Recent content by clear_lake

Here is a question for you seasoned kokanee experts: This is my second kokanee season. Last year I visited a lake a few times that afforded me fish from a variety of age classes. However, I revisited the lake last week and while the fish were willing to bite, they all seemed to be of only one...

Very cool. I was somehow under the impression that the state had taken over all stocking duties, so it is neat to hear that the Trailblazers are still at it. Some of my favorite fishing experiences have come from unsuspecting small lakes.

I am in the middle of reading One Man's Steelhead Shangri-La and between that and this thread I am feeling a bit of anemoia, a new word to me. I had not felt it before now and am glad that a word exists to describe the feeling. Much respect to the one armed anglers and others getting out with...

Still finding some decent fish, but it has slowed with the flat river levels we have had. I have had some luck on both mid-Skagit and mid-Nooksack in the past week, but had to work to find limits. Is one system or the other preferred in the quest for bright fish at this point in the season?

Nice fish. Hoping to hit the Lyman to Concrete area from the bank in the AM.

That is a fair point. I do hold them in the water while bleeding them until I no longer see any blood coming out. One of these days if I get a couple of similar fish back to back I may have to do some experimenting, though extraneous factors may be too difficult to rule out.

Curious how everyone handles their fish once landed while bank fishing? My method is to bonk and bleed, then keep in cool, shallow water. I basically try keep the gills from being submerged because I have heard that full submersion can affect meat quality, and I have the fish on ice or in the...

Sounds like many remaining of the fish yet to return will be destined for other waters: https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/reports/counts/baker-river#returns

Not sure if I am going to participate in the upcoming Samish River chinook fishery, but I was perusing the rules and one line surprised me: "Use of bait required." Meaning no spoons, spinners, flies, beads, twitching jigs, etc.? Hopeful that the rules will discourage poor fishing behavior, but...

Rough one from me today catching-wise. I had both lines in the water by 4:15 and pulled the boat out with one fish aboard at 11:00. I encountered it at 45' in the space between the crowds. Striking scenery as always, and I can't complain so long as the air is breathable.

That is interesting to learn. I am planning to head out in the morning and am hopeful that I will come across a few fish. In fact, I really should be starting to prepare for bed right now. Too bad I have to be at work instead! 😁

That looks pretty promising. Were the fish active for you?

The numbers at the trap haven't been what I had hoped for this year given the optimistic forecast. I have been wondering if there will be a late push, but at this point I am starting to feel that there may end up being quite a few less fish coming up than expected. Time will tell...