rapjohn lake, wash.

hey! it stopped raining and the sun came out..!! so, spur of the moment around 3 this afternoon, i grabbed the 8 weight and the bait caster, threw some tackle and the yak gear in the back and loaded the boat on the roof, then took the 20 minute drive to rapjohn lake.

this is a small lake, and shallow too, probably no more than 12 -15 ft at it's deepest. most people use a small john boat or row boat with a small motor of some type. lots of lily pads and submerged cover. this place is noted for it's stocker and holdover trout and aggresive bass. you have to leave at dark.

there's only one boat ramp, wide enough for 2 rigs to unload at once, if they're small. so it wasnt at all unusual for when i rolled in, parked, unloaded the yak, rigged up, and pushed off. this took a bit because i waited politely for 5 other parties to beach and take out.

had a lot of comments about how nice the boat was. a few asked what it weighed , how much it cost, etc. a family fsihin from the only public bank area told me that definitely the 8 weight was gonna be the ticket, they hadnt had any luck using power baits, but fly rodders were slayin the fish...

i spent 3 hours on the lake, paddlin around the shoreline, mostly to the west and north, poking into nooks and crannies, tossin clousers, double bunnies, egg sucking leeches, swithced to the bait caster and power baits, then to spinner baits and jigs... not a bite once. might have been the wrong time of day... i know i saw at least 2 boats leaving with fish... but not me...

plus sides of this; much needed excercise for a fatboy in the form of relaxation outside. earning goodwill points with the other side of the fishing family by helping them load back up, or in one case, push start their truck,,,, and learning that i still have a lot to learn about making this boat go straight or turn. i did learn that i can slow down the drift pretty fast taking the tip from the old hands... i dropped my feet and legs over the side.

short time on the water, all of it packed with learning, so it was a good thing.