I planned on getting to Lake Stevens around 5am this morning but I was indecisive due to the rain coming down in buckets. The weather channel app said the rain would slow down by 8am so I finally headed out and got to the boat launch at 6am for my first fishing trip of the year. Ran out towards the aerator and started trolling east toward the middle of the lake. Got first line in the water, the famous dick nite wonderbread dodger and a green wedding ring spinner with white shoe peg corn soaked in shrimp scent. 30 second later, as I was still baiting my second rod, the first one goes down with a fish on! Reeled him in and he spit the hook right next to the boat. Re-baited and reset, then went back to baiting my second rod. That one had a miniature version of my baker lake sockeye setup. Brass/chrome dodger with mini pink squid and coonstripe shrimp tail. Set it out and put it in the rod holder. Started to sit down and that rod bent over before my rear end hut the chair. Got that fish in the boat, a 13 inch Koke. Got my line back in the water and instantly the first rod bends over again. Had to shake the first fish out of the net before I could net this one but I got it, a 14 inch Koke. I had a couple more hookups over the next 2 hours but didn't manage to get anything else in the boat. One of them was a real nice Kokanee, probably 17-18 inches. I never gad a chance with that one because it didn't even bother to swim. Hit my line and bolted to the surface, just kept jumping and thrashing on the surface until the hook finally came out.

I called it quits about 8:45. The rain did not slow down as advertised. It just kept coming down heavier. The wind started to pick up and was blowing me all over the lake, and the bite had really slowed down. Next time I'll be more decisive and get out there earlier. And I won't forget the gloves if it's raining.

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