Spectacular day of fishing on Lake Washington. Havent fish this lake in about 2 years. Took a while to find the fish but well worth the hunt. We ended up catching 8 nice cutthroats (all C&R) and one really big Sockeye. Got the sockeye up to the boat and cut the line at the hook. Def did not want that fish in the boat!!!! Really nice fish and what a fight. Came out of the water 5 or 6 times. Took about 15 minutes. Incredible.

Trolled the Wolf Bay area south of Magnuson Park. Green wedding rings, tipped with worm and kernel of tuna soaked shoepeg. About 35 feet down.

Had no idea Sockeye would hit this setup. Thought they hit on bare red hooks or something. Maybe someday we'll have a sockeye fishery again on Lk WA.

Lk Wa cuts are real scrappers compared to Sammamish. Much healthier and fatter. Also much harder to find! But like I said, well worth the hunt. Size ranged from about 14 to about 16 but who cares.

Going to try south end of Mercer Island tomorrow. I hear there are some big ones down there. Any suggestions.

KarpKilla

8/26/2014 10:47:00 PM

I hope they somehow make the Lake Washington sockeye fishery, bank fisherman friendly, if they open it in the future. Otherwise I don't really care, I don't like how the lake gets so choked up with boats.

jpjames14

8/27/2014 9:23:00 AM

I fish Mercer more often than not... glad to hear about some caught by Magnuson! That's closer to home for me. Anyways, the same set up will likely work, but I ALWAYS use some sort of herring strips down that way and do pretty well, usually off a short leashed little hoochie like set up. Indeed there are some good 20+ fish lurking around. I was out last Saturday and caught two, but I have no downriggers. The ONLY way I was able to hook them was cut my motor, let my gear fall literally to the bottom (likely around 100ft of water) then begin my troll again. They hit right off the bottom so I'm guessing the warm temps are pushing them low. I troll from the tip of the island where it shallows out (south end) up a few wake buoys, and also troll from the tip to the mouth of the cedar. If you have a fish finder, use that :) I don't have one so I just gamble.

salmonbarry

8/27/2014 8:26:00 PM

I haven't been out on lake WA in a while due to work issues, salt water prospects, and just too many people on the water this time of year! BUT I am hoping to sneak out tomorrow morning for a few hours to get my mojo back and all I can tell you about the south tip is where I fish and have had success. If you are running all the way down I would start your troll just after I-90 on the west side of Mercer Island and work you way south staying along the shoreline in about 75-115 feet of water and vary your depths until you get a hit from 30 feet up to 60 feet. Change your speed too a bit as that has produced strike for me by speeding up and slowing down as you troll~ Good luck out there!

sleepyferret

8/31/2014 11:26:00 PM

Great report! I loved hearing about your fight with the sockeye and yes, gods grant we get a sockeye fishery one year soon! I usually use a wedding ring tiped myself, but interesting to hear you had success with the green! Thanks!

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