In my last column I introduced you to an interesting guy named Curt Welch. Curt, a full time guide who operates out of Moses Lake in Washington State, has
As my previous column outlined, one of the lakes on which Welch operates is Lake Washington smack in the heart of Seattle. Cutthroat trout are one of that lake’s species that Welch targets. I pointed out that the way he does it is by using a short section of the tail of a nightcrawler behind his Mack’s Lure Classic Standard Wedding Ring spinner.
This time around let’s take a look at some of the other things the Moses Lake expert considers essential in his quest for Lake Washington cutts. One thing he watches very carefully is his boat trolling speed. “If you’re trolling,” he says, “your boat speed is extremely important. “I run my 21-foot North River metal boat from .5 to 1.6 miles-per-hour. I never exceed that speed.”
The right water depth is another factor that will make or break your day on Lake Washington. Having his boat rigged with an electric Scotty downrigger makes it easy for Welch to get his Wedding Ring down where it needs to be to find fish. “In the summertime, and that’s when I fish Lake Washington the most,” he says, “I’m usually running my lure from 20 to 45-feet down.”
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| Careful there, partner! That's a piece of dynamite you've got in your hand. Well, maybe not the real thing, but the Mack's Lure Wedding Ring spinner is just about as explosive when it comes to catching Lake Washington cutthroat trout. |
Like the rest of us, Curt has his favorite colors in the Mack’s Lure Wedding Ring. Unlike most of the rest of us, he has caught a whole lot more cutthroats on them than we have. As I mentioned in my previous column, he uses a nickel blade when the day is bright. He switches to a gold blade when it’s cloudy. Where the lure’s beads are concerned he favors red with silver or red with chartreuse.
He also prefers to use the single hook version of the classic standard Wedding Ring. He favors a Number 4 hook, the largest hook size in this stand out among trout-catching creations.
My favorite time for bass is right at daylight. That’s also Curt’s number one time choice for cutthroat. He’ll spend 10 hours on the water with his clients if that’s what necessary to catch fish, but he likes to have them out there at first light if it’s possible to do so.
And here’s something I feel good about passing along to those anglers who may have a family member who is physically handicapped or who may have handicaps themselves. Welch has rigged his boat to provide the necessary accommodations for those who have physical limitations. When Curt was employed by Boeing he was often involved with the Special Olympics. He knows what’s required where the handicapped are concerned.
“My North River boat was custom built,” he says. “I can accommodate wheel chairs if necessary, but my customers often find they can get along without the chairs the way I have things arranged.”
Welch urges his customers to bring adequate clothing for a Lake Washington fishing adventure. “Dressing in layers is the best bet,” he says. “That way if the day warms up you can remove what’s necessary to remain comfortable. Carrying rain gear is another good idea.”
Having lived in the Evergreen State most of my own life, I know where Curt’s coming from with regard to Washington rains. A suit of lightweight Frogg Toggs raingear is one of the first things that go into my bag every time I head into the Pacific Northwest.
As I mentioned in the beginning, Curt Welch is a full time guide with almost two decades of experience. I’ve just skimmed the surface where his Lake Washington cutthroat fishing is concerned. If you’re interested in sampling this kind of fishing adventure yourself, book a trip with him. Then watch, listen and learn. Trying to do it on your own will wind up costing you more in time and money---to say nothing about frustration---in the long run.
An easy way to get more information is to visit Curt’s web site on the Internet. You’ll find it at www.specialmomentsguideservice.com. His e-mail address is CLWELCH000@aol.com.
