So after a long absence from Lake WA I saw an opportunity time-wise and weather-wise to shake off the cobwebs from the TIn Cup! Actually had changed out all the oils a few weeks ago on both lower units, changed oil in 4-stoke, put in new spark plugs and check all electrical connections in preparation for it's maiden voyage this year so was anxious to get out on the water!

Launched out of Atlantic City around 11:30 am with only 1 trailer in the parking lot and wanted to run the big motor a bit, so took off for the mouth of the Cedar river. Started my troll north along the trench towards the west side of mercer island running my lead core line as figured with water temp at 46 degrees the fish would be up higher that I wanted to target. Put out 4 colors and 115 of line running the new RMT sling blade with it's matching new spinner tipped with pink gulp maggots and a trolling speed from 1.6 to 1.8 mph; wasn't marking much but as I got closer stated seeing marks from 15 feet down to 55 feet.

Then heard my line pull ( I keep the clicker on my low profile cold water reel) and then the rod dancing and it was fish on! Didn't fight like a cutthroat so slowly reeled in and sure enough, it was about a 12" kokanee! Got it in the net but kept it in the water so I could release it safely to get bigger! Reset things but this time put on a Kaley Schertenleib custom tied spinner behind another RMT sling blade to match the color and threaded a piece of a gulp nightcrawler on the trailer hook.

Started marking a ton of fish as I passed the 2 with houses on the west side of the island and stayed in the 118 to 120 foot area that I like to fish. *Note to other fisher people that if there is a trench here that when you approach from Atlantic city you will notice it goes from like 110 to 120 as you get closer to the island and then starts to come up again. I like to fish that area when it starts to go back up from 120 to 115 as seems to hold bait and schools of fish more for me!* Anyway, as I am approaching the big brown house my reels just screams and the yellow rod is bucking and it's fish on!! I grab it out of the holder and this baby is running for it's life! Take of the clicker and finally when it hits 165 on the line counter I get some line back- it makes a few more runs before finally getting close enough to see it's a pig of a cutthroat! Doesn't care for my net much so tries to get some air to throw the hook and does 3 jumps before finally succumbing to my net!
It's a nice 20" fatty so gave it a bonk and had dinner for my wife when she returns from her trip tomorrow night!

Put out a few more offerings as I ran over to the Seward park cove but no takers so just trolled back to the launch to call it a day! Both motors ran great, no leaks in the boat, electonics worked fine and caught a few fish so all-in-all not a bad day on the water in my books with gorgeous weather to boot! Looking forward to heading over the mountains in a few weeks to team up with D.J. Butler to slay some kokanee in the something catchy derby! Will probably hook up once or twice with him for a practice run so watch for a report or 2 from him or myself! See you on the water!

---