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Crescent Lake Fishing Report | May 2026
Report by Pete Fisher Pete Fisher fished Crescent Lake in Washington from his kayak for this Catch America report. What is working right now Pete Fisher had just a 90-minute window at Crescent Lake, Washington, and boated 12 trout on the Brad's Kokanee Cut Plug in Seahawk color, fished straight out of the package. He ran a legal two-hook rig with three 5-millimeter beads so the hook rides clear of the spinning tail. The wounded-baitfish shimmy was too much for the trout to resist. What is catching trout at Crescent Lake right now?The Brad's Kokanee Cut Plug in Seahawk color. Pete Fisher boated 12 trout in about 90 minutes running the plug, even without stuffing the cavity with scent or tuna. The wounded-baitfish shimmy alone drew repeated takedowns. How do you rig the Brad's Kokanee Cut Plug at Crescent Lake?Pete ran a two-hook rig, which is legal at this lake, with three 5-millimeter beads. The beads keep the hook clear of the tail so it does not foul while the plug spins. He fished it straight out of the package with no added scent. How did the Crescent Lake trip go?Fast. Pete had three takedowns before the first hookup, then a second fish on the fourth takedown. He soon switched to running all cut plugs and they were tearing it up, ending with 12 fish boated in roughly an hour and a half before he had to head home. Does the Brad's Kokanee Cut Plug need scent to work?Not here. Pete ran it straight out of the package without stuffing the cavity with scent or tuna, and the spinning wounded-baitfish action was enough to fool 12 trout in a short window. Stuffing the plug is an option for adding scent when needed. What is the takeaway from Crescent Lake?If you want to be more effective at catching trout, add the Brad's Kokanee Cut Plug to your arsenal. Pete's short session shows how quickly the plug can produce, with 12 fish in 90 minutes on the Seahawk color. Watch the full report From the report (Pete Fisher): We are hooked up, pulling the Seahawk Brad's Kokanee Cut Plug. I got a two-hook rig, which is legal here in this lake, and I have three five-millimeter beads, so the hook is clear of the tail when it is spinning. Report on the day, 12 fish boated on the Brad's Kokanee Cut Plug after about an hour and a half of fishing. Crescent Lake May 2026 FAQ What lure caught trout at Crescent Lake in this report?The Brad's Kokanee Cut Plug in Seahawk color, fished straight out of the package. How many trout did Pete catch at Crescent Lake?12 fish in about 90 minutes. How do you rig the Kokanee Cut Plug at Crescent Lake?A two-hook rig with three 5-millimeter beads to keep the hook clear of the spinning tail. Do you need scent in the Brad's Kokanee Cut Plug?No. Pete ran it without scent or tuna and still boated 12 trout. What color Kokanee Cut Plug worked at Crescent Lake?Seahawk. Where is this Crescent Lake?Crescent Lake, Washington, fished from a kayak. Is a two-hook rig legal at Crescent Lake?Pete noted a two-hook rig is legal at this lake. Check current regulations before fishing. Shop the Tackle Brad's Kokanee Cut Plug Shop Trout Gear
Learn moreLake Sammamish Fishing Report | September 15, 2025
Report by Pete Fisher Pete Fisher fishes Washington waters with the Gig Harbor Fishin Club. What is working right now Lake Sammamish cutthroat trout are biting at 40 feet deep over 65 to 70 feet of water in mid-September 2025, with a 68 degree surface. Pete Fisher landed 12 fish, most on a pink Fire Tiger Junior Trigger Spoon from Catch America run behind a Chinook diver. Fish the north end, 100 yards off the mouth of Issaquah Creek. What is biting at Lake Sammamish right now?Cutthroat trout. Pete Fisher landed 12 fish on September 15, 2025, including a 19 inch hog, plus a bonus catfish. Most of his fish came on a pink Fire Tiger Junior Trigger Spoon from Catch America. The action ran from about 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM on the north end of the lake.What depth are the fish holding at Lake Sammamish?Nearly all fish came at 40 feet deep over 65 to 70 feet of water. With the surface at 68 degrees, Pete expected fish in the top 25 feet but found them at 40. He hooked one at 25 feet after adjusting to the sonar, so watch your electronics and stay near 40 feet.What lures are working at Lake Sammamish?The hot lure was a pink Fire Tiger Junior Trigger Spoon from Catch America, which caught 10 of Pete’s fish. He started with a Brad’s dodger in moon jelly and a Mack’s Kokanee Pro spinner, then switched to a Chinook diver with the Trigger Spoon Junior. Brad’s and Mack’s are not brands we carry.Where should I fish on Lake Sammamish?Fish the north end of the lake, staying 100 yards off the mouth of Issaquah Creek, over 65 to 70 feet of water. Pete ran a Chinook diver with the pink Fire Tiger Junior Trigger Spoon and kept his gear at 40 feet, adjusting up to 25 feet only when the sonar showed higher fish.What are the conditions at Lake Sammamish?Water temperature is 68 degrees. Fish are holding around 40 feet over 65 to 70 feet of water on the north end. Pete fished from about 7:50 AM launch through 12:30 PM. Longer-term outlook and weather trend were not specified in this report.Watch the full report From the report (Pete Fisher): All our fish came in fishing at 40 feet deep. I put on a pink fire tiger trigger spoon from Catch America, and the other 10 fish I caught, including that catfish, came in on that trigger spoon junior. We're fishing the north end of the lake. You've got to stay 100 yards off the mouth of Issaquah Creek, over 65 to 70 feet of water.Lake Sammamish September 15, 2025 FAQHow deep are the trout at Lake Sammamish now?Almost all fish came at 40 feet deep over 65 to 70 feet of water, with one hooked at 25 feet.What lure works best at Lake Sammamish?A pink Fire Tiger Junior Trigger Spoon from Catch America caught 10 of the 12 fish.Where do I fish on Lake Sammamish?The north end, 100 yards off the mouth of Issaquah Creek, over 65 to 70 feet of water.What is the water temperature at Lake Sammamish?The surface was 68 degrees on September 15, 2025.What species are in Lake Sammamish?Cutthroat trout were the target, with a bonus catfish also caught on the Trigger Spoon.What time of day was best at Lake Sammamish?Pete fished from about 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM and caught fish steadily through that window. Shop the Tackle Junior Trigger Spoon Shop Trout Gear
Learn moreRiffe Lake Fishing Report | August 25, 2025
Report by Pete Fisher Pete Fisher fishes Washington waters with the Gig Harbor Fishin Club. What is working right now Riffe Lake gave up five coho and one rainbow on a kayak trip in late August 2025. The water is low but great for kayak launching. Fish held deep, 100 to 150 feet, with the best hookups at 95 feet on the downrigger. Fish the dam area near Mossyrock Park over 200 to 300 feet of water. Pink Gulp Maggots and tuna Fire Gel added scent. What is biting at Riffe Lake right now?Coho salmon and rainbow trout. Pete Fisher caught five coho and one rainbow on a kayak trip on August 25, 2025. He normally targets coho here but the lake also holds big rainbows. The first rainbow came at 50 feet, then the action turned on once he dropped deeper to the fish.What depth are the fish holding at Riffe Lake?Fish were holding deep, 100 to 150 feet, over water 200 to 300 feet deep. Pete caught one rainbow at 50 feet, then dropped to 95 feet on the downrigger and hooked five more fish within an hour. That 95 foot depth was the key once he matched the marks on his sonar.What lures are working at Riffe Lake?Pete ran a Brad’s Moon Jelly Herringbone Dodger with a Mack’s Kokanee Pro spinner, then added pink Gulp Maggots and tuna Pautzke’s Fire Gel. Those brands are not products we carry, so match the moon jelly dodger and pink spinner presentation from your own kokanee and trout box.Where should I fish on Riffe Lake?Fish the dam area, just outside Mossyrock Park, over water 200 to 300 feet deep. Pete’s fish came in and around the dam and on the eastern shore. The water level is low but the Mossyrock Park boat launch is perfect for launching a kayak on this big 13 mile long lake.What are the conditions at Riffe Lake?The lake is low but great for kayak launching. It is a big body of water, 13 miles long and about a mile wide at the widest, an impoundment of the Cowlitz River. Fish were deep at 100 to 150 feet. Longer-term outlook and water temperature were not specified in this report.Watch the full report From the report (Pete Fisher): I was seeing a lot of fish at 100 to 150, and so I dropped down to 95 feet on the downrigger and started hooking up. Once I did that drop to 95 feet, it probably took me less than an hour to get the remaining five fish. All of our fish came over water that was 2 to 300 foot deep, in and around the dam. Today, we caught five Coho and one rainbow trout.Riffe Lake August 25, 2025 FAQHow deep are the fish at Riffe Lake now?Fish were holding 100 to 150 feet, with the best hookups at 95 feet on the downrigger.What species are biting at Riffe Lake?Coho salmon and rainbow trout. Pete caught five coho and one rainbow on his kayak trip.Where should I fish on Riffe Lake?The dam area outside Mossyrock Park and the eastern shore, over water 200 to 300 feet deep.Is Riffe Lake good for kayak fishing?Yes. The water is low but the Mossyrock Park boat launch is perfect for launching a kayak.What scent works at Riffe Lake?Pete used pink Gulp Maggots and tuna Fire Gel. Those are not brands we carry, so match locally.How big is Riffe Lake?It is 13 miles long and about a mile wide at its widest, an impoundment of the Cowlitz River. Shop the Tackle Shop Trout Gear
Learn moreSt. Clair Lake Fishing Report | August 18, 2025
Report by Pete Fisher Pete Fisher of the Gig Harbor Fishin Club shared this St. Clair Lake report for Catch America. What is working right now St. Clair Lake in Thurston County gave up trout and a bass on a naked natural-pattern Trout Trix Minnow run 10 feet on the downrigger. The water is very stained at 72 degrees, so dark presentations and added scent outfished bright colors. This 233-acre lake is a maze of potholes and channels, so follow the rule and do not leave fish to find fish. What is biting at St. Clair Lake right now?Trout and bass. Over about three hours, the angler caught four fish, three trout and a bass, all on a naked natural-pattern Trout Trix Minnow. St. Clair reportedly holds coastal cutthroat, brown trout, rainbow trout, and black crappie. What lure is working at St. Clair Lake?A natural-colored Trout Trix Minnow, fished naked, was the clear producer, run 10 feet down on the downrigger. There was also a takedown on a three-way swivel setup pairing that natural Trix Minnow with a fish flash. What depth for St. Clair Lake trout?Run the Trout Trix Minnow 10 feet on the downrigger. The lake depth changes fast, from over 50 feet down to 13 feet as you work the channels, so the fish came while moving over both deeper pockets and shallower water around 25 feet. How does water clarity affect St. Clair Lake?The water is very stained, so dark presentations worked and bright presentations drew no hits. Pairing dark baits with added attractant produced better with any presentation. Water temperature was 72 degrees. What is the key tip for St. Clair Lake?Do not leave fish to find fish. After marking fish elsewhere without takedowns, the angler returned toward the first hookup spot and connected again. On a lake of connected potholes and channels, sticking near productive water pays off. Watch the full report From the report (Pete Fisher): That natural-colored Trout Trix Minnow from catchamerica.com, ten feet on the downrigger. I caught three trout and a bass, all on a naked Trout Trix Minnow in natural pattern. The water is very stained, and so we were using dark presentations. Tried some bright presentations, no hits. St. Clair Lake August 18, 2025 FAQ What lure works at St. Clair Lake?A naked natural-pattern Trout Trix Minnow, run 10 feet on the downrigger. What depth are St. Clair trout holding?About 10 feet on the downrigger, while working water from over 50 feet down to around 13 to 25 feet. Why do dark presentations work at St. Clair?The water is very stained, so dark baits with scent outfished bright colors. What species live in St. Clair Lake?Coastal cutthroat, brown trout, rainbow trout, and black crappie, plus the bass caught on this trip. How big is St. Clair Lake?It is a 233-acre lake made of potholes connected by channels in Thurston County. What is the water temperature at St. Clair Lake?About 72 degrees, and very stained. Shop the Tackle Trix Minnows Shop Trout Gear
Learn moreHarts Lake Fishing Report | July 21, 2025
Report by Pete Fisher Pete Fisher fishes with the Gig Harbor Fishin Club and reports from lakes around Pierce County, Washington. What is working right now The summer trout bite was tough at Harts Lake in Pierce County on July 21, 2025, with 75-degree water and scattered, sluggish fish. The angler trolled deep, hooking up at 90 feet with 1 ounce of lead and again at 15 feet on the downrigger. He worked Trix Minnows, Trix Worms, Trigger Spoons, and Junior Trigger Spoons before Max's Spinners finally produced. How is the trout bite at Harts Lake right now?Tough. Several boats were out and nobody was catching much. The 111-acre Pierce County lake had 75-degree water, and the fish were scattered and sluggish. This is the second summer trip here with a slow bite, so spring or fall may fish better. What depth are the Harts Lake trout holding?Deep. The angler started at 50 feet, worked down to 90 feet, and hooked up at 90 feet with 1 ounce of lead. On the downrigger, he went from 11 feet down to 15 feet and got bit at 15. Adjust depth in increments to find them. What lures were tried at Harts Lake?He worked Trix Minnows, Trix Worms, Trigger Spoons, and Junior Trigger Spoons across the water column. Max's Spinners were what finally produced, fished on both sides of the kayak. How did he trigger the finicky Harts Lake trout?He trolled deep with lead and the downrigger, adjusting depth strategically, and added scent and bait, using Gulp maggots in red and Smelly Jelly krill with salmon egg. Those scented offerings helped tempt a tough, pressured bite. What is the outlook for Harts Lake?The lake has a good reputation for large trout, plus crappie and perch, but the summer bite is tough with warm water. The angler recommends fishing it in spring or fall for better results. Watch the full report From the report (Pete Fisher): We trolled the surface, we trolled deep, we did downriggers, we did lead. And we tried Trout Trix Minnows, Trout Trix Worms, a number of Trigger Spoons, Junior Trigger Spoons. And I finally found success with the Max's Spinners. Started at 50 feet, went to 90 feet, hooked up at 90 feet with 1 oz of lead. The water temp was 75 degrees. Harts Lake July 21, 2025 FAQ Why is the Harts Lake trout bite so tough?Warm 75-degree summer water has the fish scattered and sluggish, and multiple boats reported little action. What depth worked at Harts Lake?90 feet with 1 ounce of lead, and 15 feet on the downrigger. What lure finally caught fish at Harts Lake?Max's Spinners, fished on both sides of the kayak. What scent and bait were used at Harts Lake?Gulp maggots in red and Smelly Jelly krill with salmon egg to tempt the finicky fish. When is the best time to fish Harts Lake?Spring or fall. The summer bite has been tough on repeat trips, per the angler. What species does Harts Lake hold?It has a good reputation for large trout, along with crappie and perch. Shop the Tackle Trix Minnows 3 inch - 5 Pack Trix Worms 3 inch - 5 Pack Trigger Spoon 2.25 inch Junior Trigger Spoon 1.25 inch Shop Trout Gear
Learn moreHaven Lake Fishing Report | June 30, 2025
Report by Pete Fisher Pete Fisher of the Gig Harbor Fishing Club files weekly Western Washington lake reports for Catch America. What is working right now Haven Lake is producing fast rainbow trout with surprise coho in late June 2025 at a warm 71 degrees. Pete Fisher hooked eight fish in 32 minutes from his kayak, trolling a Trix Minnow in bubblegum and orange 20 to 30 feet deep in the lake's deeper pockets. He ran one off a downrigger at 19 feet and one on 1 ounce of lead 50 feet back. What is biting at Haven Lake right now?Rainbow trout are biting fast with surprise coho salmon mixed in. Pete Fisher hooked eight fish in 32 minutes trolling soft plastics. He runs a Trix Minnow on both sides of the kayak, and the first two fish were rainbows before a coho came aboard. How deep are Haven Lake fish holding?The water is warm at 71 degrees, so fish are holding in the lake's deeper pockets. Pete trolls 20 to 30 feet deep, watching sonar and staying tight to marked fish. He hooked up at 19 feet on the downrigger and 50 feet back on lead. What lure works at Haven Lake?A Trix Minnow soft plastic is Pete's top producer. His two best colors for Washington lakes are bubblegum and orange. He sets the hook fairly close to the rear of the tail to prevent short strikes on these trout and coho. How is Pete rigging at Haven Lake?Pete runs a Trix Minnow off the downrigger paired with a flasher, and another on the right side with 1 ounce of lead 50 feet behind the kayak. He keeps the hook near the tail of the minnow to convert short-striking fish. What is the outlook for Haven Lake?With the surface at 71 degrees, target the deeper pockets and stay on the schools with your sonar. The rainbow bite is strong and coho are a fun bonus. Haven Lake is a 69-acre lake, so cover the productive pockets thoroughly. Watch the full report From the report (Pete Fisher): Right now the water temperature is 71 degrees. I went down 19 feet on the downrigger and hooked up there. I have 1 ounce of lead, 50 feet behind the kayak with a Trout Trix minnow on the right side. We are making sure that we are trolling 20 to 30 feet deep in this lake and keeping an eye on the sonar where we are marking fish. Haven Lake June 30, 2025 FAQ What is the water temperature at Haven Lake?71 degrees at the surface, which has fish holding in the deeper pockets. How deep should you troll at Haven Lake?20 to 30 feet deep, tight to the schools you mark on sonar. What is the best lure for Haven Lake?A Trix Minnow in bubblegum or orange, Pete's two best colors for Washington lakes. How do you avoid short strikes at Haven Lake?Set the hook close to the rear of the minnow's tail. What can you catch at Haven Lake?Rainbow trout are the main bite, with surprise coho salmon mixed in. How big is Haven Lake?Haven Lake is a 69-acre lake. Shop the Tackle Trix Minnows 5 Pack Shop Trout Gear
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