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Washington Lake Report
King County, WA

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04/01/2014
51° - 55°
Trolling
Cutthroat Trout
Other
Chartreuse
Mostly Sunny
Hook & Bait
Evening
46° - 50°
04/01/2014
3
1405

I've been itching to get out since Sunday with all the nice weather so finally saw my opportunity tonight as I got home from work about 5:15 and the wife was heading out to go to a class so kissed her good-bye and quickly changed clothes and hooked up the Tin Cup and made a beeline to Lake WA at Atlantic City boat launch.

Was on the water and motoring over to my usual haunting grounds to start my evening troll. Had a few new things I wanted to try so started with a 3" gulp shad threaded on a "death roll" mustard hook with a smiley blade ahead of it so put it out 100 feet behind the boat on a 2 ounce weight and headed north along the west side of Mercer.

At 7pm turned on the Mariner game and wasn't getting anything to bite so switched over to a whole herring rigged up so it had a nice curve in it that I learned how to rig up springer fishing last week and sat back waiting for a bite. By the start of the 3rd inning it was getting dark so moved to old faithful Brad's cut plug and gave it a flash and dunked in sockeye/kokanee dipping sauce and put about 60 feet behind the boat and 19 feet on the down rigger line. No sooner did I get back in my seat the rod started dancing so grabbed it pulled off the clip and fish on!! It had some weight to it but of course on the ultra light lamiglas rods they all feel like big ones!! haha Anyway this one didn't want to have anything to do with my net and went ballistic as I got it close but managed to get it in the net before it came off. After getting it in the net realized it wasn't going to get off as one hook was in his stomach and the other in his gill plate so he bled out pretty quick.

Now I needed to get going as it was getting pretty dark and didn't bring along my lights as I should so quickly buttoned everything down ( I thought) and fired up the main motor and zoomed across to the boat launch. As I got out of the boat to secure it so I could go get my truck, looked back and realized what I had forgot to do~ Yep, forgot to bring in my down rigger ball and all that was left was a loose braid trailing in the wind with no ball attached! Darn! Oh well, that is one more thing I need to put on my check list before starting the motor!

See you on the water!


Comments

FishinManiac
4/2/2014 7:48:00 AM
Beautiful fish with very nice fillets!! Congrats!!
downriggeral
4/2/2014 8:14:00 AM
Hey Barry - Now where's that list........hummmmm. Got the list but darned if I can find it! My favorite trick is the net on the roof; finally put flotation on it for when it goes flying.

Nice fish, thanks for the report. Tight lines - Alan
coyoteking
4/2/2014 9:11:00 AM
I guess we all have to it once(?). I can't seem to find that scent here in the south end. Any ideas.
Has anybody heard anything about Kokanee fishing in Lake Wa.?
Hunter757
4/2/2014 9:12:00 AM
Salmonbarry, what is the cost to use that ramp and park there? I have never used that boat launch and it looks easy enough to get to.
salmonbarry
4/2/2014 5:57:00 PM
Thanks guys! DR- yea check out my report from Park lake last year around middle of May. Lost a net the year before but snagged it last year while fishing same spot! lol
@Coyote- Ted's sporting center in Lynnwood carries it but got these at Sportsman show- I have caught Kokanee on Lake WA trolling for cutts especially when using hootchies but just remember to release any over 15" as they are considered sockeye after that
@Hunter The ramp cost $12 and is ok this time of year but can get sort of scetchy as the weather gets nicer and the people there can be less then cooperative for guys launching boats. Had a lady the other day park her car in one of the lanes, lock it and then took her dog into the park. I asked her to park in the spots designated for cars only and she ignored me.
Hunter757
4/4/2014 7:30:00 AM
Thanks, wow I can't believe that people today are that rude. That is cheaper then the park in Renton, I will have to drive up and take a look. Thanks and tight lines.
G-Man
4/4/2014 11:19:00 AM
Way to stick it out. I only use the gulp minnows if I intend on keeping fish. I found the cutts inhale them on the take and end up hooking themselves in back of the throat or in the gills the majority of the time.

The launch on Mercer Island under the East Channel overpass runs $11 per day and $40 for an annual pass. It is a one dock launch and gets a lot of attention during the normal boating months, but the annual pass is hard to beat if you fish year round.
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Available Guide

Available Fishing Guide:
Website: Washington Guide Services

Phone: (509) 881-9052