Available Fishing Guide:
Website: Washington Guide Services
"Motoboat" i.e. Wayne, and I hit Lake WA. via the Mercer Island launch this morning at about 0900. I have grown to like this launch as it allows me to be fairly close to a variety of areas I like to fish. We start off heading out fast around the N. end of Mercer Island, to the I-90 floating bridge.
At the bridge we trolled both sides with one pass each. Trolling mostly mini hootchies behind small Rocky Mountain flashers. Green Ace High Fly mini hootch, and a pinkish one. No hits. We did see what was probably some bait balls on the NE corner of the bridge, but I hate my new FF, so who knows what that was, Uhg.
We sped down to the mouth of the Cedar, made a pass down there with nothing to show. There were about 5 boats in the area. About halfway between the Cedar and the S. tip of Merc. Is. Wayne had a couple hard taps and came out of the clip. He boated a thick 16" ish cutthroat. The belly was bulging. Later when cleaned the stomach contained a 3" baitfish.
His fish was caught at I think 40' on the DR, in maybe 90' of water.
We motored up through the E. channel back to the launch with no other hits. Only a couple rain drops, calm water, and not as cold as it could have been. It was encouraging to see my partner's fish come from a different color mini-hootch than my ever present green splatter back.... His was kind of Pinkish/red. I also have been trying to experiment with using shorter leaders, to gain more action on the hootchie. It's always such a dilema to decide to go for the fatter lake WA. cutts, although more elusive... or go with the more easily found but skinnier Samammish fish.
