Available Fishing Guide:
Website: Okanogan Valley GS
Fished Palmer for my first time June 27,, targeting Kokanee. First light, my stepdad and I launched at Split Rock, and, (just guessing), cruised to the North End. The lake was very calm, there was almost no wind, and although it was cloudy, the temp was about 60 degrees. Rigged up with cowbell pop gear, red/brass wedding rings tipped with corn. No weight. We trolled southbound. We didn't mark or hit any fish until we passed the little point on the West shore, in front of the creek.
This was the spot. 50-60 feet of depth, 1.6 MPH speed. Started hammering them and stayed with it. The two of us limited in about 2 hours. This is not including the hour we spent running back to the truck to wait out a downpour that hit around 7:00. The Kokanee were respectable, "cookie cutter", chunky, all around 13" and just under 1 pound.
Realize, the WDFW lake rules specify all silvers caught must be counted towards your 5 fish limit, whether kept or released. No culling.
We went out the next morning, and went to the same spot. The weather was warmer though, and the sun was out early. Same gear, same speed, and the fishfinder was marking fish at the same depth, ( about 23 feet). Small chop on the water. No hits whatsoever for almost an hour. I switched to a pole with leaded line, same pop-gear and wedding ring/corn. Out 3-4 colors, and hooked up before I could even get the pole in the holder. This continued for a couple hours, and we both had our limits.
We returned to the boat launch and waited until 9:30. We met and picked up my 72 year old mom, and my 98 year old grandpa. The sun made it hot, temp rose to about 85 degrees by 11:00. As my stepdad steered the boat, I helped Grandpa bait his hook and let out his line. Oddly, the fish we caught became smaller, but he had a ball, he lost quite a few fish at the boat, but was happy to land 4. Not too bad for 98!
Great lake, decent launch and parking,, beautiful scenery. Very few other boats fishing when we were there, Thursday and Friday.