Previous Next

First report.
I arrived at the city launch on the east arm. I put the toon together and was on the water about sunrise. There was only myself and a rowing class headed out with a light fog on the lake as the sun was coming up. It was very peaceful and very beautiful. My my my, how things can change. Headed out of that area and began working shore and docks, kicking along with my flippers stealthily working my way west now. I was steadily flipping and whipping my favorite tool ( 1/8th ounce tube jig with a small beetle spinner) colors vary but today I was using mostly a black or red tipped silver with sparkles, 1.5" tube, and some smell good gel. Sometimes I will just toss the jig or jig the jig. Depends on the bottom or weed heights. I was immediately catching 6-8 " yellow perch and small mouth in the 3-5"range. Probably 1 in 5 cast average but at times it would be a fish 3 casts in a row. Since my gear is a 5.5' ultra light with 4 lb test a fish has to be really small to seem insignificant. The most action was in the NW part of the lake. It was 10 feet or so deep not far from those docks with a gradual contour change to 20 or 30 feet at about 150 yds or so from shore. I kept working docks and shore around till the point where shore heads sw, things had slowed down significantly so I headed back to the NW corner, straight across the lake, passed the aeration bouys till I was 150 or so yards from the sea plane. I started jigging and strolling with perch tip heading back counter clockwise. I get a couple 10 inchers. SWEET. Let the the mayhem begin. Wrong. At this point it's 1330 or 1400. The skis and tubes were unreal. I easily lost 10 keepers that flipped off when I missed the line grab or I missed putting them in my basket because it felt like I was on the sound during a small craft advisory. These people must have confused my little inflatable pontoon boat for a freaking race track marker bouy. It wasn't just young punks, it was even the old ladies that were driving. It was at the shore and it was two hundred yards out and it was here and it was there. I kept thinking ...so much lake and you have to keep driving within 20 and even 10 yds of me for hours. Some even waved at me with cheer leading me to believe in their ignorance. I just shook my head at many of them. I still caught fish but it was work. It felt like an episode of Lake Stevens Deadliest Catch starring Idiotfish.
Anyway, I had fun but did get some chapped butt. Since an air horn blast is an established form of communication for boaters concerned with being seen...I may get one for this and blast at people when they get so close.
I'll try to be more consistent on reporting. I have caught alot of perch this year. You could easily take kids on that run and they would have a blast.

Westside Angler

9/8/2014 11:08:00 AM

Nice first report! The docks (far right & far left) are good for perch if you don't want to take a boat out. The NW part of the lake in the upper corner by the bridge produces some nice smallies, yep I agree - there are lots of activities in this area.
Yeah, unfortunately boat bullies are out there - with the upcoming cold weather, they'll retreat to warm cozy home and should see less of them.

tluedeke

9/10/2014 10:16:00 PM

I totally hear you. Not only am I fellow passionate yellow perch angler, I have a white hot hatred for jet skis. The cynical side of me wonders if there is some sort of exam they need to pass before being allowed to buy one. For example:

Question for prospective jet ski buyer: "You are on a jet ski, and see a fisherman quietly enjoying a peaceful day fishing. What do you do?"

Prospective purchaser answer: "You slow down, and give them a wide berth, because they have just as much right to be on the water as myself"

Seller: "WRONG. TOTALLY WRONG!! NO SALE TODAY!! Correct answer: You GUN your jet ski to cause an unholy combination of horrible wake and noise, and zoom back and forth as close to the fisherman as possible to ruin his day and ensure he never comes back to *your* lake. You OWN the lake - TAKE IT BACK!!!"

Leave a Comment:

Login

Flag

×

Why is this comment inappropriate?

Close Submit

Delete this comment? Provide reason.

No Yes

Edit

×

Cancel Save