Took my float tube to Horseshoe Lake in Jefferson County to
see if I could connect with some of the 250 16" + fish the
WDF said they planted there (according to their website).
There was a mild swirling wind when I started fishing at 4:30
with a Puget Bug on a floating line. I got a hit right away
but no hook-up. There were a few other fishermen there, but
only two other boats on the water. One of these was a little
8' tub with two fishermen in it who capsized and left. I took
the water temp. which was warm--60. Not unlike nearby Anderson
Lake. Also similar to Anderson were the large midges. A
#10-12 would be necessary here. I didn't have any that large
of course. At Anderson you need a #8 hook. This was the first
time I had fished Horseshoe. A half hour later I hooked and
released a strong 10" cutt. Shortly after that I heard a great
clattering and splash and looked to see another capsizing,
this time a canoe, with 4 people overboard. I was glad I was
in a float tube, for it seemed like there was a jinx on the
lake that was making everybody go for involuntary swims.
I didn't hook any more fish after that, but talked with other
people on shore who testified to the good size of fish they
have taken there. The limit is one fish over 12". Anyway,
after 4 hours of fishing I was getting cramps in my calves,
and hungry. The wind started to blow harder and I decided it
would be better to come some other day when I could spend
more time exploring this nice, little, undeveloped lake and
hopefully see for myself some of those football shaped trout.

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