This report would probably be rated a 3 if I'd got my gear dialed in a little faster, but once I started getting hits they were fairly consistent. So, the hour I spent without a bite reduced the rating to a 2. The fish were not aggressive, but a few took it with enough conviction to get hooked.

I had recently located Lake Alice on Google Maps and didn't realize how close to Issaquah it was. For all the years I've lived here I have never been to this lake. I took a rare opportunity this afternoon to go check it out. I Got to the lake about 2p. There were a few boats on the water. After getting some intel from a friendly fly guy at the launch I headed out. I started with my normal spring time flatfish in firetiger. No hits on my way across the lake, I then switched to a Dick Nite....nothing. Meanwhile I'd seen two caught and released by other anglers. I switched to a black Wooly Bugger.....then my trusty Rapala.....still nothing. Ran into a gentleman who suggested a God's Tooth....Didn't have one of those, but appreciated the input. Switched back to Dick Nite, then Needle Fish....then flatfish....I wasn't getting so much as a bump! I tried adding a split shot to get down a little. Nope. After watching a couple more get hooked and released by others I decided to stop and examine my setup. Since I run braid with a mono leader, I decided my leader was too short and maybe spooking the fish, so tied on a 6' leader of 6lb fluoro. I put the Wooly Bugger back on and a short while later felt a bump, but no follow up. Switched it out with a charteuse home made spoon (similar to Dick Nite) and it wasn't long after that I had a solid hookup. Finally! Was starting to develop a complex. From then on it was fairly regular bumps and hits. As noted earlier, the fish were not highly aggressive, but occasionally one would stick or come back after the bump and hit it again. Ended up with four to the boat and one long line released by the time I left at 4:30.
I also took an opportunity to stop and chat with the fellow who offered the advice earlier. Turned out to be TM Bob from NWFR! Great meeting you!
I'll definitely be back to explore this lake some more. It's not all that big, but was a relaxing setting.

TMBob

3/19/2018 4:51:54 AM

Good meeting you to BentRod......great to see the rod bend down!

The Quadfather

3/19/2018 10:56:36 AM

I have to give you credit, Bentrod, for actually taking the efforts to roll through all the gear changes. I am so guilty of making 3 changes at very most, and then if no action, I just tell myself it wasn’t meant to be that day.

BentRod

3/19/2018 11:02:21 AM

Hey Quad! LOL, I probably wouldn't have made quite so many changes if I hadn't seen TM Bob putting on a clinic. Usually I stick to my three "go to" lures (Flatfish, Rapala, and Dick Nite), but the total lack of hits was really playing with my mind. I never did go back and try a Flatfish or Rapala after lengthening the leader, so may have had success on those after the switch......guess I'll have to go back and test it out! :)

herefishy

3/19/2018 6:55:48 PM

Orange or Chartreuse wedding rings tipped with a small piece of nightcrawler have worked well for me.

BentRod

3/19/2018 10:15:30 PM

Thanks. Those are my backups later in the season when I want to get my kids on some fish. Normally I don’t bother with bait. They work though.

TMBob

3/19/2018 9:53:10 PM

Better add a Pink TM to that list BentRod...they were killing it tonight at Alice in the same area.

BentRod

3/19/2018 10:14:00 PM

Yup, gonna have to give those a try. Certainly something different....because I don’t have enough fishing gear!

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