When I was there last week, I reported the water was 65 degrees. I was fishing for smallies, which were willing to play on ned rigs in 15’ of water. I had two large fish hit but got off because I thought they were yet another small limb - which absolutely pave the bottom - and I pulled rather than set the hook. The brief fight felt like decent walleye.
What debris isn’t floating next to the banks has sunk. Dragging any lure near the bottom will catch one after the other. It looks like brush piles on sonar in many places.
Still only one narrow ramp, no boat prep area, and no fish cleaning station. I like Echo, but it seems they did a half job.
I had no trouble prepping, either, but by the time I left, there were cars and picnickers all along the edge of the parking lot - right where you’d naturally try to do launch prep.
Glad to hear there might be a cleaning station soon. I do like to keep a few “footer” smallies for the table, and any walleye, of course. I have cleaned fish on my boat while still out on the lake, but much prefer a cleaning station.
Ira and I got up to Echo this morning and was greeted by a new state park, the grand opening is tomorrow and it is the fullest I’ve seen the lake in many many years. Here are a few pics.
We tried for eyes then perch at Echo but no luck, so we finally decided to troll for trout and they were willing , we caught browns and bows up to 18". It is good to see the lake so full again.