Detroit Lake is located 50 miles southeast of the capital city of Salem, right off Highway 22. Detroit Dam, completed in 1953, was built as a flood-control project as well as a power generating source. It controls runoff from 438 square miles of the central Cascade Mountains.

Detroit Lake's 3,000 surface acres and 33 miles of shoreline offer excellent fishing for rainbow trout, kokanee (land-locked sockeye salmon), chinook salmon and brown bullhead catfish. The lake is one of the most heavily stocked in the state and includes annual plants of 100,000 catchable rainbow (20,000 before opening of general trout season) as well as 100,000 chinook fingerlings.

RAINBOW TROUT
A variety of fishing methods produce fine catches of rainbows from opening day through June while water temperatures remain cool. Bank anglers casting small lures and plunking bait do very well at this time of year. Those who cast weighted spinners and spoons also have good success. Krocodile spoons in 3/16-oz. and 1/4-oz. weights in Chrome, Rainbow Trout, Pearl Bikini and Frog patterns.

"Detroit Lake trollers who fish for rainbow trout agree that a Ford Fender makes a very productive attractor."

Spinners such as the 1/6- or 1/4-oz. LuhrJensen Bang-Tail in Grass-hopper, Frog and Salmon Fly patterns, and size 1, 2, and 3 Pro Trout Spinners in Nickel and Brass finishes are all good choices.

Bank anglers using bait, generally tip their hooks with the usual fare including worms, bait eggs, assorted floating baits as well as synthetics such as Berkley Power Bait.

Detroit Lake trollers who fish for rainbows agree that a Ford Fender makes a very productive attractor. Follow it with one of these proven lures, all of which offer great combinations for a full stringer: Size 1or 2 Needlefish, K3, K4 or K5 Kwikfish, size 502 or 503 Super Dupers, 2 1/2- or 3-inch Jensen Minnows or Hot Shots in sizes 070 or 060. A low speed is recommended so the blades of the Ford Fender spin slowly. Use 24 to 48 inches of four- to 8-pound test leader between the attractor and the lure. Make sure that hooks are "sticky" sharp by using a Luhr Jensen Sharp Hook File.

KOKANEE SALMON
Kokanee trollers should remember they are fishing for land-locked sockeye salmon. These fish like bright-colored lures with lots of flash. Needlefish, Kokanee Kings and Super Dupers are very popular. These should be trailed behind a lake troll such as a Willow Leaf or School-O-Minnows�, or behind a small Abe 'n Al rotating flasher using 18 to 48 inches of six- to 10-pound leader. A rubber snubber placed between the lake troll and leader will act as a shock absorber and keep a hook from tearing out of the koke's soft mouth. Late in the summer, when water temperatures rise above 55 degrees, kokanee often can be found in deeper, cooler water (sometimes 100 feet or more) where they congregate in large schools. The jigging technique (see illustration) can then be very effective. Nordic jigs in size 025, Deep Stingers in one- and 3/4-ounce sizes and the one-ounce Crippled Herring have proved themselves to be very productive. Again, bright colors, such as Chrome/Blue and Mother-of-Pearl work best.

CHINOOK
When fishing for chinook, a faster trolling speed is necessary. A large lake troll such as a Ford Fender, Dave Davis or Cowbell, or a dodger will draw their attention. Lures to use with these trolls and dodgers should be somewhat larger than those used for trout or kokanee. Kwikfish in sizes K5, K6 and K7; Jensen Minnows in three- and 3 1/2-inch models; #2 and #3 Needlefish and sizes 035 and 044 Flutter Spoons work very well.

CATFISH
Catfish anglers concentrate their efforts in the shallow north end portion of the lake known as "the flats". Normal catfish fare includes worms, shrimp or other baits commonly known as "stink baits". Fishing for these bottom-dwellers often is done late at night, from late spring throughout the summer, but is particularly good on hot nights over 70 degrees.