Previous Next

Today started out with some terrible news. After receiving a Guided Steelhead trip with the guide of my choice as a Xmas gift from my wife I was looking online to find the greatest guide out there when an email pops up from the WDFW telling me that Steelhead will close Jan 2nd in the upper Columbia. Licking my wounds I figured that I should hit the road anyway in search of some fishable ice. I headed up to Rat Lake thinking and hoping that I’d find some ice. I arrived at Rat Lake at about noon and the ice looked real good but you now need a discover pass to park in the parking lot so back down to Brewster I headed in search of said discover pass. I checked True Value hardware only to find out that they no longer sell fishing licenses or discover passes. Next stop was Triangle Texaco (Now Exxon) only to find that Bob only sells fishing licenses. Bob said to head on downtown to Pro Hardware and that they should have them available. They had the passes but when I pulled out my debit card to pay the $35.00 the guy says that they only take cash or check. I only carry about $30.00 cash so off in search of an ATM I go. I found an ATM just down the block at a local bank and then back to the hardware store I headed only to learn that they don’t scrape the ice off of the sidewalks in Brewster. Next thing I learned was how hard the sidewalks actually are in Brewster. After dusting off my pride and tucking my shin bone back into its proper location, I made it to the hardware store; made my payment and was headed back up the mountain to Rat Lake. Upon arriving back at the lake I was greeted by the sunniest day I’ve seen in a month an empty parking lot 8” of clear ice, an outside temp of 45 degrees, and absolutely no wind. I drilled my first hole and was greeted by my first bite before my power bait hit the bottom. I limited in about an hour and am planning on taking my son and his new girl friend back up to Rat Lake next Saturday. Oh ya, watch out for the cattle in the road way just around the corner form the timber operation. I just about had 500 pounds of hamburger to haul back to the house along with my limit of Rainbows.

BentRod

12/29/2011 8:28:00 AM

Big D, you certainly earned those fish. Sounds like a Charlie Brown morning. Hope Saturday is starts less painful.

fiznwtrs

12/29/2011 10:23:00 AM

It is my understanding if you have a fishing license you can use the parking pass that comes with fishing license in place of a discover pass at wdfw parking lots. Federal you wouldn't need one because it is not state owned,(?)That is what the fed lady told me at Brown's Lake which is Federal. All this Discovery pass b.s.is a bit confusing but I bought one anyway. We camped at Starvation Lake for free last year and the host said don't worry about the discovery pass even though sign said required.

LiveAsYouWill

12/29/2011 11:32:00 AM

Love the write-up! Sounds like a typical day fiddling about... good thing you nailed those trout....

procaster

12/29/2011 12:29:00 PM

I THINK the pass is honored with your licinse this year. In April you will need to have both? So, my fees will double for next year. I can't wait until they start tolling all freeways and highways. Anyway, thanks for the report. Nice fish!

MotoBoat

12/29/2011 12:49:00 PM

Those day's of diddling and piddling do eat a lot of time. Way to stay focused and complete the task at hand. But you had to wonder if there was going to be any fishing on that day? When you described falling on sidewalk covered ice. That reminded me of head banging falls on fish lake. The kind that take a moment to clear the stars from the head and recall what you were doing previous to a blow to the back of the gray matter.

I agree that the Discovery pass confusion is just that.........mass confusion! If WDFW owns the boat ramp/parking area no Discovery pass needed. IF Federal owned, don't need one. State owned, need one. County owned, don't know. City owned, again don't know. Seattle port authority.........boat launch fee.

Question or two: Since Lake Sammamish is a State Park, do you need a Discovery pass to park and pay a boat ramp fee to launch? Do you see Quail in and around the Rat Lake area?

RiverRock

12/29/2011 12:55:00 PM

fiznwtrs is correct, the vehicle use permit that comes with your fishing license is honored in place of the discover pass. I too thought I needed to purchase a discover pass until I looked it up on the wdfw website. I also had some misfortune at Rat a number of years back. After a lengthy drive to Rat during the CnR season to find high winds I decided to wait for a couple hours to see if it would die down,which it finally did. So I launch my jon boat, rig up fly rods etc. I noticed several dead fish washed ashore so I'm thinking poachers! After securing the truck I walk torwards the launch and notice a sign that had been tore out of the ground and tossed in the weeds, I check it out and it says the lake has been poisioned by wdfw and no fishing etc... The lake was being rehabed. So after a long drive, a long wait, riging up, launching the boat etc. only to find some bleepin person tore out the warning sign I was not a happy camper. However, I did redeem myself at Wapato for a couple days of excellent fishing.
Glad the fishing turned out great for ya. Thanks for the write up and report!

Malottguy

12/29/2011 11:15:00 PM

Great write up and for FYI the Brewster Chevron sells WDFW licenses and Discover Passes and do take credit and debit cards.

blufin loui

12/30/2011 12:08:00 PM

That's a nice looking limit of fish. WOW, who needs reality shows, when you can have a trip like that. Good to hear you survived it without lasting complications and hope the weater will provide the necessary conditions for your son to experience the great fishing.

The Quadfather

12/30/2011 4:15:00 PM

motoboto..... Yes, you do need a discover pass at Samammish..... but you don't if you ride with me. I gots mines.

MotoBoat

12/30/2011 11:18:00 PM

Stealing a line from the movie "wild hogs". Quad..........Let's ride!

Leave a Comment:

Login

Flag

×

Why is this comment inappropriate?

Close Submit

Delete this comment? Provide reason.

No Yes

Edit

×

Cancel Save