My buddy and I are thinking about taking our sons out trout fishing this weekend and would like to fish the river above Snoqualmie Falls, and are wondering if there is a decent trout fishery there to be had? If not, is there a lake or two close to the town of Snoqualmie where there might be trout (biting) this time of year. Any info as to timing, tactics, etc. is appreciated.

Thanks.

Hey Fin ...

Anytime you can get a kid out to the water is a great idea...

You must be talking about the Middle Fork... because I think the the North and South Fork closes behind the Falls after tomorrow...

Can't speak to a lake ... maybe someone else can speak to that...

Tight Lines

Check the regs before you go. The middle and north fork both have decent populations of small cutthroat. Middle fork is selective gear rules, I don't know about the north fork. Most of the lakes up there close on the 31st of OCtober, I believe.

It's getting a bit late for easy fishing up there. For kid fishing, I'd try trolling for cutthroats, or perch fishing, in Lake Washington or Sammamish.

I have to admit I need to get educated on which fork is open or not, etc., before I venture out (thus the post). I plan to head out that way today with my fly rod and chat with a few sport shops on the way. I am a salmon/steelhead guy, and do not focus much on the state trout fishery. I am really looking for a way to get a small group of people on a decent accesssible fishery East of Issaquah that would be entertaining for a 7 and 11 yr. old. I know it would be cold in the early am for them, but if I could locate a fishery that was not time of day sensitive I am thinking I could walk them in - in the afternoon. I suppose I could introduce them to some of the more common chum fisheries that are happening right now, but that might be a bit much. Thanks for the help.... Jon

I live in North Bend and fish the forks a lot. I can honestly say that trout fishing is over until next summer. Some still manage to find a few fish and whitefish can be abundant if you find the right spot, but I would think you'd have much better luck else where. All forks are selective gear rules (no bait, single barbless hooks) and the MF is year round catch and release. From June 1 to 10/31, I think the other forks allow you to keep a fish or two over 10" (check regs) but I think you should let all fish go in these forks... I think they remain open year round for C&R - but check first.

Rattlesnake lake closes at the end of this month, but is a good place to take kids - plenty of bank access as long as the lake isn't at it's highest level (it varies quite a bit). Again, no bait, single barbless hooks.

The yakima river is supposed to continue to fish well from about noon to dark. You can find access from just over the pass all the way to the canyon area in E Burg. (and again, no bait...)

I agree with the call for trying out sammamish if you have a boat. Big cutthroat should be on the hunt close to the surface...(and you CAN use bait).

Good luck!

You guys are alright! I have a 20' Tiderunner so I will give L. Sammamish a shot (for Cutthroat). The beauty of that is that I live in Redmond so that is an easy get. I was walking the Sammamish River the other day and noticed a ton of 14"-16" fish (what I assume were Cutthroat) surfacing, taking bugs off the water, beneath them were migrating silvers. Quite a site. I have trolled for Cuttrhoat before on that lake with little success. Do you have any tips on location and tackle? This might be the best solution for this scenario, keeps people dry and relatively entertaiined and keeps my boat out of the salt, for now. Jon

Lake Samm has some hard core regulars that can set you straight - hopefully they'll chime in.

I know a lot of guys go with small dick nites and other little spoons in various colors.

Also the wedding ring and night crawler setup works on those cutties too.

And small plugs can be fun. When trolled near the shore you never know if you'll find a perch, small mouth, trout, and this time of year a salmon is even possible.

I know everyone has their fav spots on this lake, but most of they guys I see out there head off to the right from the state park launch and either fish the shoreline in 20 to 30ft of water, or cruise right out in the middle. I usually do a circle starting at the launch and heading right, fishing 15 to 30 ft of water with small rapalas or other plugs. Then after rounding the big point, I start working out to the middle and loop back in the deeper water straight back to the creek outlet at the state park. Once I get close to the outlet (watch out for shallow water that will sneak up very quickly), I work the shoreline back to the launch. Depeding on time and where I got the most action, I decide what to do from there....

This time of year you should do fine fishing your lures close to the surface - no more than 20 ft deep....

Thanks for the pointers, really helps. I ran down there this am and saw a couple of boats. I assume you are pulling the wedding ring behind some light pop gear? I suppose simple eggs/worms and bobber fishing would work as well in the lake since there are trout/bass, etc. there.

Well, it is a pretty big lake and you tend to have to work pretty hard to round up some fish. If you know the lake well, you may be able to get away with this, but I'd keep trolling. If you have a finder it would help locate fish. Then maybe you could anchor up and give it a shot. You may be able to find a shool of perch and the kids would have fun catching a bunch of those.

Juanita Bay in Lake Washington is stuffed with perch. The kids can catch all they want.

They tend to move deepr as winter approaches. last time I was out they were in 35-45 feet of water.

Juanita Bay in Lake Washington is stuffed with perch. The kids can catch all they want.

They tend to move deepr as winter approaches. last time I was out they were in 35-45 feet of water.

Not sure if they do this up your way, but down here in Grays Harbor they load the lakes up with surplus adult hatchery coho this time of year. Elma Ponds, 30 miles towards Aberdeen from Olympia on the left, has a kids and oldsters only fishing pond that is loaded with these. The local kids have a blast with 'em - just have them pitch a pink vibrax - no snags and lotsa room to play 'em