Hoodsport is indeed in full swing. I started fishing at 8am, surprised by the sparce mid-week crowds. Plenty of fish to go around. Fishing from a boat, I started off slow compared to those around me but eventually found the right retrieve speed (moderately fast, start reeling as soon as the corky hits the water) and was into plenty of fish. I ended up catching about 10 and losing again as many, plus many hits that didn't get hooked. The fish were all over a small pink corky with green yarn, 3 foot leader and small sliding egg weight. I even caught two that were bright - chrome enough to keep, which is unusual. The fresher fish wound take running jumps and you could see them swarming. Just cast into those swarms and it was fish on! I will make an observation and comment. I snagged only one fish all day. The rest were hooked firmly inside the mouth. And these fish were hitting my bait for sure. There was no doubt on the strikes. So it was kind of sad that the five other boats around me were all throwing buzz bombs and spinners with treble hooks. I don't think I saw one fair hooked fish in those boats. Sure, they had fish on all the time and I had lots of misses, but when I had a fish on it was a lot more fun than dragging a fish in tail first. It's just plain lazy to be tossing that hardware after these fish!

Mike,

I've seen the same thing down there, (even caught my dad doing the "buzz bomb jig") . Reported it to WDFW (not my dad!)and the hatchery, and was pretty much told "so what?"

I'd like to say if they don't care, why should I. Well, for one I want my boy to learn the right way. Pretty sad situation though.

Mike, I have also seen the same thing from boat and from shore. The sad part is when there are kids in the boat or on shore and this is the way the kids are learning how to fish. I don't know why people feel compeled to use heavy metal in four feet of water.

It's kind of bizarre to me. BTW, I was using #2 hooks and smallll corkies.

Mike, I am definitely available next Wednesday....did not schedule any appointments for that day. If you want to go, I sure would like to.

Carl, get out on the boat yet?

Ya, I broke in the motor yesterday on Lake WA. Sixty minutes at 1/2 throttle. Sixty minutes of 3/4 throttle with full throttle for one minute every ten minutes.

Good thing the lake was relatively calm.

hey Carl,

I rarely troll at half throttle, and never more than 3/4 throttle! Maybe that's your secret!!

Glad to hear your getting back into the game.

Cool Carl! Did you catch any baracuda?

I know what you mean. What is the fish they fish for in the Great Lakes where they have to troll for them at half throttle? Musky?? I saw it on a show one time.