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Samish Lake Report
Whatcom County, WA

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Details

06/26/2011
Trolling
Kokanee
Maggots
Red
Spinner
Morning
06/27/2011
3
1980

A quick trip to Lake Samish on Sunday proved to be productive. We were in the water by 7:00 and fishing just out in front of the WDFG boat ramp we had our first fish on by 7:05. At that point it was just my son and I (the rest of the gang was planning to meet us later in the morning) so in anticipation of a few hours of C&R we didn’t use any bait or sent and were running my custom tied wedding band spinners and mini squid setups. We were running a variety of dodgers and swing blades followed by the mini squids or spinners. I kept the leaders short, 8” for mini squids and about 12-14” on the spinner set-ups. Although we were running a surface line all the early action was at 28-40’ running 50’ behind the downrigger clip. We never established a solid color preference but it did seem that a hammered brass spinner blade and orange or red had the edge. The water temperature varied between 61 and 63 degrees and there was not a defined thermocline. Although we did vary our trolling speed, 1.3-1.4 mph was the most productive.

We worked the area in front the boat ramp until it was time to head up to the park and pick up the rest of the troops. After a quick pit stop we set up and started trolling at the northwest corner of the small lake with the same gear we had been running earlier except we were using a variety bait to tip the hooks. Although we tried a number of different scented Shoepeg corns and my cured shrimp, the fish preferred maggots. We fished the smaller lake for an hour or so catching smaller kokanee and then moved back to the main lake where the average fish was much larger.

Before leaving the smaller lake we did whiteness a very unusual occurrence. Just coming out of a flurry of fish catching activity our attention had been focused on the back of the boat. Hearing a strange noise we turned and looked to see what it was and off to our starboard bow about 100 feet there was a hole in the water. It appeared to be about 3’ wide and maybe 12’ long and was slowly moving in an arc. It was like somebody had pulled the plug and the water was starting to whirlpool. The phenomena lasted only a couple minutes and then the surface of the lake returned to normal. We were the only boat in the area so it wasn’t a boat wake, just a strange hole in the otherwise calm surface.

By the time we got set up and were trolling again in the main lake the earlier hot bite had died off but we were still consistently getting bit. We fished the main lake for only an hour or so longer and then headed for the ramp. We were doing a family barbeque later that afternoon so our fishing window had closed. It was a good day of both fishing and catching and I think that we went home with 10 fat Lake Samish kokanee.


Comments

RiverChromeGS
6/27/2011 7:11:00 PM
I have been fishing samish a lot too. I went at 5 this morning, and had 15 fish on by 6, BUT i only landed 3 of the 15, and went through another 10 more to get a limit. What kind of hook rigging do you use? Ive been using 2 number 4 gamakatsu octopus hooks less than an inch apart with a small, inch and a half long worm thread on the tip with plenty of exposure, but i lose EVRYTHING!!!!!!! i need help so i can limit and go within the first 7 or 8 bites, not 30~!
Kokanee Katcher
6/28/2011 7:22:00 AM
I was there yesterday and I experienced the same thing with lots of fish not making it to the boat. Another fisherman I know told me he had the same problem, so you weren't alone. Up until yesterday, I've had good luck with a green-black body, chartreuse blade Wedding-ring retied with a #4 Gamakatsu Finesse hook and a Waxie on the hook. Before I go again I'm tying up a double hook set-up to see if that solves the problem.
rseas
6/29/2011 3:49:00 PM
Sorry that I didn’t get back earlier, things are crazy here at the rseas compound. We weren’t really having a problem loosing fish and in fact the first few hours we had planned on just catch and release fishing. Our problem was that by the time we picked up the rest of the gang the hot early am bite was now just a memory. We still had a fair amount of action and caught some very nice fish but we had to work for them.

Regarding the lost fish troubles mentioned by fishenfreak and Kokanee Katcher, I recommend speeding up the trolling speed. In my experience when we are getting a lot of short bites or are loosing fish before the net I usually speed the boat up by 0.2-0.4 mph. I theorize that the fish have to more aggressively chase the gear down and naturally get more hook in the process. You can also exaggerate your “S” trolling pattern. This will speed up the outside line and should trigger bites. Unless we have broke the trailing hook off of a favorite bait, we always run double hook rigs. I tie them on the cheaper Beau Max octopus hooks and have never had a problem hooking fish. I use both the black and red hooks in the 4 and 6 sizes when tying gear for Kokanee, land locked silvers and trout. When consistently loosing fish another idea to try is to bait only the top hook, and then use only a small piece of bait. The use of one of the various gel scents is quite effective also.
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Available Guide

Available Fishing Guide:
Website: Darrell & Dads Family Guide Service

Phone: (509) 687-0709