Fishing on GUSTO: Overnight and early morning Lake Pend Orielle
Captain’s Log — Gusto
Bayview, Idaho | Early Morning on Lake Pend Oreille
Packed a few things together last evening and pointed the truck toward Bayview, deciding it was time for a night aboard Gusto. Somewhere along the way I realized I was short on breakfast provisions, so I doubled back to Athol for the essentials: cream for the coffee, eggs, sausage, butter, and cheese.
The night aboard was a good one. I slept well in the V-berth, though around 3:00 a.m. I woke to a cabin that had turned a bit chilly. I reached over, switched on the heat, and set the thermostat to 70 degrees. By the time I stirred again around 4:30, Gusto had transformed into a warm and welcoming little harbor.
I put a kettle on the single-burner cooktop and brewed a fresh cup of coffee while making the final adjustments to the fishing rods. Today’s spread includes six offerings: a Fox spinner, a jointed Rapala, two Apex lures, one of Brad’s cut-plug herring rigs, and a Plug with a dodger. The plan is to work depths from 25 to 75 feet and see what the lake is willing to give up.
Along the Goat Rocks shoreline heading toward the cement plant, the electronics are showing promising signs of kokanee. Whether they cooperate remains to be seen, but they are certainly there.
Inside the cabin, the atmosphere couldn’t be more comfortable. Outside, the temperature hovers in the low 50s beneath a blanket of gray clouds. The breeze is barely noticeable. The steep, evergreen-covered cliffs descend directly into the dark water, their tops partially hidden by low clouds drifting across the mountainsides.
It is one of those Pend Oreille mornings that reminds a fellow why he owns a boat in the first place.
No schedule. No meetings. No real destination.
Just a warm cup of coffee, six lines in the water, and an exquisite morning unfolding one slow mile at a time.
The morning began aboard Gusto with high hopes for Kamloops. I worked the Goat Rocks shoreline and surrounding water until about noon, searching for willing fish. The action was light, but not entirely absent. A small Kamloops—likely under twenty inches—struck a silver jointed Rapala and briefly brought the rod to life before shaking free. One of those fish that leaves you wondering what might have been. Finish the morning by preparing breakfast aboard, I am loving the Ranger R 25. A comfortable Live aboard fishing and cruising platform.
By midday I pointed the bow back toward Bayview and spent some time at the dock. There I met one of our neighbors, Dave Tuttle, who keeps a 25-foot KingFisher in the middle bay. As often happens around boats and fishing, a quick greeting turned into a pleasant conversation about local waters, techniques, and recent fishing reports. There is always something to learn from people who spend a lot of time on the lake.
Afterward, I made the short trip up to Ralph’s for lunch before returning to the marina and changing gears entirely. The afternoon would belong to kokanee.
The lake had transformed by then. The morning’s gray skies had given way to sunshine, the wind had disappeared, and Lake Pend Oreille settled into a calm, glassy mood. Rather than focus solely on catching fish, I spent much of the afternoon becoming more familiar with Gusto—learning systems, experimenting with electronics, and continuing the slow process of turning a new boat into a familiar companion.
The kokanee eventually cooperated. Two fish found their way to the boat and were released to fight another day. Not a banner catch, but enough action to keep things interesting and provide confidence that the gear and presentations are headed in the right direction.
By five o’clock the day was winding down. The rods were stowed, the cockpit straightened, and Gusto pointed back toward the marina. After securing the boat, I made the drive back to Twin Lakes.
No limits were filled and no trophies came over the rail, but it felt like a successful day nonetheless. A fish hooked, a couple landed, a new friend met at the dock, more lessons learned about the boat, and a full day spent on one of the finest lakes in the Northwest. Those are the kinds of days that quietly add up to a good summer.
