There are a lot of trout lakes in the area still brimming with planted rainbow not caught since opening day, but one of the top prospects for the next two or three weeks is Lake McMurray, on Highway 9 between Arlington and Sedro-Woolley. The lake always fishes well (some would say better) after the opener, when crowds are down and the smallish access more readily available. Anthon Steen at Holiday Sports in Burlington said a shop employee fished it recently, and had no trouble taking limits trolling olive woolly buggers, despite very windy conditions.
Trolling a dark fly on monofilament, either unweighted or with only a small split shot, is one of the best ways to fish McMurray, noted for nice-sized, high-quality trout. Troll very slowly, change your speed, make “S” turns, and watch for activity on the surface.
Those in the know say it isn’t generally necessary to immediately head for the far end of the lake; that the one-third nearest the launch should have plenty of fish.
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