Just another dreary day in the Pacific Northwest - NOT!!

Got an early start today in hopes of getting my fish before the full-on scorcher set in today. Proved to be a wise choice. Had to put in at the WDFW launch as I was ready to go feet-wet at about 0445. Barely enough water on that flat launch to get the boat off the trailer...thank goodness for Suburban with 4-wheel drive.

Lines in the water and fishing just past 0500. Took a little bit of time to work-up the pattern for the day but finally got it dialed-in! Started with one line surface trolling and one on the rigger at about 30'. After while switched-up and stacked at 20' and 30' on the rigger. Had multiple drive-bys and a few long releases in addition to my limit today. Best depth was 30' - 32' today. Once I figured this out I put both rods at 32' on opposite sides of the boat.

I started out with the Dick Nite chartreuse hot head and one of Zog's Chelan rasticle-hoochie combos on the rigger and the pretty in pink set-up on the surface rod. Both of these got bit and my first fish landed was on the pretty in pink gear surface trolling. It was next year's fish but was foul hooked so booted the skunk and iced the fish. Best lure of the day was some variation of the pretty-in-pink (Dick Nite pink splatter dodger with metallic finish spin-n-glo). One version of this rig is in the picture. Also got one fish on the Kokanee Creek tackle black/gold set-up fished behind the leapin' lizard gold dodger. Played with several bait combos but when I went to RAH it was game over for the kokes!

Soaked some pink gulp maggots in canned tuna oil and fresh garlic. Also did one batch of shoepeg corn with this combo. Placed a single maggot on top hook and two kernels corn on bottom hook and BEAT THEM UP! Had my limit in the boat by 0750 and was off the water by 0830. Good thing too as it was dragon boat race day on the lake!

Got some great wildlife and scenery shots in addition to the fish. What a glorious sunrise with Mt. Rainier on full display. Gotta love summer in Washington. Only negative of the day was listening to Zog drilling sockeye at Brewster on NWWC (have to admit I was envious).

Good luck and tight lines out there!

Fish Dawg

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