Thought about heading over the pass for the early opener, but decided to stay on the west side this week. Fished a general regulation western WA lake on Friday and had some welcome sunshine (next 3 photos were taken by my friend, Ben):
The water was relatively warm at 48 degrees. Fishing was very tough for the first few hours (maybe due to the mirror-calm water), but finally found some fish in the afternoon as the breeze picked up:
The fish ranged in size from 13 to 16 inches, but were good fighters and jumpers, and most seemed like they had never been hooked before. I landed 7 fish, all on a minnow pattern, casting and stripping. Only other fishermen were a couple of guys trolling gear around, and a few bank anglers, but no other fly casters.
Think I'll start heading over the pass to fish the desert basin lakes next week, hoping the ice will all be gone...
Rex
The water was relatively warm at 48 degrees. Fishing was very tough for the first few hours (maybe due to the mirror-calm water), but finally found some fish in the afternoon as the breeze picked up:
The fish ranged in size from 13 to 16 inches, but were good fighters and jumpers, and most seemed like they had never been hooked before. I landed 7 fish, all on a minnow pattern, casting and stripping. Only other fishermen were a couple of guys trolling gear around, and a few bank anglers, but no other fly casters.
Think I'll start heading over the pass to fish the desert basin lakes next week, hoping the ice will all be gone...
Rex
