If there's a season this year, I'm thinking of taking may canoe out and giving it a shot. Any suggestions as to where I should launch? I don't need a boat launch - just somewhere that 2 guys could carry a canoe easily. Also, I won't have a down-rigger - but I do have a portable fish finder. Should I try lead core line?
Has anyone out there tried anything other than red hooks for bait? Just curious...
Thanks for any info you can provide!!

I've fished from a canoe for about 25 years, but I wouldn't go out on the big lake if I were you. LOTS of boat traffic that will make your bob up and down like a cork. If you decide to go, WEAR YOUR LIFE JACKET!

You could go out and get a couple of Deep Six's and get your trash down low that way. I have also used a "Little Laker" down rigger from my canoe successfully, as well. You can also hook up an electric motor for consistent trolling speed, plus it also helps fight the wind.

In 1995 851 boating deaths were reported nationwide. Of those, 362 were from boats 16' or less. Of those 362, 300 died of drowning. 1999 stats were a little lower, but similar. Seriously consider this before taking your canoe out on the lake.

Red hooks and flashers are the game, but some folks used to troll a flasher with a blaze orange flatfish as well. Try 45' as your average depth, but move up and down from there as your spot fish.

Take care and have fun. Andy

Thanks for the info and warning Andy. I have an old town discovery sport (flat on back to mount motor, and wider for better stability). I have an electric trolling motor that works great. I'll definately be careful.

I figure if I hit the lake around 5am at a location as far from a public boat launch as possible, I may be able to avoid severe crowding fow a few hours while others are waiting in line at the launches. What do you think? Any suggested locations to try?

Thanks!

Actually the launches will put you pretty close to the water, but parking can still be a bear. I bet that you can find a park in the Bellevue area with waterfront access, I usually fish off of the west side of Mercer Island, but that can be a haul in a canoe.

My canoe is an old Herters 15' aluminum. Had it since I was 10 and I still use it regularly to fish and hunt from. It can be safe as long as you realize the limitations.
I had a few frightening experiences with mine duck hunting on the Nisqually flats area. Once my canoe floated across a slough after the wind blew it off of the mud. I had to swim across the slough to get the boat. Cold day! Same place, different day, I had hunted all day long in good duck weather, windy, but when it was time to go in, there were white caps and rollers present in the channel that I had to cross. Could not have gotten a needle up there with a jackhammer, if ya know what I mean!
These were exploits from my younger, less intelligent days. Please learn from my mistakes, and wear your lifejacket.

Be safe, and keep the open side up!

Hello,
I noticed you are considering using a Lead-Core line..... This would get you down about 30ft, HOWEVER it will leave a very long trail of line to be dragged around behind you while in your boat which in turn could and most likely would get tangled up with other peoples lines and/or Props. My suggestions would be to use a Deep SIX Diver, or to buy a couple of those small clamp on downriggers, that way you wont have to let out so much line.
~Matt

Chadk - you might look at Waverly Beach, Marsh and Houghton Beach parks in Kirkland or Enatai Beach Park in B'vue.

Chadk:
Please don't long-line this fishery. You are asking for headaches and angry anglers. Invest the $60 and get a clamp-on downrigger for your canoe. It will allow you to get down to the 70 foot range and give you a chance at the fish. Use a stacker for your friend's rod and run it 10 ft shallower. I would put in and fish the area south of Seward Park. It's relatively deep close to shore and most motorboats will use the middle of the lake to run up and down the lake. Good luck and stay safe!

That is almost as dangerous as the guy I saw fishig Springers on Drano lake back in April. A 10' canoe playing bumper boats with 20' sleds and 24' bay boats just isnt safe!

I caught a sockeye last year in Lake Washington from my 19 foot Grumman. Here's what I did:
I use a trolling motor mounted near the rear seat (mine's a double-ender). I put the battery all the way in the nose and KNEEL on the floor just aft of the middle thwart. This is very important for stability. Don't even think about sitting on a seat.
My cooler was just forward of the thwart with one bag of ice in it which also helped stability. You must have a decent net handy too.
I put in at the little park on the Cedar River right where it enters the lake. Use this or the Atlantic City launch on the SW end of the lake. Either one will put you close to the very good water on the SW side of Mercer Island.
I have a Penn reel filled with 100 feet of 17 lb. test lead-core line. I jiggered the reel seat so I can mount it on a medium-heavy baitcasting rod. The short handle of the baitcasting rods make them easy to use in a canoe. I used 3 oz. of lead with a small flasher and a bare Gamakatsu. I counted off eight colors and put my motor on medium (slow was too slow). I got my first hookup in 20 minutes. I cranked the fish up with so little effort that I thought I'd lost it. 15 feet from the boat it came alive, tangled the leader around the flasher and broke it off. A half-hour later I got another hookup. This time I was ready for the run. I wore him out pretty good before I attempted to boat him which is important 'cause of course you can't lean out very far to net him. You'll see me out there again if they open the season this year. Good luck!

PROBABLY NO SENSE TRYING TO TALK YOU OUT OF THIS, SO HERE'S MY $.02 WORTH. LAST YEAR I CAUGHT MOST OF MY FISH BETWEEN THE NE END OF MERCER ISLAND AND MEYDENBAUER BAY IN DOWNTOWN BELLEVUE. THE REASON I MENTION THIS IS THAT THERE WAS ONLY ABOUT 1/2 THE BOAT TRAFFIC AS ON THE SW TIP TEAR SEWARD PARK. I'D PROBABLY AGREE WITH THE OTHRE FELLOWS, THAT A SMALL CLAMP ON DOWNRIGGER WOULD BE YOUR BEST BET, ALTHOUGH WE CAUGHT SEVERAL FISH USING A DEEP SIX. THE DRAWBACK TO THE DEEP SIX, IS THAT IT IS HARD TO TELL HOW DEEP YOU REALLY ARE, WHEREAS WITH A DOWNRIGGER, IF YOU SEE FISH ON YOUR FINDER AT 60 FT. YOU JUST SEND IT DOWN TO 60 FT. AND START CATCHING!

THERE IS A LITTLE PARK CALLED ENATAI WHICH IS DIRECTLY UNDER THE I-90 EAST CHANNEL BRIDGE ACROSS FROM THE MERCER ISLAND BOAT LAUNCH. THIS WILL PUT YOU ABOUT 5-10 MINUTES FROM WHERE I CAUGHT MOST OF MY FISH LAST YEAR. YOU CAN ACCESS IT OFF OF BELLEVUE WAY, JUST NORTH OF THE PARK 'N RIDE LOT.

IN ADDITION TO BEING A GOOD IDEA WEARING YOUR LIFE JACKET IS THE LAW UNLESS YOUR CANOE IS LONGER THAN 19 FEET. IF I SEE YOU OUT THERE, YOU CAN BEACH YOUR CANOE AND FISH FROM MY BOAT. LESS WORRY, MORE FUN.

BY THE WAY, ANDY M. I'M ALSO A VETRAN OF THE NISQUALLY IN A SMALL BOAT, SIX FOOT BATHTUB WOODEN ROW BOAT, TWO GUYS, ONE DOG, ABOUT 40 OF BROS DECOYS, GALE WINDS, SLEET....NEVER AGAIN!

Ahhh, the thrill of taking a wave over the bow of your canoe! Nothing else gets the old heart pumping like that! Andy

Traut: Couldn't let your Nisqually comment pass. I too have been on the Nisqually in a canoe going back to Luhr Beach. Three of us, all our gear, decoys in a 19' Grumann. Very little free board. Strong wind was out of the north so we had to quarter up beyond the launch and make that quick turn to prevent broaching. Game warden was taking bets we weren't going to make it.

The trip on the Skagit during the Thanksgiving weekend storm a few years back is another story...

Thanks for all the info! If I weren't in the process of buying a house, I'd definately be looking a 17 - 20ft alum boat. But that may have to wait until next year. For now, I just don't want to miss a shot at the Lake Wa fishery. I've never done it, and may never get the chance again...
I'll look into using a downrigger or deep six.
Entiat would be an ideal spot for me. It would be easy to get a few hours of fishing in before work. That way I won't have to worry about catching the full blown sockeye flu...

Yah, that sockeye flu is real similar to the Hood Canal Shrimp flu I seem to get every year around April. It can be a real bummer.

CHADK ITS NOT A REAL GOOD IDEA TO FISH LK WA. WITH ALL THE BOATS IN 86 WHEN WE HAD A SEASON WE WERE TROLLING OFF SEWARD PARK AND A COUPLE OF GUYS IN A CANOE TROLLED RIGHT BEHIND US CUTTING IN TOO CLOSE THEY HOOK OUR DOWNRIGGER CABLE I BROUHT THE BALL UP AND ONE OF THE GUYS IN THE CANOE THOUGHT HE HAD A FISH AT THE SAME TIME I UNHOOKED HIM FROM THE CABLE AND OVER THEY WENT I HAD TO GIGGLE A LITTLE THEN PULLED THEM FROM THE LAKE AND TOOK THEM BACK TO SHORE. THEY LOST ALL THERE GEAR TROLLING MOTOR AND BATTERY IN THE LAKE. SO IF YOU DESIDE TO GO DONT CUT BEHIND PEOPLE!!!!