First one on the water at 0500 and already broad daylight. Was unsure of prospects at first given the large rafts of algae and cottonwood seeds floting all over the place on the west side of the lake. Fortunately, once I got to the south end things cleared up somewhat so I could troll more than 50' without having to clear blobs of vegitation off lines and terminal tackle.

Pulled an assortment of F5 FlatFish and K5 Kwikfish, with perch scale and barred perch patterns being the most consistent producers. Trolled for a while with no takers and fish flouncing all around then remembered I have to let out lots of line to get action in this lake. Pulled out 100'+ of line and BINGO...Fish On! First fish of the day was an 18" Kokanee so I kept her. Had a couple of strikes that didn't get connected and also hooked and lost two before I realized I had a barbless hook on my plug. Boy am I glad the big koke stayed on all the way to net! Switched from the flatfish to the kwickfish and got a 17" rainbow. Was about to release it when I realized it had another hook in it form a bait fisherman that had broken off...it was bleeding heavily so I kept it as well. Hooked at least 5 more trout including another 16" - 17" class specimen - all released. Ran pop gear, red wedding ring, and kokanee corn for a while hoping for another good salmon. Got a taker, however, at 6" he was set free to come back when he's bigger. Of all the fish hooked the 6" fish put on the most spectacular aerial displays with at least a dozen jumps.


The lake was mirror flat first thing so the reflecting pictures were awesome. Osprey and bald eagels were my fishing partners for a good portion of the day and Maple Valley Days was in full swing so the RC Hydros provided entertainment whenever I was passing through the north end of the lake.

Tight LInes!

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