I've never fished this lake before, but after reading some trip reports and the state stocking plans, it sounded like the perfect spot for a Father's Day fishing and camping trip with my Dad. I read reports of big lunkers, and saw that the stocking plans included jumbos and triploids. After looking at the map I saw that the lake was only 32 acres. Not only is it a small lake, but the only portion of any depth is around the bridge and West, towards the dam, at about 45'. I figured that would be where those big bows would congregate, and man was that ever the case! After setting up camp on Sunday we figured we would go out Monday and start by trolling around that area. We were a little worried, because the ranger had told us that there was a fishing derby the week before, and we hoped it wasn't fished out. After an hour on the lake with nothing I told my Dad to stop the boat because I thought I was snagged. I started reeling in and felt some tugs, this was a fish! It didn't put up much of a fight until I got it up closer to the surface, then it started to dive hard! It was stripping my line like crazy and completely bowing my little trout rod. I only had 10 pound main line with a 6 pound leader, and was worried it would snap! I played it for a while and caught a glimpse, this was a REALLY BIG fish! It wasn't until my Dad got the net and landed it that we realized how big. This rainbow was the size of a salmon! We booked it back to camp with it still in the boat. Neither of us even thought we would need to bring a scale. We cleaned it and headed into Montesano, which is only two miles from the lake, to get more ice and a scale. It came in at 6.5 POUNDS without the viscera. It would have to have been 7 POUNDS PLUS with it still in! This is by far the largest rainbow either of us have ever seen, and it was quite an experience! We went out again on Tuesday but got nothing. I feel bad that my Dad got skunked on his Father's Day trip, but I think just seeing that monster bow made the trip.

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