Got out to the water around 3:30. Started trolling in about 40 feet of water with a topline rod at 50 pulls and a downriggers down 15' at 30 pulls. With the warmer weather kokanee will start to tuck into shallower water and try to feed. Lots of fish jumping and marked some schools of fish in 20' of water. I spent the majority of my time workin less then 60' of water hoping to at least pick up a stray trout. Fished for kokes for about 3 hours methodicaly switching gear and baits trying to find the "bite." notta!

Now this is early season kokanee fishing, you really have got to get these cold fish excited to get them to hit. Long set backs are a must and you need to be quiet. It needs to be a slow presentation that really makes them upset. Wiggle hoochies and spinners work great, a lure with its own action. Going out and getting skunked right now does not make me upset, because you cant catch them if your lines arent in the water, and it is COLD. In April the warmer rains will start to fall and with that the warming of the lakes will happen and when that does happen Lake Stevens will switch on. In May i find myself pulling in limits on the regular. In June and July the fish will break into smaller schools and fishing will become a little more tricky. Then in late July the fish will hit the pre-stage spawning part of their lives and fishing will yet again get smoking hot, but with herds of jet skis and boaters morning fishing is a must. In September i will hunt for the "Vampires." Kokanee that are ready to spawn, Crimson sides and green head with teeth. The bucks will smash anything that gets in front of their face, this is the time i catch some of my biggest fish, they might be a little dark but still make great smoked kokanee!

So do not let my skunk reports be a forecast of the fishing to come, Lake Stevens is loaded with fish. Just gotta wait for spring to bless us with its presence! I did locate a school of perch and pulled in a few fattys for some fried perch nuggets which made for a better day on the water and lost a MONSTER trout. Tight lines everybody

---