TrackerPro16
6/29/2018 11:38:11 PMSometimes I think a memo goes out telling all the fish to take a day off. I usually go look for panfish when that happens but not always. Like you said, still good being out on the water!
Sharphooks
6/30/2018 10:16:33 AMMaltby: I can find the fishing on Lake Washington to be very challenging too if I can't zero in on the bait fish the Cutties are feeding upon. Next time you go out, try to locate the schools of bait fish on your fish finder. Don't waste your time in waters that hold no bait fish. Try other areas like Champaign Point to Juanita Point or in Juanita Bay. I hope you were fishing with downriggers with at least 180 feet of mono between your boat and your ACE-Hi Fly Junior #344 as that is very important. Those big Cutties tend to be very boat shy. Once you get your ACE-Hi Fly Junior out that distance, keep it fairly close to the bottom. For the area south and out from of McAleer Creek, use a 30 to 45 foot setting on your downrigger. Boat speed should be in the area of 1.5 to 1.8 MPH. If that does not work, I sometimes will speed it up slightly. Good luck on your next trip to the big lake and don't get discouraged. Lake Washington once you understand its characteristics for fishing can be a real gem of a lake.
Maltby
6/30/2018 2:31:28 PMThanks for the encouragement. It seems I did all the right things except the catching part and except finding the schools of baitfish. I must admit that figuring out what I’m looking at on my sonar (fish wise) is still a bit of a challenge but I’m sure I’ll figure it out as time goes on. I won’t give up on this lake.
rmrauscher
6/30/2018 3:24:15 PMLake Washington can be a fickle mistress for sure. I was out Weds and got skunked. Have you tried the south end yet?
Sharphooks
6/30/2018 5:19:37 PMMaltby: What you might want to do is to check out the available videos via the Internet using Google on the subject of Lake Washington Cutthroat, fish finders and specifically how to tell the difference between schools of bait fish and your target fish which is the Cutthroat. You want to use a fish finder that has the sophistication to accomplish that task. From my many years of experience while fishing the north end of the big lake, the key to success with its Cutthroat is being able to identify bait fish on the fish finder as that is where you will almost always find the Cutthroat. Once you find the bait fish, you will want to try to stay with them. The Cutthroat that my fishing partner and I have caught in recent weeks have just been crammed with stomachs full small bait fish. Its no wonder the Cutthroat of Lake Washington take on a beefy, broad shouldered appearance with that type of diet.
Maltby
6/30/2018 5:28:45 PMOnce again, good advice. I have a Ray Marine Drangon Fly Pro so I think it is sophisticated enough to display baitfish but maybe I’M not sophisticated enough yet ??. I’ll stick with it, not giving up yet!