Rattlesnake lake

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Solstice evening at Rattlesnake Lake

Solstice Evening at Rattlesnake Lake

Make your herbal head wreaths and sacrifices to the fishing gods then stare into the setting sun behind Rattlesnake Ridge. No bonfires are allowed at the lake, but we can jump and dance around our pontoon boats or guitars.

WHERE: East of North Bend, approximately 39 miles from Edmonds. Estimated drive time is 1 hour. Suggest travel mid-afternoon to avoid heavy traffic and plan to return later to miss the evening rush. 

Directions: Take I-90 east to Exit 32. Turn right, following 436 Ave SE becoming Cedar Falls Rd. SE. for 6 miles to launch and parking. Link to driving directions.

WHEN: Wednesday, July 21 from 4 or 5 pm until the area closes at dusk. Rattlesnake Lake Recreation Area & Trails - Utilities - Seattle.gov

FISHING: This 107-acre lake, created by seepage from the dams on the Cedar river, can fish well during summer evenings. Having wide fluctuations, the max depth is 40 feet with a mean depth of 20 feet. Link to WDFW info Rattlesnake Lake | Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife, which has an excellent bathymetric map (drop down to photos to see this).

Current reports have the lake fishing best with olive wooly buggers and Hale Bops. The desired evening fishing with dry flies isn't strong now. As the weather warms we expect to see evening hatches come on. Present are midges, mayflies, and the Dark (black) Caddis in 12-14.

GEAR: small boat or floating device recommended. Electric trolling motors allowed.

Any of your typical 3 to 5 weight setups with a floating line for the desired evening dry fly fishing. 

A second rod with a sinking line for trolling or casting towards the stumps and structure could be rigged. A good option is to use a clear intermediate line or your dry line with a long leader and a dark soft hackle allowing it to sink and slow strip.

Hopefully we do not need to fish dangle chiro-daphnia-blob-booBee techniques. Don’t expect big Rainbows or Cutts. 

Other thoughts: The Snoqualmie River is nearby and the middle fork of the Snoqualmie is further east off I-90. Depending on flows, these can be a fun day of pocket water drys and nymphing.

There are campgrounds as you head east towards the pass and up the middle fork. 

Bring something to eat. Cold chicken, potato salad, and a cold one. Share the goat you roasted earlier in the day. Contacts: Tom Bradish at tbradish5@gmail.com