Northwest Fishing Reports

For anyone that is thinking about using the Lake Washington boat launch at SE 40th Street (Newport) in December, please be advised that it will be closed the entire month for refurbishment. I purchased a season pass for the launch and emailed the city of Bellevue about compensation for the closure. I was trying to weasel a month long temporary pass to another launch (Mercer Island would've been great) on the lake out of them, but they didn't see it my way.

My question: Having purchased a 2008 annual pass for the SE 40th Street launch and finding out that the launch will be closed for the month of December I have a question. Has the City of Bellevue planned on providing a pass to an alternate launch site for those of us who had purchased an annual permit? I use the launch year round and December provides me with a lot of days off for fishing the lake.

City's response: What we are planning on doing is adjusting the price of the pass to reflect the month long closure. We will get in touch with our pass holders to see if they want this adjustment in the form of a refund for this year or a credit for next years pass. I am sorry for the inconvenience.

Mike Koenig

What really galls me is that the notification sign says that the refurbishment was made possible by a grant from the the State department of recreation. So where does all the money go that they collect for every launch? You can't convince me that at $8 to $10 a launch that this refurbishment couldn't have been paid for by launch fees collected over the past several years.

Thanks for the heads up. I've got annual pass there too. I moved recently, I doubt if they tracked me down or thinking of tracking me down. I'll have to give them a call.

FYI,

As of this afternoon the Mercer launch is still open. I used it to flush my motors after fishing Puget sound today. I can't see them starting work on it this weekend so I would say it will be open at least through the weekend.

They have finally begun the work and have most of the floating sections (cement pontoons) in place. All of the old pilings have been removed and replaced by galvanized metal posts, no more creosote! I'm not sure if they are going to be working on the ramp, but I hope they address the walkway to the dock, as it gets very slippery in the winter, especially when it freezes. I'll check on their progress from time to time and report my findings. It would be nice if they were done before the end of the year!

I went to pick up a new annual launch permit at the Bellevue Aquatic Center today. As promised in an email I received, a boat permit refund of $8.75 was applied towards my new 2009 permit. Not a huge deal but it beats a sharp stick in the eye. So if you go and you had a pass last year, remember to ask for your refund! Did I mention that the launch is open again? I'll be using it this weekend, so I'll get some updated pics to Mike. Driving South on 405 today I caught a glimpse of the South end of the lake and it looks a mess! I'll be concentrating my efforts North of Mercer Island and will try and stay out of the salad, branches, leaves and trees that have been washed into the lake.

Im sure y'all know this but the launches in my part of the hood are usually empty with parking galore.I like Stan Sayers the best.Safest for the truck and its parts.Rainier Beach has a nice new launch also.Its just a lil shot over to Coulos park.(coulon)

I love the ditch and swamps in (Kenmore) it keeps the cupcakes out:^o and if you cannot back your tub up straight as a arrow the concrete stands on both sides will crush you on the ramp backing in
Plus I like looking at all the turtles on the logs and waterfowl coming in!:bigsmurf:

If it weren't so close to my house, 5 minute drive, I'd probably be more inclined to buy a annual permit for the Seattle launches. I think they have the best deal going, three launches on Lake Washington and two in Puget Sound all for a couple of bucks less than what you pay for the Newport launch.

Swede, the Kenmore launch sounds like the launch at the Ocean Shore Marina. Narrow, one lane, concrete walled launch that will abuse your boat when it's windy! That place is a ghost town now compared to the 70's and 80's.

:colors: Zero wind in the sloughs:cheers: flat and protected eveytime in :bball: just a mess of Mill foil if you sport a pump/jet tub some mornings out might reguire the kicker but it opens fast and arrow/head/point just around the corner south 66feet with a pt. Wilson dart!
They must open the King fisheries back up on the Lake there loaded and stuffed with fish
Heck Sekui at prime time now is bare and open and we use to park miles away to play:colors:
Time changes most but never never forget the words FISH ON!!!:cheers:
(57.8lbs on the Lake Wa) my best and I think better then the tribes as well with nets Kinger:cheers:
Here is another got a King everytrip out and 2 or 3 other guys for weeks!!!! I did

not create the closures NETS did lol:cheers:

(I know MARK wrong subject!):colors:
All Lake Wa Kings getting jiggy by the Swede= Open up the Lake to Sportsman its loaded with returning Kings:cheers:
The one in :colors: the cooler still has the green and white dart in him!!!!
I think we stopped at 40 Kings that year!

G-Man wrote:If it weren't so close to my house, 5 minute drive, I'd probably be more inclined to buy a annual permit for the Seattle launches. I think they have the best deal going, three launches on Lake Washington and two in Puget Sound all for a couple of bucks less than what you pay for the Newport launch.

Swede, the Kenmore launch sounds like the launch at the Ocean Shore Marina. Narrow, one lane, concrete walled launch that will abuse your boat when it's windy! That place is a ghost town now compared to the 70's and 80's.

Don't think a ghost town is the term I'd use. From May on you every dipstick living in the north end is trying to learn how to launch a boat and park a trailer. It's almost, dare I say, a mini Magnuson.......

Love fall through spring and week days.

Bodo= Your right we did meet a few and they proved to be poor swimmers :colors: during the Spawn:bom:

Swede: Can we keep this thread pertaining to the the Boat launch...

Swede, Bodo, sorry for the confusion, I was implying that the Ocean Shores marina is now a ghost town. These days most folks launch out of Westport.

In a more thread appropriate note, the launch is open and I used it last Saturday. As far as I can tell nothing has changed except for the new pontoons and pilings. The water was so stained, 6" of visibility max, from the outflow of Coal Creek that I couldn't tell if they had made any improvements to the ramp or if they had dredged for weeds. I doubt they have but one can always hope. As always I do have a complaint. The pontoon support pilings are now all the way on the retrieve side of the dock and makes it very difficult to pull your boat along. You either have to let go of your boat, flip the line over the piling or shimmy your way around the lake side of the piling and hope you don't fall. I know it makes for more room and allows for easy wheelchair access, but how about making the dock a bit wider and keeping the pilings in the middle instead?

It always seemed odd to me that they would put the pilings off to one side but then if you think about it, it's cheaper to make the floats with one full sized walkway than two.

Sorry to disagree but not everyone is a great boat launcher.I dont try to do the 2 minute launch.I pay for the usage of the launch and take my sweet time doing it.I dont rush for anyone.I've had guys honk at me and give me the finger salute.I just move at my pace.Dont like it? Tough!!!Im not gonna rush and forget something.I've forgotten stuff in the past from rushing.So if you see a Red Toyota launching a Smokercraft be fair warned.Muahahaha

racfish wrote:Sorry to disagree but not everyone is a great boat launcher.I dont try to do the 2 minute launch.I pay for the usage of the launch and take my sweet time doing it.I dont rush for anyone.I've had guys honk at me and give me the finger salute.I just move at my pace.Dont like it? Tough!!!Im not gonna rush and forget something.I've forgotten stuff in the past from rushing.So if you see a Red Toyota launching a Smokercraft be fair warned.Muahahaha

well i wish i thought like that....i seemed to be wired to getting everything ready in my boat rods equiped downriggers on all in the name so other people can launch too as theyre also paying..however when i have my kids and misses it can take a while 10mins with my mates 2 mins as i can drive the boat off and on the trailer.

Kenmore launch is crap like and you certinaly need a kicker if you have a jet cause you will suck up weeds and crud.,

hey G-man lets us know how you do out theree, i may try Lake wa this weekend..

Sickbayer,

If the weather permits I'll be out on the sound in pursuit of winter blackmouth. The last few times I've been out on the Lake I found that the bait was there but the fish were not. I really think they are in spawning mode, especially with the recent flooding and flow increases we had. I'm tempted to give them a break until March or April rolls around but hey, the lure of a challenge always seems to get the better of me!

that is why im not bothered about lake samamish, i reckon most of the fish there will be up the creek spawning too. Since you fish lake wa often gonna take your advice mate.... trying to get a few of my PSA members ou into the sound for blackmouth none has taken the bait yet lol..