Nice report! You asked if all state parks charge $7.00 to launch. Only the cheap ones do.. some places are more expensive. I think Coulon on Lake WA. is pushing $10.00. Somebody will correct me if I'm wrong. Coulon is not a state park, but you get the idea.

That photo, my friend, is a cutthroat trout NOT a rainbow. To properly identify them check for red slashed under the gills on the "chin" on either side. Sometimes these slashes are very bright and pronounced, other times they are lighter and less obvious as is the case in your photo. As for not keeping fish that have been "in the lake surrounded by runoff for 3 years" these Cutthroat are actually a migratory sea-run species. They spawn in the creek at the northern end of the lake, rear for a short period in the stream and lake before heading out to sea to feed before returning to spawn (the term for this is anadromy or anadromous, a life trait shared by salmon and steelhead); In other words... These fish are VERY good to eat, bright red meat fresh from the sea.

Enjoi.

Hi,
Matt is correct that these are Cutthroat however not all are sea run. As a matter of fact the lake has a nice population of native west slope cuts that do reproduce in the Issaquah creek as well as some of the smaller creeks. Fishing for these is great all year long but we do the best spring through fall. the fish really fatten up on all kinds of small fish like perch fry, stickle backs, and the Salmon smolts that are released from the hatchery. My info comes from a Fisheries Manager my friend e-mailed a few Months ago. The lake is not stocked with trout so only take what you need.