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Thank you to Busterdog3 for the report on Big Lake. I haven't fished Big Lake since I was a teenager throwing a worm under a bobber off a friends dock.

Started a little late, about 8:45. Trolled north from the launch along the west shore. Started both lines at about 5 feet down, and fairly quickly had a takedown that did not stick. Then nothing for quite some time as I trolled around looking for where the fish were. Saw lots of marks surface down to maybe 10 feet. Nothing was biting there though, and it's possible those were all perch. Once I hit the very north end of the lake out in front of the mouth of the Nookachamps, I started seeing fish around the 15 foot mark. Dropped my lines down there, bingo. I had consistent action with my lines between 12-13 feet down at the very north end of the lake and heading south along the NE shore. seemed to be that the fish were in 18-21 feet of water, any shallower and I didn't mark as much. Dang it was cold. about 37 degrees all morning with a periodic light almost snow flurries all morning. Plus as the morning went along the wind gradually increased, making it feel even colder. I didn't count, but in the end I think I landed 12-15 fish, kept 3, had a couple of others hit the line but not stick, and 1 or 2 that got off on the way in.

Best producer today was an Elgin Fishing God's Tooth Spoon in 50/50 brass/nickel, set to fast action with about 4-5 foot of leader. I caught probably 75% on this basic set up. On my other line I caught fish with a perch pattern God's Tooth rigged up kokanee style, about 16 inches of leader off a Mack's Double D Dodger. Also messed around with using a 50/50 brass/nickel God's Tooth like a spinner blade in front of a fly. I think I caught 2 fish with this set up, also ran about 16 inches behind a dodger. Caught a perch on a brown trout pattern, and did get a few strikes on 50/50 blue/nickel God's Tooth, but nothing that stuck. After cleaning the 3 fish and seeing the 1 1/2 - 2 inch perch in their gut, I think I should have stayed longer with the perch pattern set up, or even just ran 1 right out of the package like I did the 50/50. Oh well, next time. Still a great day even with the cold. Fish I kept were 2 at 13 inches and 1 at about 12 inches. I don't think any of the fish I released were any larger than that. Fish I did clean were all close to spawning. You can see in the picture above how close by the eggs and milt sac.

Video shows most of the action from today. I did have to delete a few clips because the lens was too wet.

Big Smooth

11/4/2017 8:47:25 PM

I need to get my pa12 out there. Great footage!

JoshH

11/4/2017 8:55:30 PM

Thanks! Hobie fishing is the best fishing!

Busterdog3!

11/7/2017 12:13:38 PM

Big smooth you can come to my house anytime you want to fish and Josh h I was out there Sat that was me in the red Crestliner we passed each other when you were heading north a great day out there but it was cold

JoshH

11/7/2017 3:53:07 PM

I thought that might have been you. Yes it was extremely cold. I saw when I left that you were down around the southwest end of the lake. How was the fishing there?

ElginFishing

11/4/2017 9:08:46 PM

Great report again and I'm sure your shoulder needs some ice treatment by now:).......Fun video and enjoyed it. I agree with you that just running the perch on fast action could have been lights out but that's fishing:)....Really cool looking setup with the fly. Did you run it like a kokanee rig ahead of the fly?

JoshH

11/4/2017 9:24:16 PM

Yes I ran it like the fly was a double hook set up. I think I want to try it again but with a black bead to blend in better. Think I want to try this on Goodwin too. I've put smile blades in front of the fly, why not the God's Tooth!

herefishy

11/5/2017 8:47:15 AM

Great report! I have drove by Big lake a few time and had wondered if you could fish on the lake as I never seen anyone out there. Is there a boat launch for larger boats or just kayaks?

JoshH

11/5/2017 9:30:00 AM

There is a 2 lane launch and a small dock.

Ladyclipper

11/5/2017 10:32:25 AM

Not to throw a sticks in the spokes. Didn't see the two pole emoji in the rule book for Big lake, but then again did not see one for Baker either.

Ladyclipper

11/5/2017 10:34:01 AM

Excellent report.

JoshH

11/5/2017 1:27:44 PM

Ladyclipper... if you are looking in the regs and you see the yellow 2 pole emoji, that emoji has the word "NO" above it. So if you see that yellow emoji next to the name of the lake you are looking at, it means that you cannot use the 2 pole endorsement on that lake. Places like Big Lake, Baker Lake etc. that do not have that emoji next to it you CAN use your 2 pole endorsement. You have it completely backwards.

If you still are not sure how to read the regulations, you can look up the body of water you are fishing on the WDFW site and it will spell it out if 2 pole fishing is allowed. http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/washington/82/

ballardbrad

11/5/2017 11:40:17 AM

Great video. I like the double downriver set up on the PA. I tend to run lead core instead but do have a down rigger that I shortened the arm on for my PA.

JoshH

11/5/2017 1:30:07 PM

I didn't shorten the warm at all, I just angled the arm up. Don't have any issues reaching the ball or too much drag. Braid for line and just using 4lb balls.

G-PA

11/7/2017 8:59:41 AM

JoshH - what type of Dry suit are you wearing ? and where did you pick it up at ? - THX

JoshH

11/7/2017 9:20:14 AM

On this trip I was just wearing neoprene. I do however have a Gul Code Zero drysuit. I didn't wear it this day but it's a fantastic drysuit. If you don't have a drysuit, don't get one unless it has a relief zipper :)

Salmon King

11/7/2017 11:19:00 AM

Man that water is smoother than glass!!

Salmon King

11/7/2017 11:34:50 AM

Man that water is smoother than glass!!

JoshH

11/7/2017 12:16:18 PM

It was perfect first thing in the morning. It got pretty choppy though by the time I left.

Ladyclipper

11/9/2017 9:37:13 PM

Damn. Sorry I am was wrong.

Ladyclipper

11/9/2017 9:46:28 PM

Batting a thousand now, Sheesh!

JoshH

11/9/2017 9:58:29 PM

That emoji is very small and hard to read though. You would think they would have a easier reading method on the reg sheet itself.

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