What a beautiful day today turned out to be but just wished the fishing had been a little better;( looks like I should have hit Stevens!) but all in all a great day on the water! Was tired last night after getting off the big lake and getting the Tin cup ready for todat that got a bit later start then I had hoped. Got to the Lakewood park launch at 6am and gate was locked so went to turn around at the veterans home and by the time I got back to the park, the gate was open! Yea! Was the 1st boat in (from that launch! lol) as there were about 30 boats already working the water north of Silox island so started my troll down towards the apartments starting with a clown glow dodger and gilded lady I had just got from Toni, tipped with shoepeg corn. There was a marine layer hanging over head so a bit chilly to start.

The other had a watermelon sling blade with a hand tied spinner also tipped with corn started my depths at 20 feet and 40 feet. Didin't get a bump and saw a few nets flying but not a lot of action. Changed out the gilded lily to the orange thang and tipped this with pink gulp maggots and not too long after trolling back just north of the island , had a fish take the line off the clip and it was fish on! It was on the orange thang so soon had it in the net and set the lines out again.

By 8:30 went back to the launch for a quick bathroom break and when I got back to the boat, the clouds had lifted and it was warming up quickly. Set out this time to troll along the VA hospital where I have done well in the past and not too long after setting the same set ups, the rod with the hand tied spinner starts to do a funny dance and said to myself, now that is a koke. Pulled it off the clip and sure enough, felt that familiar head shake and tug tug and the battle was on. Kept it coming slowly in, keeping tip low and it made a couple runs before getting close enough to get the net under it. What a fatty! Just over 15" but the girth was incredible! Oh how I have missed this fishery!

Got a call from JD39 who was out so we shared stories and some other guys i had seen out last year so worked my way around the lake until around 11:30 and I was combing my way around the cove after the marina, again the rod with the orange thang pulls off the clip and it's another nice rainbow but ends up breaking the line and the beads fly all over the boat! Fortunately had another one on hand and decided to join JD39 over in little American where his buddy had just picked up a 17"er.

Good thing too as it was getting busy out there by noon with numerous water sports activists working the water into a pretty good chop along with a bit of a breeze. Was treated to a great show from the local eagles there which provided for some great entertainment during lulls in fishing! Forgot how nice it was over in that little hidden getaway and marked all kinds of fish but only managed about 3 drive-bys. Saw JD39 and his buddy and tossed him some goodies I had forgot to give him the other day when we fished together and of course, as hard as we tried ended up tangling lines and my line broke with my flasher and lure. Got his off my down rigger braid and when I went to pull mine up, realized my line was still in the clip so was able to hand pull my line back and get my flasher and lure back!

Great way to finish the day and when I got home mowed the lawn, put the kokes on the smoker/bbq, sweet potato criss cut fries in the oven and poured myself homemade brew from one of my customers to wash it down with!!

Now to get the boat ready again for tomorrow as my daughter wants to take her friend out on Lake WA for free fishing weekend so had to just had to say yes!! haha

see you on the water!!

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