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Hit the water around 8:00am today. Wanted to get a couple hours in before having relinquish myself to the yard & household chores. Launched from Coulon & headed right over to the S corner of Seward Park.

Worked a Brad's Mini on one rod and a Squid/Dodger combo on the other as we headed North in a zig zag. Took a page from G-man's playbook yesterday and put one line right on the bottom where we were marking. Kept the other in the marks at 35'. No luck there, so we moved to the S. side of I-90. Had a massive take down just west of the anchored barge at 38' on the wire moving at 1.5mph. Out of the clip and hooked up, but threw it after a quick airshow.

Moved around to the north side right around 10:30. Set up the rods, and on the first turn we had another hit. Got this one to the boat. Based on the size & color, this was obviously not a Cut. Ended up being a chrome, fat & healthy Steelhead that was near 22". Snapped a quick shot and got it back in the water & safely released.

Totally agree with G-Man's assessment that there's no reason to hit the lake at 1st light. Nothing for the 1st two hours, then all the action right after 10am.

DjButler

6/1/2015 10:32:00 AM

You sure that's a steelhead? Not doubting you that you caught one, I've just seen a lot of cutts that look like steroids that happen to be skinny and long. Nice fish regardless! Thanks for the report!

G-Man

6/1/2015 11:44:00 AM

I don't believe that is a true rainbow/steelhead, the mouth is too big and the spotting is like that of the cutts in the system. I've seen a few "river" fish caught already this season, I wonder if the low flows may be forcing the fish out into the lake. I'd like to see the State close all the streams and rivers in the Lake Washington system this season to fishing and tubing/water activities in an effort to protect the remaining fish.

Byte Me

6/1/2015 4:56:00 PM

Thanks for the insight guys...I'm not as experienced on the Lk WA system like both of you are. The picture may not do justice to ID it either, but here's the thought process: The color looked wrong for a Cut. It was absolutely chrome bright on the the belly & sides. No black flecks. There were large spots on the upper back back & tail only. The spots were high and didn't approach the mid-line. Tail was flat with no fork. The back was distinctively green. Everything about it's, size & structure really said Chinook, but no black mouth or gums. Not a Coho, the spots were all over the tail, not just the top. No black mouth or fork in the tail either. Between all of that, and the fact the fish was well over twenty inches long, it led me to lean more towards Steelhead.

Regardless, it's back in the water waiting for one of us to see it again on the end of our lines. Thanks for continuing to share your knowledge & experience.

DjButler

6/1/2015 5:05:00 PM

To be honest, I would have made the same assumption. I Havnt run into any like that yet. It posing an interesting debate though. Like G-Man said it could be a river fish that got pushed out. Very interesting indeed. Great post and thanks for sharing.

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