Available Fishing Guide:
Website: Fast Action Guide Service
Pop Gear does work, the old standard with a wedding band and worm, but during mid winter to when the salmon fry come down Issaquah Creek, fishing is very tough. The Sea-run cuts are done for the year, their all up the Creek, but there are still the local cuts around in key locations on the Lake. The local cuts have feeding periods of only a few minutes at a time a few times in the morning up to about 11:00AM. They then sound deep to sleep for the day and may feed again at last light. Both Washington and Sammamish are great Sea-run Cuts Lakes in the Fall and early Winter, but very poor in mid-winter to Spring for local Cuts.
Here's what I do. These Local Cuts are very satisfied eating nothing but Midge hatch all Winter, therefore THINK SMALL USE SMALL AND DEAD SLOW. I use 2# line, a 12' Ultralite pole, a white or chartreuse steelhead corky, toothpick, a very small Ball Bearing Swivel size 01 or 00, 5' of 1# leader, a size 12 octopus hook (super sharp), and 3/4" piece of Nightcrawler. Slide the Corky up the line about 3' and stop it with the toothpick, tie on the BB swivel, 5" of 1# and the tiny hook. Put the little piece of Nightcrawler on so that the hook is completely exposed (not hidden). To fish - Look for rising fish, they're feeding on Midges, set your rig over the side and move away at least 150' from your rig. Shut the Motor off and Side drift with the wind and be ready. Change the worm at least every 15 minutes. Fish where they are surfacing and stay there. Rainy days with a wind of 5 to 15MPH are the best days for local cuts, sunny days are only good at first light for a few hours and with fog.