by The Troutist, May 21, 2011

Knowing that my better half had to work on “Mothers Day” and knowing that at times I have been considered a real “Mother”, it seemed appropriate that I take a little trout outing. I decided that my destination should be Phillips Lake which is often overlooked by anglers because of her big brother right down the road, Spencer Lake.

Phillips has always provided me with hours of entertainment and plenty of hook-ups with feisty rainbow trout, this day was to prove no different. I have always considered this little 111 acre lake to be a great place to take kids fishing, mainly because of the action which helps keep them focused and gives them a great fishing experience. Although not known for its monster trout there are a few that just might give you some bragging material. This year the WDFW stocked it with 6,471 catchables, 230 one and one half pounders, and 25 three and one half pound rainbow trout.

I have discovered over the years that Phillips is a great early season lake and does well clear into mid-July. But as the summer progresses starting about mid-June expect recreational boaters and skiers to be plentiful. My suggestion during this period is to get on and off the lake early. The ramp is in good shape and for those of you that don’t know the park is a tobacco free zone. There are a few spots for bank angling but nothing to really speak of unless you happen to know someone that lives on the lake and you can fish from their dock.

I arrived at the lake at 8:15am and was on the water by 8:30am. I had made my mind up that I was only going to work the lake until 12:30pm and keep track of how many I hooked and released in this time period. I was working the lake dragging a fly on full sink fly line, “Blue collar fly fishing,” a term that has become well known throughout the state. I tied on a size #6 black Woolly Bugger and almost immediately had a hook-up, a feisty 11-inch rainbow. After an hour of hooking and releasing what I like to call a “mothers dozen,” thirteen, I switched over to a #6 Carey Special, olive with brown hackle and a foil wrap.

Which, by the way, I have looked other places for this particular fly and the only place I have found them has been at Verle’s in Shelton. I’m not sure if the other folks are out of them or just don’t carry them. Verle’s pro-staffer Ron Adams introduced them to me and they have become a main stay in my fly box. They bring them in by the dozens for my brother and I, that’s what I call taking care of the customer. What I like about this fly is when there is a hatch going off and nothing else seems to be working we can always count on a few hook-ups with Mr. Carey.

After hooking and releasing another half dozen I hooked up with the “mother” I was looking for. She brought that fly to a sudden stop and just took off, after a few minutes of battling back and forth I brought her to the net, a nice 18-inch rainbow. This was the one I was looking for I knew she was meant for the oven filled with savory herb stuffing and to be the guest of honor for dinner. After hooking and releasing several more I decided to try a #6 olive Woolly Bugger. I made my way around the lake and did manage to hook and release a few more but wasn’t really getting the action I was receiving with Mr. Carey.

I know sooner tied Mr. Carey back on and eased him back into the lake when I got what I was hoping for, another solid hook-up. I finished my day out with Mr. Carey and at 12:30pm I called it a day and what a day it was. I had hooked and released 48 ranging in size from 8 to 14-inches with most of them in the 10 to 12-inch range and one nice 18-incher for dinner, a total of 49, not a bad Mothers Day. The surface water temperature was holding steady at 57 degrees with one rain shower that lasted about an hour and a half the sun even made an appearance every now and then. I would recommend this lake for you and your youngsters this is definitely an under-appreciated body of water.

But wait that’s not all, my better half, Sheree, said that beings that I was such a “Mother” I should go get two new boat straps as my gift. Thanks baby! So until next time may your next trout be your trophy mount.

The Troutist-“Uncle Wes” Malmberg.


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