Feb 3-4

I'm just about done kicking this cold.  I need to get out fishing this weekend and I have a hall pass the whole weekend.  Anyone?  Anywhere?

-Allen

Well, my pnuemonia is subsiding just a little bit, so yeah, I'll bite... where are you thinking of and for what species?  My dream is to catch a nice keeper steelhead to take home, but I'm no good at it.  Haven't got any experience except for that exact one method over on Whidbey Island.  A buddy here at work showed me a spot on the Sno. that he says is good cause it's just beyond where the motor boats can reach.  We would park on the east side of the river across from Bob Hierman Wildlife Park and then fish just down river from there.  Or I'll bet that Beaver lake still has a lot of those plants left.

To tell the truth though, species and location aren't really very important to me, so long as it's relatively close.  Oh, and can you go for a plan where we only burn about half of a Saturday?  Stupid job.  Man, I hate that I have to still work for a living. 

Fishin-T

Unless your buddy knows something I don't, that stretch on the Snohomish River isn't the best for steelheading, especially at this time of the year with the current water conditions.  Most hatchery fish have probably pushed through by now and are holding in the upper stretches of the river.  Perhaps some natives are starting to push in, but I don't know how good of holding water the lower river is.  But I've never fished it for steelhead, so I may have no clue what I'm talking about!     It is a great area in the fall for silvers and humpies ... something to keep in mind.

Or if you want to stick to the shore and target steelhead, perhaps head up the Skykomish perhaps as far as Reiter.

The other spot I've been eying is higher up on the Snoqualmie up above fall city.  There is short drift from Plums Landing to Fall City that looks more than doable from the yak.  I'll scout it in the morning if I actually get up and hit the Tokul Creek like I planned to this morning (slept through my alarm.  D'oh!)

Other options ... Lake Washington or Sammamish for cutties?

Or shorebound on the Green River for a shot at steelhead, or if you want, combine that with a nice walk and some decent "fun" fishing, we can explore the upper Green for whitefish that should be schooling up in the deeper pools during the low water.  The Green hasn't been so productive for me, but I like fishing that river.  I find it peaceful and less crowded.

-Allen

Shoot, I'm easy.  Any of those plans occupy only about 1/2 of a Saturday so I can get into the office?  I guess that even that is fairly flexible if I just want to.

I've never done any of the fishing that you're telling about, so you'd probably have to be willing to gear me up at the lines end.

Fishin-T

Shoot, I'm easy too.  Let's do a kayaking fishing trip as this is a kayak fishing board.     It's supposed to be nice on Saturday, and Sunday I'll probably hit the shore of a stream somewhere.  If you have a half day and are coming from Brothel, may I suggest the north end of Lake WA, launching from the Kenmore launch where the bridge goes over the slough.  Don't forget your WDFW parking pass as I think it's needed here.  The morning bite is no good in the winter, so a later start is in order.  Work in the morning and launch around lunchtime?

-Allen

That works for me.     Yeah, no pressure to hurry up and get somewhere at some time.  I know the spot.  I've launched canoes from there in the past.

So I'm thinking that this means cutthroats.  Okay, so what kind of gear are we talking about then?  Or should I just show up with everything except the part at the end of the line?  Could we be talking flies?  If that's it, I've gotta start digging to make sure I can pull that stuff together by Sat noon.

Hey, I like the looks of that prowler in your avatar.  Sure would like to use that one on Sat.  Has it got a FF installed?  Uh... nope, not right at the moment.  I've been diddling around too much and haven't gotten it ready like I was supposed to.

Fishin-T

Yup ... cutthoats it is.

You'll catch me trolling leaded line with a wedding ring spinner and worm behind a lake troll.  If you don't have a leaded line setup, you can borrow one of mine.  That long noodle salmon rod you keep ogling with that single action mooching reel is a nice setup for leaded line trolling.  I got 2 of them.     Or you can just use like an ounce of lead.

What time do you want to plan on?

-Allen

This time of the year, you'll not have to use much lead, unless you want to.  Especially if the sun is out, a little warmth is going to be appealing to the fish, and the whole food chain. I would keep my lure WAY back.

Small spoons, and even little firecracker herring, are worth a shot, too.

Good luck guys, I'll probably be pounding the ice, again.

Right on Pisco.  Sounds like good info to me.

-Allen

Hey gys-

If you are launching on Saturday I may show up as well.  Can't make Super bowl sunday.......  Besides, I fractured off a piece of my kneecap 3 weeks ago playing soccer in a tourney down in Vegas.  I am just now getting the flexibility to bend my knee (about 70%) so I am chomping at the bit to get in some exercise that does not require too much knee activity!

Let me know!

Pete

Polepole,

How about noon straight up?  I'll probably skip work on Sat and go in on Sunday instead... if at all.

Oggling your mooching pole?  What are you talking about?  You think all I have time for is to sit around gawking at your gear?  NO!!  I don't JUST oggle, I went out and duplicated that dude down at the O.E.  But yeah, I'll take that advice and use the giant noodling pole.  I'm hoping you can still supply me with the appropriate lures though, and maybe that leaded line.  Hey, I grow my own red wrigglers if you want to use any of those.

Pete, hopefully that time of day works for you too.  Hope to see you there too.  Yowch!!  Sorry to hear about that knee.  I for one totally believe your soccer story and I'm not suspecting mafia involvement one bit. 

I respectfully deny any involvement with an organization known in some circles as "mafia".  Furthermore, I vehemently deny any involvement whatsoever with persons known as "bouncers" at certain Vegas establishements which primarily cater to men...........

Hope to see you on Saturday.

Pete

I think I got you covered on the lures ... I hope.  Well, at least something usable that you can troll around all day.     And the leaded line too.  Don't forget your worms!!!

Noon is great.  You know, I really like it when you don't have to wake up early to go fishing.

-Allen

Do you really plan to use worms?  Or are you just testing to see if I really have them?

Fishin-T

Um ... yes, I really plans to use worms.

-Allen