Hit Washington at 9:00 for the first time this season, and after seeing the mainlake temps down around 52 degrees, I decided to head to the canals, where I found 57 degrees, and a couple of hungry smallmouth, including a 4 lb toad, my best of the year so far. The other one was just under 3lbs, but both were beautiful fish, with great color and markings. I caught both of these fish in one small stretch on a crawdad luhr jensen crankbait. Even though the canals will get pounded between now and the tournament, I still didn't want to stay in there and potentially stick more fish, so I left after fishing back out to the opening. Not the smartest move I ever made, because I got absolutely pounded by the wind, I ran up to meydenbauer and then hit groat point, before working my way around most of mercer island. The wind was brutal, and I never had another bite or even a follow the rest of the day. Fished till 3:00 and then called it a day. Talked to one other guy in the canals who said he had caught a 5lb smallie earlier in there, and another angler at the launch who said he caught 3 including 1 largemouth. All in all, the fishing was tougher than I was expecting it to be, and the water is colder than I thought it would be! Oh well, still a great way to spend a vacation day! Hope to see you on the water. Tight lines! Dave

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