Mercer island Bows and Throats

[marctheshark]

Hello everyone,
I was thinking about heading out to Luther burbank Park tommorow for a bit of fishing with some friends on the park docks/piers. Last season i had luck, the first time i had ever fished there was last year, so i had little experience. I was able to land a 14 inch rainbow, but that was it. I was just fishing a bottom rig with an egg sinker and nightcrawler on the end. My question is what do you think would be the best rig/ way to catch trout off the dock? Are there any other species i can target this time of year from the docks? I have heard of people catching yellow perch, but i dont know if they are fully out right now.
Thanks everyone!

[G-Man]

The docks at Luther Burbank sit out in pretty deep water. Winter and Spring fish are typically caught, from shore, in water between 10' and 20' deep. With this in mind, you'll need to fish the docks closest to shore and in waters where you can either see the bottom or have it just out of view. For perch, it is best to wait until the weeds start growing and fish the lake side of the weedline that forms. This should end up being in water around 15' to 20' deep. For trout, I typically still fish with floating bait and a slip sinker. Perch get the drop shot or jig treatment, usually tipped with worm or perch meat. Remember, you can chum in Lake Washington and chopped worms, shrimp & perch meat works best, leave the corn at home for your side dish.

[marctheshark]

So youre saying i should or shouldnt fish for trout at the end of the pier? What bait would you say is most effective? Dough, power eggs, or marshmallowand worm combo?

[jonb]

Try a variety of baits for trout, some will work good some days others will be effective on other days. And remember the,definition of insanity is doing something the same way over and over and expecting different results, so if what your doing isn't working try something else. Variety is the key. This isnt specific to lake washington, its more general trout catching strategy. avoid being that guy who used the same set up at the same place and never changes.. No such thing as a lucky lure or lucky spot, use skill to catch not luck, and you'll be a better angler for it.

[marctheshark]

Is the deeper water good?

[jonb]

Yes, but if , for example, you have overcast, the right moon phase, and timing, early morning (first light) or late evening, there may be lunker trout in the shallows searching for food. My personal best trout came in 4' deep water 7lb 2Oz. (not in lake WA though) like I said try everything. shallow deep on the bottom on the surface, and suspended. Attention to detail goes a long way in figuring out what to use in what conditions, nearly everything matters. Again this info isn't necessarily specific to lake WA, but trout fishing in general. I would give a few cast to the shallows early in the day and work my way deeper and deeper working different levels of the water column until i found success then repeat. For perch use bits of worms or perch eyes just off the bottom (8") in 8-30' of water once the weather warms up. They school up, you'll know it whenyou find them, if your not catching them your not in the right spot. Perch fishing will start picking up in late may, and be good through september

[G-Man]

Fish were you want, I'm just saying that in my experience, you will have more success bottom fishing in the shallower waters. The depth at the end of the pier is over 40'.

[kingroobes]

I fished luther burbank for cutts back in december. I made the mistake of going out to the end of the dock thinking that,s where the fish would be. It's easily 30-40 feet deep. When i tried roe all i got were sculpin and worms only got perch. There is lots of shore acess there and the trout will be within casting distance from shore.