All I know is next time I head out on Lake Washington I'm going to target trout, then maybe I can catch some kokanee. After seeing a few reports on the kokanee bite on Lake WA (Thanks DJ) decided to give it a go Monday 6/24. Launched at Coulon, and headed towards S side of Mercer Island. Rigged up with a sling blade and mini pink hootchy with a smile blade on front. Corn with tuna scent on the hook. Trolled the entire S end of Mercer abound the 90 to 65 ft range, nothing. Not even on the finder. Fished between 35 to 60 ft on the downrigger, 1.7 mph. Swung out into the main part of the S end of the lake, nothing. Decided to go up the West channel between Mercer Island and Seward park, nothing.

Switched out to a Gods Tooth (pink rainbow trout) with a bare hook and weaved my way around the west channel and finally got a take down after 3 hours of fishing. A nice 15+ inch cutt. Since I was hoping for kokes I let it go. After that had a few drive bys but nothing stuck. Decided to switch out to another Gods Tooth (blue/nickel) lure and put a pink gulp maggot on it. After about 5 mins of trolling with that rig my fishing rod buried violently and then immediately went slack. I figured it was another drive by. Pulled the rod from the holder and started retrieving. Then it pulled back, hard. I knew it was a good sized fish and figured it was a sockeye or a coho. After about 5 mins of back and forth I got it to the surface. It was a big trout. Biggest I have ever caught on that lake anyways. Got it into the boat and put it on the measuring stick on my gunnel. It was over 20 inches, damn! Grabbed the camera, snapped a few pics and let it go. I was a week too early for that fish. It was a nice heavy fish. After that trolled back towards Coulon launch, nothing. Hoping to get out there this next week and try the kokanee thing again. Be safe. -G

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