So my wife said to me this week "I"ll go fishing with Saturday". Now put that phrase and say it like Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh and you'll know how excited she was to go haha!

Short report: Fishing just not her thing but she did have fun and netted 2 and pulled in 4 as we went 6 for 8 today on lake WA with one sockeye coming unbuttoned after a few leaps in the air behind the boat which was fine as we would have had to release anyway! Great meeting NWFR member Nitrosteve at the launch and sharing some intel on the water!

Full report: Was planning on fishing Lake Sammamish today and had already hoped to meet up with Janet (here fishy fishy) and husband Glen at the launch around 7:15. Well my wife wakes up at 5am and asks if we can go fishing sooner- HUH? I about spit out my coffee but said yes we could fish lake WA anytime and you can keep kokanee there; where as you have to release them on Sammamish. Here reply was you had me at kokanee so off we went to launch the Tin Cup on Coulon to get the boat wet and as we were preparting things up walked NItrosteve to say HI! We exchanged phone numbers to keep in touch on the water and off we went into the wild blue waters of Lake WA!

Nice to have another person in the boat so I can run 2 rods so put the the Brad's cut plug on both this time since it was early and could give it a shot from my UV flashlight, stuffed them with tuna and filled one scent chamber with tuna/garlic scent the other with shrimp/krill oil. My wife is not a fan of down riggers so set out one lead core at 118' feet back and the other on the rigger down about 30' to start. Since I limited out the other day in front of Boeing I thought we would start there in about 75 FOW and speed 1.3-1.5 to start the day and we zig zagged a couple times with no love- changed my speed a bit and chased some great marks on the sonar with the rigger but nothing!

Got a text from nitrosteve that he had 2 in the boat alread over by south tip of Mercer going 1.6 mph and in 100 FOW on the same set up I was using- sooo of course started heading over that way! As we approached the big white house on the west side of the island I mentioned to my wife how that area has always produced for me as she was getting a little restless LOL! Right on cue the lead core starts bucking and it's fish on!! She wasn't too steady on her feet as the boat was rocking so let me pull in this one and also so she could watch me do it- I gave her some netting 101 as I slowing brought this beast in and like a pro she swooped under it and over the rail and into the pail she goes!

Onto the stringer to bleed out and lines back in the water as we turned oround to run back through the area again. We marked some more but no more biters so turned around so the south wind was behind us and trolled around the point to head north by the Allen's residence. Heard from Steve again that they had made their way that way too and lost one at the boat. Suddenly the lead core rod starts peeling line and it's another fish on! Got this one in and once again she netted it perfeclty and one more for the cooler!

Now it seems like the bite is on the lead core which is probably down about 25' with four colors out so move the rigger line up to 22' and BOOM it does the sexy dance and this time my wife wants to reel it in! This one is pulling line and looks like the biggest of the day so far and sure enough comes in at a healthy 17+" and fat! Lines rebaited and set again at 22' and before I can sit down is bucking again! SWEET! She brings this one too now like a veteran and we are now 3 for 3 on the day!

Well I knew the perfect day wouldn't last as we getting another slamola on the lead core but about half way in it shakes loose and we just bring in a lonely cut plug with no fish attached! Dang! Soon the rigger is dancing and number 4 comes into the boat so now we are tied 2 to 2 on which set up is more productive. We pretty much stayed in the area by the park north of the Allen's house and 2 flag poles for all the actiion today!

Finally caught up with Steve out there and they have 3 in the boat and let him know I am getting them up higher then expected and we end up catching 2 more and have a nice sockeye slam the lead core and do a few leaps out of the water before spitting the hooks! How does that happen? Good thing as it was going to have to go back anyway! Now it's about 10:30 and the south wind really picking up so we call it a day and head back to the launch going 6 for 8 for a final tally and my wife's first kokanee on lake WA!

See you on the water!

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