Photos
Details
After seeing the WDFW reports that Tye Lake in Monroe had been stocked with generous sized Rainbows (2478, 4/4, 2.1/lb, 1544, 4/27, 2.1/lb, 980, 5/1, 2.0/lb, and 523, 5/2, 1.9/lb) I thought it would be a good target for a morning of fishing. In my understanding, a stocker trout in the 2.1 per lb. range is usually at least 11" to 12"... something less than 2.0 per lb. would be closer to 13"??? Anyway, I arrived at the lake about 5:30 AM. Not a cloud in the sky, with the promise of a hot day... temp at the outset was 54 degrees. Water temp at the shoreline (about 15' out), was a surprising 71 degrees. Was very surprised at the high water level of the lake. Most of the wetland area on the southwest corner, where ducks and geese have nested in the past is under water. I was the first at the lakeside. I began fishing with pink Power Eggs on one rig (6' leader), chartreuse PE on the other (4' leader). Within fifteen minutes I had my first hit, on the pink PE and reeled in my first Rainbow of the day, a respectable 12" 'er. After letting my PEs soak for another two hours, and changing colors several times, without a hit, I switched to nightcrawlers under a float. I immediately began to have bites, and was able to reel in several surprisingly small Rainbows, in the 9" to 10" range. Several were lip hooked, and I returned them unscathed, but several were hooked deeply and I had to retain them. About 9:30 the float disappeared and when I set the hook I felt considerable weight and knew I was into a bigger fish. I was greatly surprised to find a 13" Brown Bullhead (a.k.a. Catfish) at the end of my line. I tried several other baits and presentations trying to avoid smaller fish, but to no avail. The lake is full of undersized fish. I retained my limit of five Rainbows, one of 12", one close to 11" and the other three from 9"to 10"... one of them was a 9" fin clipped steelhead smolt. Saw lots of other fish caught nearby, nearly all of them in the 9" to 10" range. I have no idea where the 5525 Rainbows that the WDFW says are 2.1/lb and larger are. Where did all the smaller fish come from? Is someone else stocking the lake with 9" and 10" fish? Oh well, always enjoy a day of fishing regardless! Left the lake before noon and saw many other fishermen limit as well. A couple small boats launched, one returned in a couple hours with a limit, one fish of about 13", the rest 9" to 10".
Enjoyed watching the Bald Eagles stealing fish from the Ospreys. The eagles sit on the power poles on the west side of the lake and when they observe an Osprey take a fish, then make a beeline for it and harrass it until the Osprey drops the fish, then the eagle swoopes to recover it. By 10:00 the sun was high in the sky and dozens of sun-bathers, swimmers and people enjoying the lakeside were enmass. PTL!
Comments
Why is this comment inappropriate?
Delete this comment? Provide reason.