to sunset. Only artificial lures with barbless hooks may be used.

I'm don't know of any boat regs for Heenan.

Denny

[mrsockeye]

Electric motors and cartoppers only, there is no boat launch. Don't worry about getting there too early, the gate won't be opened until legal fishing time, sunrise.

[GCinGV]

Sockeye,
Glad you had a great day. Sounds like we have another Heenan addict on our hands. I’ve been one for about twenty years now.
You figured out the key to dragging metal at Heenan right off, spoons that don’t hang weeds.
Those fish are in spawning colors right now but will fade by the end of the season.
Thanks for the report
GC

[Float_N_Fish]

Hey Sockeye congrats on a big day. *From reading and hearing fishing reports over the last few days it sure seems like the solunar phase has some credibility. *We fished Silver early and late...most hits were in the late afternoon. *The new moon was straight overhead in the afternoon...we should have slept in. *(FishSniffer has 12:59 PM for the 30th). *Way to hang in there and find the right combination and tactics to land those nice cutts.

Been by Heenan before when it wasn't open to fishing, I'll need to put that on my hit list for an upcoming Saturday. *Thanks for the report and pics.

[GOLDENTROUT]

Nice fish Mike! If anyone could figure it out on the first trip its you, good job! I need to get a little boat like yours.

[Washoe_Pirate]

Very nice fish!!!! Heck yha!! Hurray for Heenan :)!!!

[dfective1]

Way to go :o *Those are nice fish...... ;) Thanks for the report *Mr sockeye *;D