TM
I have fished Castle numerous times years past, packing my pontoon (35#) down those ladders is a killer but I always go back for more.
Last spring when I went in the water was incredably LOW....like 15'low. I fished with a Fishnbuddy and charted very few fish and caught even less--Like zero. The only thing showing was a recent fry plant. I think it summer killed the year before.
There will be new water this year though and it will rebound in a couple years. When on,it's great for #1 1/2 yearling and occasional carryovers to 4-5#. I've had lots of 40-50 fish days down there. Wish they would juce that one with some triploids.

Yeah I remember the walk in wasnt so bad. It was the climb out with(wet wadders,fins,food,float tube,2 rods), I look forward to meeting you this feb. Sorry T.J. and Jim S. I say sure tag along but I cant give out the name. Not being an ass----
but I have been giving STRICKED instructions not to say the name or where it is. Ask F.F. or Zen.
Ohmmmmmmmm.Ohmmmmmmmmmm.Ohmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Isn't fishing in Feb. in Eastern Wash a fish thru the ice type of fishing. Besides that time of the year is a bit to cold for me to sit still in the water. I prefer the warmer type of fishing. Mid 80's fall asleep in the sun type. Well thank's for thinking about me. Jim S.

The Ice is suppose to be gone at the secret lake in feb. Fly fishing in the cold is great. In November when we hit it, you fished for acouple hours untill you coundnt feel your feet,then got out and walked alittle untill they hurt. Then you knew your feet were still there. Zen uses a small pram to keep his paws warm. I dont know about fishingfella , he is from over there so he's just used to it. Plus just knowing that underneath me is one of the biggest rainbows waiting for my fly keeps me warm.

Hey,haven't you guys heard of 5 mil waders with a pair of longjohns and fleece wader pants. You don't even know you're in the water.
Basin Lakes only freeze over for one to three weeks generally (excepting the longest winters) and this year may not freeze at all if the current pattern holds.
Be aware though that when water temps are below 44 degrees the fish don't move around much searching for food. You have to keep moving and try to bonk them on the nose....usually with a leech. It can be disappointing real early, but at least you get in some "practice fishing."
The best early water for chronies is 3 to 6 feet.
Keep the sizes small. If no luck, go to 20' and try bloodworms.Hit the smaller shallower lakes not the deep ones. :p

I'm already too much in debt for all of my fishing needs. I have two pairs of waders now. A light weight pair. Just light weight not breathable and a 3mm pair for the winter. I really don't need a pair that I would only wear once or twice. Plus to drive over there in Feb. I would probly need studs on my car. Why does fishing cost so much? I go broke just thinking about it. Jim S.

Well I have to spend ALL of my $$ or my daughters will get them. I got rid of the wife years ago. Left her in Alaska. Now I have 8 flyfishing catalogues and support all of them richly, even a couple in Canada.
Fishing costs too much so not everyone can get the big ones.....See the law of the Zen...the more you spend the bigger the fish....!

I like buying fly fishing stuff. But I just got my car out of the hospital.After I got the bill I almost had to go. I would have more money if my wife would quit spending it. But I still have one(wife). I noticed that you have been gone for a while. Glad to see that your back. I like to fish over there but I guess that I just like the weather to be better. Warm weather not cold. I could talk for ever,but I better shut up now. Jim S.

I myself am a puss when it comes to being cold.
But just my feet. Well for christmas I got some electronic foot warmers that will work inside of my waders. They came with two nicad battery packs
I will try them out in feb when we hit the secret lake.

TM
Santa (me) brought me a new Sage 489SPL lightweight rod,an Abel big game #0 trout reel AND one of those new fangled Sage 3200 large arbor Skeletal reels along with a couple new high tec lines this Xmas.(I couldn't make up my mind between large arbor and regular, so I got one of each) Now if Zen is right about the guy that spends the most gets the biggest/most trout, I should do well next spring.
Nearly New Years and not a hint of ice on the lake below my deck (Crescent Bay Lake) off Roosevelt. Usually frozen up by second week in December. No ice at all in the Basin,but some of the Spokane area lakes have thin ice now.

I fished that lake one time. It's been centuries ago at least it seems that long. That was when I used to use bait. The sun was hot and so was I. I think all I did was fall asleep in the sun. Jim S.

FF, I havent bought myself anything yet as I'm still not working. Any hoot I cant wait untill mid feb as thats when we plan on hitting the secret lake. And I think youve got us all beat in the $ spending area. So who knows you may just catch the biggest. But not if I'm there. I would like to see some of your scuds though. Happy New Year all. Zen is off work this week so that is why he is not here to say anything.

TM, hope you find work soon. I was out of work in Tacoma about 10 years back. Messed my head up so bad I hardly fished. Wish I could do it over now.

I've made the final improvement to Rons Super Scud by tying it with Canadian Seal rather than Scud dubbing. Also plan to try fishing them under the bobber...just twitching it once in a while or dragging it Veeeery slowly with a splitshot. Not sure what will work,but I've seen those buggers resting just above the weed beds. Canada here I come!!!!
Not sure if Secret Lake has scuds or not?? That lake has fairly scant hatches considering where it is. I know chronomids and leeches early and a sporadic mayfly hatch late May and June. Other than that it doesen't have much,but Hoppers and Beetles work in July and September. Please don't fish it in late July and August. The water gets very warm there and the fish get too stressed.
Don't want to kill any of those lazy, fat ones do we!!

Swan, Regarding being gone, I was never gone....just fishing so much during the spring,summer,and fall and up in Canada that I don't have much time for posting then.

Regarding fishing Crescent Bay Lake you didn't miss much by falling asleep. It's one wasted water now. Only a few bass and crappie fishermen hit it now when they want to fish close to home.
They planted it with trout about 4 years back. From 9-10" planters in the spring we were getting 16" fish by fall and 20" the next year. The lake is full of Scuds. They let everyone powerbait it and they cleaned the trout out by the end of the second year. Now nothing left and I don't know why it's not planted anymore....what a waste.Park Service owns it...part of Lake Roosevelt National Monument.

Any lake in the Weyerhauser property is known to a lot of people, so don't worry, you arent telling any of us native washintonians something we dont already know.I used to fish a little lake that looked more like a small swamp and I used to catch some nice cutts there. Dont overlook the places that look non fishable.

Smolt fisherman? LOL. You dont know me very well.LOL

JimS,
I got just the thing to help you get out on the water this winter. How about joining me in my canoe? If I can tear myself away from the steelhead for a few days, I'd love to try some winter trout fishing. We can bring some coffee or cocoa and sit high and dry. I have an electric trolling motor and a fish finder that may help find the lethargic fish.

I'm thinking of hitting Pass lake (no trolling motor allowed there I think) or some other decent trout lake in the next week or 2 (week day). Send me an email if you're interested.

-Chad

I know that I need a push to get out on the water. But I don't think it will be in a canoe. Bad time in one. My brother bought one once at K mart. We went down to the local lake to try it out so I got in the front an he got in the back. I no sooner said Hey this is neat and the damn thing tipped over. We tried it again and the same thing happened. No more canoes. It was a good thing it was in the summer. All we got out of it was a good laugh. I'd like to go fishing like you said but I need warmer weather to sit in a boat with. I'm really not much on lake fishing but I would like to learn. I guess that I like moving water. I have a Alpine Pontoon boat Made by Bucks Bags and have yet to get it wet. Soon though. Jim S. Thanks for the invite though. Keep me in mind when we get some warmer weather.

Will do Jim.
My canoe is very user friendly. Some designs just tip easier than others. You'd have to try pretty hard to tip mine. I even stand up in it sometimes while fishing.

You need to get that pontoon boat out in the water. I've done 4 guided fly fishing trips for salmon and steelhead using those, and had a blast. Only reason I haven't bought one myself is that you still need a partner to bring the second rig to take you back up after the float.
Native steelhead will be moving in any day and you should try to wet a line and maybe find one.

Good luck!
-Chad

Well my pontoon boat is to small to take on rivers unless it is like the Snoqualmie in the middle of summer. It's just right for lakes. I see that you live in North Bend. Hows the Forks doing. High or low. I like the rivers but my luck seems to suck lately. And as I looked out the window just now I see that it is snowing outside.(if it was snowing inside I'd be in trouble). I live in Marysville. Jim S.