Banks Lake Report & Final update on that thing I'm doing this year

Hey folks. I've about run out of time this year on my thing that I am doing. I made the long drive up to Banks Lake in a last minute attempt to pick up some new species. The big storm that just rolled through had some very high winds associated with it which made for some white knuckle driving with the kayak on the roof.

I booked a room at the Sky Deck Motel right near the fishing grounds on the north end of the lake. The winds were too high to kayak fish the first afternoon/evening so I plunked for burbot off the north dam. After about 4 hours I could not feel my face anymore so I started packing stuff up. Just about then the rod with a chunk of anchovy on it started losing line. I was using circle hooks so I slowly applied pressure until the fish was hooked. A few minutes later I landed my first burbot, my 83rd species for the year.



The next morning I got up early, scraped the ice out of the yak, launched at Coulee Playland, and paddled across the lake near the north inlet canal. I was target Lake Whitefish on my ultralight gear and wasn't disappointed. Using a small ice fishing jig and some eggs I quickly caught several fish. Most fish were 2-4 lbs and were a lot of fun on the ultralight gear. Lake Whitefish was my 84th species for the year. I made an instructional video for those interested in participating in this fishery.



Anyways I'll keep this short but I want to thank all those who supported me this year. I really appreciate all the advice, kind words, and sponsorship from local companies like the Kayak Shed and Yakima Bait Company. Looking forward to 2015!

That giddy laugh is priceless!  Thanks for sharing so much of your Big Cascadia Fishing Year.  I've enjoyed all your photos, and have been inspired to find more unique opportunities. 

That giddy laugh is priceless!

Yeah I was having fun even though I was freezing my ass off.

There are eight more days left in the year, but it sounds like you're throwing in the towel.  You ought to make a sprint for the finish line, and see how many more species you can bag before midnight on December 31!

Not a whole lot of options left. I got a couple days planned where I am going to let some dead stuff sit on the bottom of Puget Sound in hopes of something new and will try again for Shiner Surfperch. I stopped on the way home at Cow Lake to try for Grass Pickerel but failed to find one. If you have any suggestions for species I'm happy to hear them.

What an awesome year!! Thanks for sharing it with us! You've really cranked out some great footage too!

Species suggestion: Kelp crab. Toss a ring baited with dead fish into kelp beds 4-20ft. deep near shore.

Tyler, you're an inspiration to us all, and a hell of a nice guy to boot. Hats off to your amazing accomplishments this year - truly cool stuff.

Did you already catch sanddab?

Yup. I got two species of sanddab. 84 is going to be it.

Squid jigging is hot in Puget sound, are they on your list?

Squid jigging is hot in Puget sound, are they on your list?

Got that one back in January. Really no options left within 100 miles of my house. I'm calling it. I'm going to finish out my year chasing steelhead.

Eighty-four species?  I'm pretty certain I haven't caught 84 different species in my life, much less in a single year.  I'm thinking I ought to burn my license and trash my rods and reels since I certainly don't use them the way I could (and should).  If there were more than two days left on my 2014 license, I believe I would.

Great job!  Liking all of your videos on YouTube, too.

If I may, could I ask you about the rod you were using on Banks Lake?  It works a lot like the kind of rod I've been searching-for.

Eighty-four.  What a mountain to climb!  How's it feel up there on the top?   

You're a stud...no doubt about it.

I have fished this area my whole life and never even seen a Burbot.  If I count everything I have ever caught...in my life, I have less than 30 species.  You are a great ambassador for the sport.  Keep it up.

I just added mine up. 14 species of combined fish, mollusks, and crustaceans if bullheads and sand shrimp count. Otherwise 12 in 2014.

Here is a video I made compiling some of the fun I had this year.