Hagg Lake 3/7/15

Hagg opens for fishing this Saturday and although I usually avoid Hagg on opening day, I feel like getting out on the water with such a nice forecast expected.  Probably just troll around and see what sticks to a hook.

If anyone else want to join, I will probably head towards the dam first thing. 

Tempting... I might head out on Sunday afternoon/evening with my son.   

I'm curious how bad it is on opening weekend (never been). Is it just crowded like any nice weekend, or is it really super-crowded?

The forecast for the coast is way too nice for me not to head West, but I'd be up for some lake time Saturday.

I bought a Jackson Cuda 14 a couple weeks ago and I'm taking it to Hagg Lake on Saturday to get its' first fish slime on it. I've caught fish from a canoe before but this is my first kayak. I can't wait to get out there.

They just put 18,000 trout in the lake.  I've always had good luck catching them early in the season around Sain Creek.

I am planning on hitting it Saturday. 

I'm curious how bad it is on opening weekend (never been). Is it just crowded like any nice weekend, or is it really super-crowded?

The forecast for the coast is way too nice for me not to head West, but I'd be up for some lake time Saturday.

It's freaking insane.  The good thing is that the water level is up which means you don't need to use a boat ramp to launch your kayak.

-Mark-

I'm curious how bad it is on opening weekend (never been). Is it just crowded like any nice weekend, or is it really super-crowded?

The forecast for the coast is way too nice for me not to head West, but I'd be up for some lake time Saturday.

I was there Saturday of opening weekend last year.  It was tolerable - at least from the boater aspect.  Ramp A was under repair, so only had to contend with bank anglers there.  On that subject, the areas that I found to have the best trolling lanes, also seemed to always be within casting distance from shore - which meant dealing with way too many grumpy bank anglers.  (Also didn't help that they seemed to be having the most success, tossing and hanging power bait off of the bottom) 

-Sam

If you're into low percentage, big reward fishing, try pulling a larger lure like a 4 or 5 inch jointed rapala thru areas where you see fish jumping or sipping.  There are some really big fish in that lake that like to feed on clueless, pen raised stockers.

-Mark-

I usually avoid opening day, or have to at least work that day, but I have nothing else going on tomorrow so I'm just going just to pull a few lures/flies around all day.   

I'll have my radio on scanning channel 69 if anyone else makes it out there.   

As for the line of bankers, just anchor outside of their casting range and toss some Power bait towards them, kind of share the area if that is where the fish are biting.

Owen and I hit Hagg Lake late Sunday afternoon.  We picked up three planter trout in about an hour and I got to try out my new Sony action cam.   I kept the camera pointed at Owen the whole time, but it seems he touched the lens area because I noticed the smear when I was retrieving the camera.  I'm guessing that explains a bit of the blur and maybe the lens flaring.

I had the hot lure and eventually handed Owen back the rod on my second fish in a row and got this video clip.  It's in 1080p60 if people care about that sort of thing.

Nice job dad! Owen's definitely having a great time. BTW that Sony action cam has great sound. Did it have the waterproof housing on when you took that? How does the mic do when wind comes up?

Yeah Bryce, that's the audio with the waterproof housing on.   I don't know about wind issues yet because I've only had it since Thursday and the weather has been so nice.   

Yeah Bryce, that's the audio with the waterproof housing on.   I don't know about wind issues yet because I've only had it since Thursday and the weather has been so nice.

That's really great audio. I always missed the sound of a singing drag with GoPro cams.

Thanks for the reports back! We didn't end up at Hagg on Saturday. Slept in and checked out the smelt scene on the Sandy (I didn't see any live fish being caught at all) and then fiddled around for bass with no luck.