Tax Day Fishing Trip

I'll be taking the EIT/FE exam on April 14 (it's the first of 2 exams I'll have to pass to get my Professional Engineer license).  It's an 8 hour exam, and everyone I've talked to that's taken it says it pretty well wipes you out.  So, I was figuring that the next day, which just so happens to be Tax Day, would be a good day to plan a fishing trip.  I'll need a little bit of decompression time.  Besides, I probably won't be able to hit the water again between now and then as I'll be studying for that exam.

It's on the calendar with buy-in from SWMBO.  She thought it was a great idea  .

Anyway, my first thought was to hit some lake with a fly rod and cooler of kick-ass beer.  But then I thought that maybe some salt water experience would be fun, weather/tides permitting.

Anyway, I'd like to meet up with one or more of you guys and I'm totally open to just about anywhere that is within reasonable driving distance of Sedro-Woolley (prefer under 2 hours, but I could be persuaded to go farther - I'd just rather spend most of the day fishing rather than driving).

Hope to see a couple of you on the water that day!

Good luck on your EIT/FE exam.  It is really not as bad as everyone says.  Most of it is stuff that you have seen before and none of the questions are that involved.  As long as you don't make stupid mistakes (units) or spend to much time on one problem you should have no problems.   
I am sitting for my PE on the 13th, so no fishing for me after this weekend, except for a few hours here and there to chase springers, of coarse.  I think my post exam plan  involves beer, a lake and some kokanee.  I am not sure where but if there is a good spot in the middle I will make the drive. 

Good luck on your EIT/FE exam.  It is really not as bad as everyone says.  Most of it is stuff that you have seen before and none of the questions are that involved.  As long as you don't make stupid mistakes (units) or spend to much time on one problem you should have no problems.   
I am sitting for my PE on the 13th, so no fishing for me after this weekend, except for a few hours here and there to chase springers, of coarse.  I think my post exam plan  involves beer, a lake and some kokanee.  I am not sure where but if there is a good spot in the middle I will make the drive.

I graduated from college 11 years ago, so the prep class I'm taking is just reminding me how much I've forgotten.

Good luck on the PE!  Assuming I pass the EIT I'll probably try to take that in October.  Figure I might as well git'r done.

A (very) quick search turned up Alder Lake.  It's supposed to have good kokanee fishing, with fish averaging 9" or so in the spring.  In the 2011 regs (2012 aren't out yet) it was listed as open year-round for kokanee, no minimum size, with a daily limit of 10.  It's about 2.7 hours from me, and should be about 2.3 hours from you.

I'm open to other suggestions too of course.

If you do Alder, carry a 2 or 3oz banana sinker and troll a dick nite or wedding ring at around 1.5-2mph.  In the past I usually hook up at a rate of 5 per hour with that setup.  Focus trolling around the island just in front of the dam.

But, the kokanee in American Lake are bigger, and it's a shorter drive for you.  It's not as scenic though.

Hey Andrew. Won't be able to make that date due to me getting ready to open the Cabelas store in Tulalip on the 19th. A few suggestions closer to your home for Kokanee would be Lake Cavanaugh, Stevens or Samish. I'd try one of the 1st two.
Light gear(soft mouth), Sling Blade flasher/dodger, wedding ring lure tipped with maybe white shoepeg corn and some of Lee's suggestions. On these lakes the go to speed trolling is usually around 1.4mph. If you have questions, give me a call.

Alder sounds like a good lake.  I think I prefer scenery and a lot of small fish over bigger fish.
I am in the same boat as you. I got my undergrad 12 years ago and have forgotten a lot since then.  If it wasn't for the review class I would have no chance.

Any suggestions for a bug-wand set up?

Any suggestions for a bug-wand set up?

No.  I got skunked at Alder a lot until I started using wedding rings and dick nites.  It was one of the first places I fished outside of the southeast, and required a bit of learning  :-)

I would love to join you on the 15th at Lake Stevens or Sammish if Alder falls through.  Let me know

Cool.  Will keep that in mind in ndogg cancels.  Another option - If you can get to Holiday Sports there on Hwy 20 by I-5 (or wherever is convenient) I could pick you up and carpool down to Alder.  Be nice too to have someone to chip in a little for the gas and have some conversation.

I'll be taking the EIT/FE exam on April 14 (it's the first of 2 exams I'll have to pass to get my Professional Engineer license).  It's an 8 hour exam, and everyone I've talked to that's taken it says it pretty well wipes you out.  So, I was figuring that the next day, which just so happens to be Tax Day, would be a good day to plan a fishing trip.  I'll need a little bit of decompression time.  Besides, I probably won't be able to hit the water again between now and then as I'll be studying for that exam.

It's on the calendar with buy-in from SWMBO.  She thought it was a great idea  .

Anyway, my first thought was to hit some lake with a fly rod and cooler of kick-ass beer.  But then I thought that maybe some salt water experience would be fun, weather/tides permitting.

Anyway, I'd like to meet up with one or more of you guys and I'm totally open to just about anywhere that is within reasonable driving distance of Sedro-Woolley (prefer under 2 hours, but I could be persuaded to go farther - I'd just rather spend most of the day fishing rather than driving).

Hope to see a couple of you on the water that day!

I'm going to Fill up with gas the day before the15th So I can do the Gas Boycut on that Day, Hope to Still get some fishing in But Im not Driving Far.

I might be able to work something out.  Do you have a setup that can hold your yak and a Hobie PA?

I've got a pickup truck, and also have the "Extend-A-Truck" support.  Should be able to handle both boats easily.

Bit of a change in plans.  The Murf and I will hit up either Samish or Stevens (probably the latter).  ndogg said he'd be cool with chasing koke's down by his home base if we were wanting to stay more local, so I think that's what we'll do.

Anyone else that wants to is more than welcome to join in.  The more the merrier.

Lake Samish it is.  0800 at the boat launch.  Post here or shoot me a PM if you want to join us.  We'll be trying to convince some trout and kokanee to experience Darwinian selection, while enjoying some frosty barley sodas.