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Started the New Year trying something completely new for me, targeting Cutthroat on Lake Stevens. Very different fishery actually trying to target them compared to other Cutthroat lakes I've fished. I've got a few here and there before while Kokanee fishing on Stevens, so figured I would give this a shot. I had 3 specific areas I wanted to target, but being in a kayak, and with the lake being so large, I instead just focused on the eastern shoreline of the lake.

I started in about 60 feet of water, and with each pass I would move in a bit closer. I ran one line between 7-15 feet and the other line I ran at 30-40 feet. I wasn't really seeing much on the sonar for some time. Then as I turned to head back along the shoreline, moving in even closer I started to see fish almost right on bottom in 35-40 feet of water. Immediately my deep rod goes off, and I land a nice little 13 inch cutthroat. I dropped the other line down as well, I am now running both lines at about 30 feet in 35-40 feet of water. That line now goes down, and I land a very recently spawned 18 inch cutt. A short while later I get a very nice fish on. It feels very heavy, and my gut says it's 20 inches +. As I am bringing that fish in, the other rod goes off, a double! Instead of concentrating on getting what I know to be a very large fish to net, I get greedy and pop the other line off the clip. After getting back to line with the larger fish, it gets off shortly after that. Ugh. I did however land the other land which turned out to be a very healthy 15 inch cutthroat.

1 line today I ran a 50/50 brass/nickel Elgin Fishing God's Tooth Spoon rigged up for Kokanee by Reli Lures, 14 inches of leader off a Dick Nite 4 inch moon jelly dodger. On the other line I ran a another 50/50 God's Tooth straight out of the package set on fast action, with about 4 feet of leader, no dodger. No bait or scent used.

The lake fished completely different that what I am used to when targeting cutthroat. The fish I found were hugging bottom. Fishing that close to bottom really kept me on my toes and made me work. I did hang up a couple of times, but was able to keep all my gear. I fish bottom on some lake frequently, but the bottom here rises and drops erratically. The fish that I lost had some real weight to it, it has me intrigued! I did not expect much, so all in all I think it was a good day. I learned a bit, landed an 18 inch cutt which is a nice fish on any lake around here, and definitely felt a much larger fish on my line.

Video shows a little bit of the action from today.

fisherman92

1/1/2018 7:17:29 PM

Nice!

JoshH

1/2/2018 4:24:28 PM

Thanks!

ElginFishing

1/1/2018 7:41:36 PM

Awesome job! Great looking fish. Video and report are great:) That big one you lost was definitely putting up a fight, only time a double is bad timing:)
The meat is really red which is great too! Looks like we should hook up and maybe do some good ol' exploring:)

JoshH

1/1/2018 9:43:22 PM

I think so too!

herefishy

1/1/2018 8:06:30 PM

Nice report and fish. Never tried for cutts on Stevens just kokes. Nice to know that the lake has some nice cutts.

JoshH

1/1/2018 9:43:06 PM

I had never tried for them either. I am curious if it's easier earlier in winter. This was busy type fishing trying to stay on bottom without getting hung up.

FishingTenor

1/1/2018 11:07:20 PM

Thanks JoshH for another excellent report. I should start following you around on the lakes...LOL It figures that there would be cutts in Stevens. I went out there two weeks ago and targeted kokanee without success. It looks like you had about equal success with either setup. Is that correct? FYI: I will be on Sammamish this Saturday with Paul, Fast Action Fishing Adventures guide service. There is one available spot to join us.

JoshH

1/2/2018 9:52:26 AM

Thanks! Kokanee fishing on Stevens is tough in the winter. I never hear about much success. My understanding for winter is troll really slow, if you can run 1 rod shallow 5-10 feet, and the other about 25-30 feet. I've found Stevens doesn't fish well for Kokes until you start to see a lot of surface activity. I don't think I saw 1 koke surface Saturday. Paul is a good guy, he'll put you on fish for sure! Elgin Fishing I believe was out with him yesterday and they did well. I'll have to check with the boss (wife) and see what my schedule looks like as the week goes.

Anonymous

1/2/2018 10:17:35 AM

Great report Bud! Always wondered if there was a good Trout fishery in Stevens. I might have to give it shot!

JoshH

1/2/2018 10:54:01 AM

Thanks! I think next time I want to work the NW corner by Lundeen Park where the bottom flattens out pretty good and it's shallow. It was strange digging cutts off of the bottom.

billyreed

1/2/2018 3:06:58 PM

Very good

JoshH

1/2/2018 4:24:44 PM

Thanks!

FastActionGS

1/2/2018 5:10:18 PM

great work Josh! that some incredible discovering. Ill be up guiding on the lake in the spring, now i have a winter fishery to look forward to as well. Lake Sammamish is hot right now too, I heard Lake Wa is a bit slow, but those cutts should be mid-spawn right now.

great video as well! tight lines brother!

JoshH

1/2/2018 7:10:23 PM

Thanks Paul.

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