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Had planned on being in Phoenix AZ Thursday but I'm dealing with an ear infection and getting on a plane with my ear like this will not go well for me. So since it was going to be such a great day I figured I would go hit lake WA for a C&R fishing trip just to get outdoors for the day

I did not take any fish pictures and only caught 3 trout today. It was truly an epic amazing day of fishing though because the fish I did catch Thursday were absolutely huge for rainbow trout! All 3 of them were the biggest trout I have ever caught in this lake, or anywhere else for that matter. The biggest one I lost as I was trying to get it into the net. It was too big to fit. When I got it to the surface and actually saw it for the first time I could feel my heart start to race when I saw how big it was. I thought maybe it was a resident King or Coho salmon. As I got it closer to the boat I realized it was a huge trout and not a salmon (on reflection possibly a nice big steelhead). It didn't put up much of a fight until it saw the boat, then it was game on. Had 10 lb mono on the spool and didn't want to snap it off. It took me over 10 mins to finally tire this beast out and get it back towards the net. Since I'm by myself netting can be a real challenge, especially with bigger fish. As I tried 3 times to net this fish, and failed, I went for a forth attempt. I got the head and half the body started into the net and lifted it up to try and let gravity drop and secure the fish in the net. Just then the hooks came flying off the kokobow lure and out of the fishes mouth. The fish was literally laying there balancing on the rim of the net, half in half out. It was like watching a horror movie in slow motion. I'm praying the fish drops down into the net. Nope! The fish flips and twist and slides off the net and back into the water. That fish was so tired it just sat there in the water by the boat (out of reach of course) for about 20 seconds before it swam off to the depths below. I would be lying if I didn't confess the thought of jumping into the water with my net to grab it did cross my mind. The water temp was 53 degrees so, nope. I'm pretty sure anyone outside within a mile of me heard my scream from across the lake.

Thank you to the man upstairs for letting me experience that Thursday. I have not been that excited about a fish in a long time. It felt amazing! It was also my birthday so it was the perfect birthday experience. I will be heading out there to go after those lunkers again in the next few days, and I'm keeping fish this trip out. The other 2 rainbows were not as large as that monster but like I said they were the biggest rainbows I have ever seen in Lake WA. They were almost shaped like footballs and heavy. They are feeding well obviously

Caught all 3 in the same general area (see hot spot). 40ft down on the rigger, kokobow pink spinner (until it broke off on big fish), kokobow red spinner blade and last fish on a size 2 Pro-Troll trout killer in fire tiger pattern. All behind a UV herring bone pattern 5 inch sling blade. Trolled between 1.6 and 2.1 mph. No scent or bait used. Right now very few people are out on Lake WA fishing. My last 3 trips I have been practically if not the only boat on the entire South end of the lake, which I love! Yesterday there was 1 other boat in the S. lake area for a couple of hours, then it was just me the whole rest of the day. I fished from 9:45am to 5:30 pm.


(I debated whether to post this or not. There have been times I have not posted after some great trips out for one reason or another. I am posting this so our community has as much current fishing intel as possible. Not a lot of intel on Lake WA right now. I appreciate it from everyone else's post and I hope you appreciate mine. Please don't start the no pic no fish bs. I have posted fish pics before. Unless I am keeping fish, I release them ASAP. I would have taken a pic of that monster trout for sure but that was not to be. Thanks) -G

Markin' Fish

4/20/2018 6:18:07 PM

Great report G. I will be getting my annual Coulon launch next week and will be out there frequently during the week. I have a 16ft aluminum boat with a 40hp merc on back and little kicker. Hope to see you out there soon.

Fish On!

Mark

Markin' Fish

4/20/2018 6:18:48 PM

Great report G. I will be getting my annual Coulon launch next week and will be out there frequently during the week. I have a 16ft aluminum boat with a 40hp merc on back and little kicker. Hope to see you out there soon.

Fish On!

Mark

Busterdog3!

4/20/2018 8:58:02 PM

I was fishing last Sunday on the south end lost one fish and nothing the rest of the day want to figure this fishery out

gcban

4/20/2018 9:53:50 PM

Lake WA can really be very fickle sometimes. I have been out there one day with not a single mark on the fish finder and had a great day fishing and then go out the very next day with fish and bait all over the place on the fish finder and couldn't get a single bite. A double hook wedding ring with a piece of worm on it and a small 4 or 5 inch UV Sling Blade dodger is my favorite go to setup when nothing else is working. Keep at it! Persistence pays off.

Busterdog3!

4/20/2018 8:59:53 PM

I was fishing last Sunday on the south end lost one fish and nothing the rest of the day want to figure this fishery out

Ben Eggertsen

4/20/2018 9:18:45 PM

Fun report! For some reason, your hotspot did not show up. I take it was the south end of Mercer Island?

gcban

4/20/2018 9:39:07 PM

I now see the hotspot did not show up, thanks. It's the middle of the lake from the SW corner of Mercer Island to the shoreline directly to the West. Mostly in the 100 to 120+ foot depth range. I was trolling between 40 to 35 ft most of the day and just running in a figure 8 and a racetrack pattern. All 3 of my fish were caught in that area. I trolled that day from the SE tip of Mercer Island to the NE corner of Seward park. I may go hit it again Sunday, although I usually don't go out fishing on the weekends.

gcban

4/20/2018 9:29:00 PM

If you ever see me out there, come by and say hello. Haven't had the chance to meet anyone from the forum yet. Back of my boat has the name "Joe's Island" on it.

YellowYak

4/21/2018 8:44:33 PM

I am going to try my luck tomorrow. My wife and daughter are out of town so no excuses not to go. If you ever see a guy in a yellow Hobie kayak with downriggers, that's me! I fish the Kirkland area.

gcban

4/22/2018 12:25:59 PM

YellowYak, will do although I rarely go North of the 520 bridge unless it's salmon season on Lake WA. I live down South of the lake so always launch from Coulon Park. On a side note last night I was scanning the WDFW regs and saw that until July 1 all trout and wild steelhead over 20" in Lake WA have to be released so I would not have been able to keep my catch that day anyway. I will probably hit the lake again Mon or Wed. Hope to see you out there sometime. Be safe! -G

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