Lake Washinton Trout Derby 6/15/13

I'm hoping Brad and Yaktrap can chime in on locations to launch and fish. I've never fished Lake WA and I'm hoping to get some good intel. Thanks in advance.

Swine cup is a competition between the lake wa and Renton psa chapters.  Top three fish from each.  Loser has to take the cup for the next year and display it at every meeting.  meeting.  I've never seen it, as the Renton chapter has been holding a monopoly on it for the last few years.

I live just up the road, so this might be a good chance to meet some folks. I'm not sure about baits and tactic, but I can flail with the best of 'em.

Cjb
Thanks. Had no idea it was such a lopsided competition or what it even was.

Well, for the record I've only been in the LW chapter for 3 years so it may not be that long of a streak.

And for any of you guys who want more information on bait/tactics, this month's meeting will be about catching cutthroat in the lake and will be presented by chapter members who know a lot more about the fishery than I do.  I'm not sure exactly who will be presenting this year, but I know one of the guys who had given this talk in the past (it's an annual primer before the derby) fishes primarily from his canoe so it may not all be trolling with downriggers.

All Lake Washington PSA meetings are open to the public and start ~7 on the second Thursday of the month.  The next meeting is June 13, at the South Bellevue Community Center (14509 SE Newport WayBellevue, WA 98006).

Yaktrap and I are fishing eastern washington now but will post more launch details when we get back.  Here's an article I wrote on the fishery for Kayak Angler Magazine https://www.rapidmedia.com/kayak-fishing/categories/trips/item/686-washington-state-winter-action.html

Where is the kayak launch

The launch I was referring to is pinned, on the left.  Coulon Park is on the right.

Is that a bridge at the end of the canal? What's the overhead clearance?

 And, how much danger from that runway?

 Boeing Security hassles? Looks like its on their property. 

Is that a bridge at the end of the canal? What's the overhead clearance?

 And, how much danger from that runway?

 Boeing Security hassles? Looks like its on their property. 

Its a low bridge - your long fishing poles will scrape it if you leave them up. 
No problem with runway.  It next to Boeing, on public roads and property.  There's a kayak store at the end of the road - that mainly deals with sit inside kayaks.

NICE!!

What sort of parking pass do you need to park there.

What sort of parking pass do you need to park there.

No pass required

coolness.. keeps the spirit of "Free Launch" alive.

  Kinda interested in this tournament -----but have never fished Lake Washington. So ==a couple of questions.

 1. Where will HOW be setting up ?
 2. Are other NWKAer's going to get involved with this ?
 3. I don't know any locations up there-- can someone help out ?
 4.Prefered methods--trolling,trooching,any specific's to boost success ?

  This sounds like a good time --even though I hate going to Seattle. Give me a good reason to make it happen...please.

Mark,
I think the best strategy would be to follow Yaktrap and BallardBrad around and do whatever they are doing.   Maybe they can chime in on where we could meet, etc.
I suspect that, if you want to win the tourney, you need to get a cutthroat - any rainbows over 20" are classified as steelhead and cant be retained.
Its a slow trolling show - usually drag around a small herring, small Brads cut plug or spoon, but anything seems to work.  If there's a thermocline its good to get just below it.  There are several good writeups on tactics for Lake Washington cuttys either here or google it.
Gene Coulon park in Renton is where you check your fish in, so in a kayak you want to end up near there at the cut off time.  Its a nice park, but you want to get there early and have some parking fee money.  My earlier post also shows a free launch area if you dint want to spend the money.