Reservation Number : 42129
Property Name : Riley Lake
Reservation Date : 01/14/2025 All Day -
Total Fish/Sizes : 1 LMB - 3+#
Lures Used : square bill crank

I had an all day booking on Riley Lake. I used the small plactic boat available and it worked great. I did not have any electronics but water was cold and visibility about a foot.

I have fished this lake numerous times and always able to do fairly well with plenty of cull fish to take home. I was on the water soon after 8am and made a complete round of the lake without a single bite.  After launching I noticed a lot of motion on the surface at the far end of the dam from launch area but with the light steam off the water I thought it might be some ducks. By the time I got halfway down the noticed I noticed the same farter down the lake. At 11:30 I had the first fish in the boat at something over 3#.  Continued aaround the lake and saw 5-6 otters going along the bank at small point across from launch and pier.  I watched for at least 10 minutes as they stayed in one area going in circles like herd dogs. The cold temps and somewhat muddy water may have been part of the reason for slow day but after seeing this many otters I think I now know what happened to those cull fish that were so easy to catch in the past.