Hagg Lake Warm-up

Hit Hagg today for a distraction,  typical opening weekend crowd on hand. 
The water was up so I launched from the cove.  Waaay better than fighting the crowds at the ramps. 
BTW: The docks at ramp C are out for the moment so if you're gonna hit it, traffic is much better there than at ramp A.
Weather started beautiful but slowly turned cold and windy.  Perfect!  The fish seem to turn on when the water gets some texture and I was able to take advantage of it. 
Final tally, 5 planters landed, 8 hooked and a dozen short strikes.



-Spot-

Nice catch!  Where's this years "monster brooder"

I was out there Saturday for a trail run around the lake and there where LOTS of folks enjoying the sun and a chance at some pellet heads.  Saw one yaker in a "beige ocean kayak" (it was a long way away ). Lots of powerboats and bankies. 

U gunna plug cut those

No brooder yet.... yet.   
Word at the store was there've been a couple of 10+ pounders, several in the 6-8 range and a bunch of 5 pounders being weighed and photographed there.  Most have been caught by bankies on powerbait.

No plug cutting this time.  All fish caught went back.  I was looking for a hold-over or another brooder. Thus the "Warm-Up" title. 
I actually have trolled a cut plug planter trout offshore.  It held up well and caught 20+ inch black.

Depending on my trailer progress and my freaking COLD, I hope to hit Hagg this week some time Thurs, Fri, or Sat.

U gunna plug cut those

Thanks for the morning laugh  

Reminds me of my first fishing experience in the northwest last year.  My GF and I hiked up to Lena Lake and she insisted on bringing fishing gear.  We caught these little 6-8 inch brook trout and she was so excited "these are good size for this lake".  I told her "back home we'd call these bait"


Hey Spot, are some of those triploid?  They're really chunky.

I actually have trolled a cut plug planter trout offshore.  It held up well and caught 20+ inch black.

Those little planters are magical. Take them out to the salt, rig them up whole, send them to the bottom, and they transform from a little  8" trout to a big ol' tasty halibut. Outfished herring, shad, and squid last year for me, rigged up whole on a heavy-duty mooching rig.

wish i could take some with me to Georgia this week.  guess they're killer Striper bait too.

< heavily edited quote> "I actually have trolled a cut plug planter trout offshore.  "

gosh that sounds soooo much like polepoles' written description of the bait they used for the great salmon shark adventure... " they gave each of us a whole pink salmon as bait........" (sic)

hey, guess if it ain't illegal and it works................