Lake Sammamish Cutthroat

Picture? 

Unfortunately, the pic I took was blurry.  Looked like a resident coho I catch fly fishing in the sound.  I know it wasn't a cutthroat trout.

BB -
Can't tell for sure, but by the looks of the mouth it appears to be a Pikeminnow/Squawfish.  Be aware that there are Kokanee (landlocked sockeye) in Lk Sammamish and they must be released.

Launching from the south end, I've had most of my take downs either directly north of the mouth Issaquah Creek, or trolling along the eastern shore, most just off the point where 206th Ave SE is.   

Hope that helps.

Maybe I'll see you out there next time.

Yes, we released them - as we weren't sure.  These are definitely salmon, as I've seen pike minnows and they bare no resemblance.  Fun to catch.  Wonder the reasoning behind releasing the land locked kokanee? Is it so that people don't catch the migrating sockeye that come in through Lake WA?

Wonder the reasoning behind releasing the land locked kokanee? Is it so that people don't catch the migrating sockeye that come in through Lake WA?

Exactly for that reason.

spots on both lobes of the tail.  Could be smolt of steelhead, pink, or chinook?

In the 1960's (and I assume prior to that) there was an excellent fishery for kokanee in Lake Sammamish. In late Spring, we'd do well still-fishing for them using salmon eggs. I remember seeing thousands of kokanee spawning in Issaquah Creek. This was before all the development occurred in Issaquah, along the lake, and the Sammamish Plateau.
 
A lot of attention has been given to this fishery. As I understand it, the USFWS is considering placing Lake Sammamish kokanee on the endangered species list. Trout Unlimited has a nice page with a lot of information on this: http://www.tu-bi.org/kokaneeproject.htm
 
Tom
 
 

Good info. Thanks Tom!