Took a look at the barometer before I left for the lake and it was in free-fall... maybe not much to expect today? Met Pete at the park entrance about 5:55, had to wait about ten minutes for park ranger to open the gate. On the pier and fishing by 6:30, already one fisherman with lines in the water. Temp at outset was 43 degrees, slight breeze out of the north... lake a flat calm... fish on the surface everywhere. Water temp off the pier (at 15') was 54 degrees. Began with Power Eggs on both rigs (chartreuse & green). About ten minutes in, Pete had a hard hit, but no hook-up... maybe the fishing will be good? Nothing after that, until about 9:00, Pete reeled in a 11" Rainbow (orange PE). More fishermen began to show up on the piers and on the shoreline. Also, several boats trolling out front... it became obvious that the fish were on or near the surface, as the fish I observed being caught were by those trolling out front and by those on the piers casting various spoons, spinners, etc. Also, several Ospreys were having great success... more on that later. Increased leader lengths to 4' and 5', but still no hits.
About 10:00 a WDFW agent showed up and checked everyone's licenses... saw a couple fishermen leave!???... when he came to check Pete's license, it was discovered that Pete had a saltwater, two rod endorsement. Of course Pete maintained that he had requested the "freshwater" license and the issuing agent had made a mistake in giving the saltwater instead. Just a reminder to all to be sure to check your license to make sure you got what was requested. The agent was very gracious and simply told Pete he would have to obtain the appropriate license before he could continue to fish the freshwater lakes. So Pete left about 10:30.
About the same time I made a decision to try spin-casting for some of the rising trout. I selected a 3" P-Line Minnow, in black and gold (dark color for dark day). Thus began some of the most exciting fishing I have had in quite some time. First cast... had a hit... every cast in the next dozen I had a hit or a fish on... how do they throw those treble hooks? Anyway, over the next hour I caught five Rainbows in the 11" range, lost at least a dozen more, and had, maybe, twenty more hits on my little P-Line jig! Will need to fire up the smoker for the first time this Spring!
By 10:30 the wind shifted around to the south... began to pick up to 15 to 20 mph gusts, and by 11:00 it started to rain hard. By 11:30 I landed my 5th trout and left the lake shortly thereafter. Saw maybe a dozen other fish caught, no biggies this time out.
Was a great morning, greatly enhanced by the various avian fishers that were out. Watched a beautiful, big Loon fishing out front all morning, saw him catch at least two trout. The Ospreys were out fishing steadily all morning (no doubt have young ones in their nests now... hungry mouths to feed). Three times I watched an Osprey snag a fish and before he could clear the lake, the resident eagle had descended on him causing the Osprey to drop the fish (once into the yard of a lakeside home), whereupon the eagle made off with the prize... on the fourth time this happened, the Osprey dropped the fish over open water, right out in front of me, the fish hit the water, jumped twice and dove... truly the "one that got away! A truly great day at Silver Lake, with lots of great memories. Happy Easter all!! PTL!