06-24 REELLIFE digital - Flipbook - Page 8
For most people, a trip to
Lake Washington means
a day of kayaking, jet
skiing, or picnicking. But
did you know that the lake
plays host to thousands
of kokanee? These landlocked sockeye salmon are
smaller than their oceangoing cousins, but they
taste great and are available
year-round. Early summer
is the perfect time to target
them.
They are aggressive and
plentiful. Learning how
to troll for kokanee is a
great way to dip your toe
in the water before you
fish for salmon in the fall.
Whether you're an avid
kokanee fisherman or a
beginner, you should add
Lake Washington to your
list of summer fishing
8 | NWFISHING.net
destinations. Not sure
how to start? Let's go over
some key information to
make your trip to Lake
Washington a success:
which launches to use, tried
and true techniques, and
productive locations to start
with.
There is a launch fee but
there are restrooms and
an Ivar's close by if you get
hungry!
Near the middle of the
lake, the Kirkland Marina
has a small boat ramp. The
launch fee is steep, but you
can buy an annual pass
to save some money. On
Launches
the other side of the lake,
There are many boat
launches surrounding Lake Magnuson Park offers a
well-maintained and easy
Washington, so I'll just
to use boat ramp. At the
name the most popular
ones here. In the south, the very northern tip of the
lake is the Kenmore boat
Atlantic City boat ramp is
ramp. It gets pretty shallow
pretty spacious and has
here, so be careful when
restrooms available. There
is a fee to launch your boat, launching in the early
morning. There is no dock,
but the parking is free and
plentiful. Gene Coulon Park but there's a nice bathroom
and there's no launch fee.
is another popular option
Although Lake Washington
at the southern end of the
is quite large, you're never
lake. Parking can be tight,
especially during weekends. very far from a boat ramp!
