We had such a good day at Rattlesnake Lake yesterday, we decided to see how the fishing would be when the weather forecast was more favorable. Got the kayak in the water by 9am just before the sun cleared the mountain tops. Three fish on the stringer by 9:15 right off the boat ramp. The bite dropped off when the sun hit the water. We should have started earlier. Tried trolling and got more bites and netted a few more fish. Fish were jumping all over the lake, but more at the south end just before the stumps and along both east and west shores 50 to 100 yards out. We fished shallow to put 10 fish on the stringer, but when the hubby let the spoon drop deeper than usual, he felt a big yank - pulled up a nice fat holdover at 15 inches. So his 3 were worth my 8 fish. Weather was beautiful and warm. The lake is still overpopulated with smolts and they're hungry. We had a good day again, if not quite as easy as yesterday. We fished until dusk to get 11 on the stringer. First time I've ever got a sunburn in January around here. Tight lines.

T-Bone

1/28/2015 1:39:00 PM

"We fished until dusk to get 11 on the stringer"…Rattlesnake Lake is a catch & release, year round, selective fishery lake (no bait, barbless lures).

You might want to read the regs. and delete your post. WDFW watches this forum.

Thenumber43

1/28/2015 2:23:00 PM

Check the amendment @T-Bone...
https://fortress.wa.gov/dfw/erules/erules/erule.jsp?id=1505
Good report, thanks!

baiowolph

1/28/2015 3:51:00 PM

Thanks Thenumber43. The amended regs are effective until 1 hour after sunset on Feb 1 and reverts to catch and release on Feb 2. I don't think WDFW figured there would be that many steelhead smolt still in the lake.

Mike Carey

1/28/2015 7:24:00 PM

Sigh... come on people, if you're going to call someone out on the regs, know them yourself first. (T-Bone, feel free to sheepishly apologize to baiowolph)

I'm really concerned come Feb 1st a lot of people won't read the regs and continue to fish the lake like they have been. I wish they had left the quality selective lake rules alone and planted those steelhead somewhere else.

baiowolph

1/29/2015 8:42:00 PM

I agree, Mike Carey. There are a number of year round lakes, normally planted in the fall, that were left bare last October. Why not those lakes?

flyguy

1/31/2015 9:19:00 AM

I also agree with Mike.... Rattlesnake is a long way to go for most fisherman and with the wind problem at times the trip is a waste of time, having done it twice. I think WDFW wanted a fishery that would last over the winter, hoping that restrictive gear would at least slow down the catch rate. I was there yesterday with good results, fly fishing, 15 landed, all C & R, with no trout seeing a net. Ketchum release tool works real good. 8 boats on the lake with just a few keeping fish. These fish fight really well..... I hope the state puts new signs at the boat launch announcing C & R.....it will be needed..........C & R, Go Hawks!!

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