Lake Sammamish Salmon - are you fishing it yet?

[Mike Carey]

I just realized I could be chinook fishing on lake Samm. I tried several years ago with little success. Anyone out there have some tips they'd like to share with the rest of us? I've got riggers (of course)

[Rollin with Rolland]

They have Chinook in Sammamish?? Resident or sea run?? What's the season?? Interesting.......

I personally would try my "super light" set-up i caught one earlier this year on in BAKER lake (probably similar lake type). Check the report for a pic of the set-up. I LOVE DR's in the lake,...but to me they seem just SO BIG. my preference is banana sinkers (or similar) and light tackle....(i've only got one though, so probably not the best advice)...interested to see how you do......

[A9]

They have Chinook in Sammamish??

There is the little Issaquah Creek which dumps into the south end of Sammamish, and up that creek there is a hatchery and a few thousand kings return every year from the ocean, they come through the locks, up Lake Washington and thru the Sammamish slough/river or whatever its called and into Lake Sammamish. I've never fished it, but there are some big fish caught there, I have no idea about how chrome/dark the fish are once they hit Sammamish....

[G-Man]

The opener was a snoozer, so don't bother until the fish start to school up in front of the creek. Once they do you can catch them much like you do Sockeye. My folks took a boat through the locks on Saturday and reported kings jumping everywhere! So, I'm guessing that the majority of the run hasn't made into the lake yet. Also you will note that the lake is open for 4 adults, 2 of which may be Chinook. Thay also have a good run of silvers to the hatchery in Issaquah as well!

[G-Man]

I forgot to mention to Rollin with Rolland, do not under estimate these fish! 2 of mine went over 20lbs last year. And if you try to use a banana sinker and troll with the rest of the crowd, your going to lose your gear to down rigger cables and other irrate fisherpeople.

[fisherdane]

G-Man: If it is not a secret, could you tell me what you used to catch those 2 great looking fish? I have never caught a Salmon before and was hoping I would be able to take my dad, coming from Denmark on Tuesday, out for a fishing experience on Lk Washington for Sockey, but I think we all know how that ended this year...... Chinook on Sammamish, might be an alternative solution..

[Mike Carey]

Sweet fish G-man. Now I'm really pumped. Definately going to work the lake this year.

[G-Man]

fisherdane,

All the Chinook we caught were with bare hooks behind a dodger. Exact same setup/method you use when fishing for Lk. Washington Sockeye. Keep your gear near the bottom and troll slow, just enough to make your dodger sway from side to side. Good luck to all, and if you do catch any let the rest of us know that they are in. These fish need to be harvested as the creek and the hatchery can't support all of the Chinook and Coho that are expected to return this year! Last year, towards the end of the run, the Native Americans strung nets across the mouth of the creek to help remove the surplus.

[Rich McVey]

Nice Fish. Im confused about something though.

I have never fished salmon and most of what I hear is salt water salmon fishing.

When salmon "Run" don’t they start breaking down as they head upstream?

Is a "Run" contiguous with Spawning? and if so, why would we want to fish them durring that time?

[Mike Carey]

These are hatchery fish, excess production, which are OK to target. THey do darken pretty fast, although the ones in the photo don't look too bad. "Good enough to smoke" as the sayign goes. You should see the ones that come from Hanford!

[sickbayer]

I prodomitley fish this lake for its fine cutts, i have caught Kokanee (there is a few left) a few beauiful jack blackmouths. But one thing i have never targetted the kings because always seem way off color to me. So my question what do they taste like.

[G-Man]

Sickbayer,

It's pretty hit or miss when you get them later in the season, the above 2 fish were caught mid September last year. Some were soft and had lost their flavor and color to their meat and others looked and tasted fine. I suspect it all depends on how long they had been hanging around in front of the creek getting ready to spawn. The run looks to be a bit late this season so if you get them early enough they should be fine table fair, otherwise fillet them and put em' in the smoker! We also recycle all of the fish we catch, the carcasses get chopped up, frozen and make excellent crab/crayfish bait.

[sickbayer]

any recomendations on what to use for trolling . i am going to head out to sammy on sunday am. any hints to tips would be appreciated..

[kutthroatkilla]

Uncle did well last year with bare hooks or wiggle-warts/plugs off the bottom. I believe he also used some Kiwifish (sp?) and did well scoring 4 last year about the size in the photo. It should be good this year. I drove by the lake today on the way to Creekside and I'd say, oh, about 8 boats out there trolling near Issy.

[fishingmachine]

yeah i will be out there a couple times this year for them

[JT26]

yeah i will be out there a couple times this year for them

In your livingston?

[fishingmachine]

yeah and in my dads boat hopefully we get some
i will be in my livingston jigging for them

[iPodrodder]

Don't sink like last time!

I've been fishing them the last couple years, and never had any luck. There's always 30+ boats at the mouth of the creek and maybe 5 will catch any if they're lucky. Maybe I just got there too early in the season, before it heats up in September.

[JT26]

Don't sink like last time!

I've been fishing them the last couple years, and never had any luck. There's always 30+ boats at the mouth of the creek and maybe 5 will catch any if they're lucky. Maybe I just got there too early in the season, before it heats up in September.

Went smallie fishing today, and saw a ton of boats trolling for those kings. Didnt hear of any caught though.
Its funny to see 28ft grady whites on lake Sammamish lol.

[fishingmachine]

no worries on sinking i am just worried about hooking a king and getting towed around