Snake Dancer Excursions - Sturgeon, Bass & Catfish fishing in Hells Canyon is best April through October. Fishing charters can be scheduled from one day to multiple days in our comfortable lodge and jet boats. Fishing Charters leave from Heller Bar Boat launch or Hells Canyon Resort and Marina to be determined at the time of reservations.
Enjoy a fun-filled trip through North America's deepest river gorge! We offer trips tailored for every age and thrill-level. It is no wonder we're #1 on Trip Advisor!
My son and I fished Cranberry Lake about 830 am along side the road. I started out with orange power bait and he tried a worm with a marshmallow above it. It was a cold and sunny day the beavers were working hard getting the winter food supply built up. The loons were sunning themselves and the eagles were chasing the young seagulls around the lake. After 45 minutes of watching the show I decided to check my bait, about five feet from shore I could see my power bait was still on the hook but I saw a big swell behind my bait so I stopped reeling. Soon as that happened the fish took the bait and immediately start taking line. After a couple of minutes of playing the fish I was able to get it closer enough to shore so my son could net it. My son and I were amazed it was a German Brown on power bait. I think it was just the color it was attracted to. I've always caught them on trolling gear never power bait. Here is a photo of it and we did release it. It was too beautiful to kill, so Josh the browns are close to the shore right inside the grass line.
Nice job! I've never got one there on powerbait, actually this might be the first time I've heard of one there on powerbait. Yea I've found the browns hug the shore a bit and tend to be in what I would consider more bassy type areas.
What a pretty fish! Curious on the size? My brother pulled an 8lb brown out of there before, but I've yet to find one of real size. Maybe 17 inches is the largest brown I've got out of there, but I've seen plenty of 20+. There are always very healthy too.
I caught a 17 inch brown in October 1994 while casting a Rapala from the shoreline. It was quite a surprise - I was casting for bass.
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Snake Dancer Excursions - Sturgeon, Bass & Catfish fishing in Hells Canyon is best April through October. Fishing charters can be scheduled from one day to multiple days in our comfortable lodge and jet boats. Fishing Charters leave from Heller Bar Boat launch or Hells Canyon Resort and Marina to be determined at the time of reservations.
Enjoy a fun-filled trip through North America's deepest river gorge! We offer trips tailored for every age and thrill-level. It is no wonder we're #1 on Trip Advisor!