I've never fished lake washington before but would like to start. The posts on lake washington cutts is interesting. What i would like to know is:

1 Directions to boat launches.
2 What areas and water depths to fish for perch,rainbows,cutts, etc
3 What tactics to use for the species
4 And landmarks on the bank to look for so i know I'm in the right area.

Any info you guys can give will help because i know nothing about the lake,even a little info helps. THANKS!

Anything else?

driftin, you got a reply button on your computer? I see you only ask the original question and then never participate in the discussion.

Besides... you got some good tips for getting info on fishing Lake WA on the other board.

One launch is on exit 9 off of I-405. Drive to the end of the road... launch your boat.

the lake is huge it takes alot of time to figure it out but theres some big fish in that lake in july and aug. off kirkland there is lot of perch around the docks the docks get packed with guys fishing for perch in the spring theres some good trout fishing there too just got to find them.

I seem to remember Cigar catching a nice fish in that lake last year.

Dang I still remember that was a huge piggy

I usually fish this lake for the big rainbow and cutthroats. I troll spoons and plugs either off downriggers or I use leaded line. These fish are boat shy. Get your lure far behind the boat. This can be a very frustrating lake. I can go 1-2 trips w/o a fish, then get a couple of 4-6 pounders the next trip. I believe these trout are few and far between and should be released. If you want to do some meat fishing, go after the perch. Ancher up and fish w/ worms on the bottom. usually it's pretty fast fishing and great fun for the kids. I launch at Magnuson state park off of Sand Point way. I'll be out there this Sunday.

Stray, you are right about that:

LT, you mean this cutthroat?

Ya that is the one. Dang I cannot believe the size of that piggy.

LOOK at the belly on it, Geez its fat.

I think that fish should be tested for Steroids.

I am thinking there has to be others like that one in Lake WA.

As I suggested on the other board, I'd use coyote spoons... seems to be what the pigs like

Right on Big Daddy!!!

That big cutthroat (14.9lb.) that Sok caught chomped down on a size 3.5 Yellow Tail Coyote
Spoon.

Some helpful tips: Troll fast, fish in open deep water near local creeks. Best depth to set your downrigger in the spring and summer months is 65 to 75 feet.

Cigar

I am headed out on the the big W tomorrow to water test my rig prior to heading to the CR next weekend.

I agree with all the other advice given here. I also use pop gear and worm trolls, spinners, and just worms sometimes behind pop gear.

Cigar, when you say work offshore of creeks, which ones are you referring to?

I think I am going to head out to the big lake tomorrow.

Got skunked today Carl, but I know of one boat that did not, He was trolling a green and yellow k3 frog at 27 to 35 ft off his rigger on the south end of poverty rock in 100', at about yer trollin speed. He caught a bunch over 2-3lbs and one 10+lb triploid. Give it a try and let us know, I trolled all day, took the flatfish out two or three times, put 'em away and used something else DOH!

I stumbled across this informative article about Lk Washington cutthroats by John Beath. Same playbook.

I'll also throw in this great report turned to fish story. the Legend of Hiroshi

JohnnyD, thanks for the good report. I will have to try my favorite lure (frog flatfish) a little deeper next time I am out on the big lake.

I hit the big lake yesterday for four hours. Fished around the south end of the Island and around Coulon. Not a single bite.

I fished lake Washington on Sunday. Released two cutthroat about 1 1/2 pounds each. They hit large spoons. I had no luck on a flat fish.

One thing you might want to try is drifting power bait. What I usually do is use a 24" leater with a large egg wait and drop her to the bottom and let the current take me. Always make sure you're dragging bottom and you're line is in an angle. I have had great success on both ends of the point of seward park usually in 70 ft. Avg fish has been 5lbs. Another spot is in the middle of the bridges, but I do not drop my bait to the bottom. I let it hang in an angle around 90ft. I have yet to troll for them, but now that I have DR's and a poor man troller, trolling plate, I'm thinking i'm going to have to give it a try.

I went out for the 1st time last Friday and got this guy just off the 520 bridge with a brass coyote, 3.5" down 50'. My biggest so far.

Launched yesterday from Kenmore to water test, take a cruise and fish a bit.
The fishing report? It was one of those days where you say " oh, we saw bald eagles!" No fish.
We trolled from St. Edward SP down to Juanita/Point Holmes.
Was nice to get out and drink a cold one though and enjoy the day.

Jeff,

I think your fish was an outgoing steelhead.

Another view of my fish. You can clearly see the red slash below the gill plate.

NICE cuttie! Do you use anything in front of your spoon?

Just the spoon. I am stacking (2) spoons per downrigger. I also released about 6 other smaller ones, up to 16 inches. Most of those were caught over in Juanity Bay. Nice change of pace from the sound.

Sounds like good fishin' to me.

many say that the windy side of the two bridges out produce the calm side

test avatar

there is a launch at kirkland and there is one right across the lake. cant remember the name. and there is one at the mouth of the slou.

Hmmm the upper part of the tail looks fairly ragged. I notice the adipose is intact. Wonder how that happened to the fish's tail.
Did you do a stomach analysis? Just curious as to how these cutts get to this size.

Went out on the lake today with not even one bump, seen a few boat's out there with a net in the water every now and then. We seen one that probably went 5lbs get netted. Fished at the southwest end of mercer island. Marked alot of fish on the finder but no hit's. Think I will try it again sunday morn. Work just called said there is really nothing going on tomorrow so it look's like I will hit it again.

that fish's stomach was pretty empty. No wonder he was hungry.... Based on the colorations, I was speculating that this fish may have spawned recently. Whether he was a sea run on his way out, I have no idea....

I've caught sea-runs in the Sammamish slough years ago.

My guess is your cutt is a spawner based on the shredded tail. Whether it's a sea-run or not is open to debate. I don't think there were many lake living cutts years ago when I caught sea-runs in the slough. I think resident cutts have really come on since those days.

Generally dont preach, but fish barbless and put'em back boys, This fishery was out of this world back in the early 90's but has declined big time Since, Bottom line to many people Bonking them, fish'em enjoy them but for Gods sake release them along side the Boat. Mark my words you wont do much catching in the near futore if everyone stays at the present pace on the Fishery!!

Bud.

I will have to disagree with you on this one Budnate.

Lake WA is one of the most under-fished lakes in the state. Lake WA is a tough fishery which I think scares most people away. I have more fishless trips on the big lake than trips where I catch fish. Of all the times I have fished Lake WA for trout I maybe see two or three other boats out there (except for sockeye season of course).

The words in the one paper were "this (the cutthroat) is a growing fishery". Budnate may be talking of the rainbows... but those are stocked, and were stocked in previous years. This is where the Donaldson trout got it's beginnings.

NOPE, Talking about the Cutt's, this time of year you will pick up quite a few coming off of spawn, Mostly what i am talking about is Oct / Nov when i see allott of new faces on the lake bonking spawners!! Fact is they can be tough to catch, but are vunerable that time of year and are concentrated in the usual areas. The BS about the numbers are up is just that, I wont mention any spots but one that is pretty Much totally messed up from what it was, Juanita used to produce 15 fish days and I am talking 18" to 21" Chunky fish that would rip line and jump like a crazed Coho, I know see boats there almost everyday during week and on weekends it looks like the Bubble with people pounding it, I hit once in while to see how it is and am lucky to pick up a fish or two, and generally are dinks. Like i said earlier I dont preach to people but I have seen this fishery run into the toilet before my eyes, it sucks!!. It used to a world class thing to exsperiance. I would like to see it closed from Oct till May then have at'em on the riggers out by the bridge or a few other spots.

Tight lines guys, Bud.

Does any body know anything about the 12 Inch and above perch and were to look?

DFC, if you get a depth chart of LW there is a underwater point about 1000 meters southeast of Luther Burbank park on Mercer Island. I am told that this is a great spot to catch monster perch.

go to topozone.com if you need a chart.

Also straight off of Barnabie point just south of that location there is a good spot about 300 meters offshore. IF you look at the Topozone map, the spot is right under the "e" in Barnabie.

I used to fish from the dock at Enatai beach park for perch when I was a kid and did well there too.

The Lake WA cutthroat fishery "used to" be one of the best things going since the invention of the Flatfish, but.....it ain't no more! Fishless days more often than not? Never used to be the case. I was fortunate enough to have some excellent teachers (thanks, Cigar ) but that was 15ish years ago and the fishing was truly excellent. There used to be a close-knit circle of cutthroat fisherman in the North end of the lake who really knew their stuff. You could always tell who was a newcomer becuase they caught a few small ones and/or nothing. The pros released 90+% of what they caught rarely keeping the big ones and bonking rainbows for the table.

The lake may be a huge lake making it seem as though there is not much angling pressure, but like Budnate said, the fish are vulnerable in a few areas where they are concentrated before and after they spawn in the little tribs. Spring and early summer is a great time to catch hungry post-spawn fish such as the one pictured by Jeff. Notice the tail is all "chewed up" which is caused by digging reds. Rememer folks, that cutthroat are trout and just like steelhead they will spawn in late winter and all through the spring. They are feeding on anything and everything that they can catch when they get back to the lake so they can regenerate muscle and tissue that was lost from overwintering in the creeks before they spawn.

My buddy lives on a local Lake Wa tributary and there are some giant cutts spawning around the vicinity of his property. Neat to watch them in there, but remember that they are snakes when they get back to the lake and they need to regenerate. No different that targeting downstream steelhead which much like the post-spawn cutties will have pale white meat and are completely worthless as table fare (compared to a pre-spawn fish). Put 'em back, please folks, at least keep the rainbows which are stocked fairly heavily. If you do choose to keep the cutties, than that is your right, but don't come crying to me in 10 years when there ain't no fish left! Trust me, with all the hype it won't be long!