Being stuck on the bank, I think I'm going to take a lot more time to figure out the Montlake Cut this yr for smallies and whatever else decides to swim in there, seeing as how its so narrow and accessible to a non-boater.

For those of you with experience in there (slab, ck, etc..?) it'd be great to get some more insight to this small area.

Structure/Cover in the Cut:
I know about the tiny point/flat right next to the observation deck thing and CK you've mentioned the little bend by the "tradition of excellence" area (whats down there anyways? what makes that a good place?) - are there any other areas in the Cut worth fishing? The only place I've ever caught anything in there was right off the point. Is the flat next to the point a staging or spawning area at all?
I remember rolling over the cut with Slab the time I went to Union with him and there were a lot of holes and contours right past the deck going towards Union: are those holes any good? How deep does it get in the Cut?
There obviously isnt too much cover in the cut (almost none actually?)- the only thing I can think of is sometimes right next to the seawalls a lot of foam and debris will stack up. Have you ever had any success throwing something under those?
Also, there are boat docks if you keep going past the cut that look good for LM but there are signs everywhere saying NO FISHING!!! on them. This doesnt apply to someone on the ground fishing AT them, does it? :p

Timing in the Cut:
Is this pretty much a warm-water only area? I doubt there are much of any fish in there right now, but I remember reading a thread here about someone hookin a LM in January? (I think it was urban or someone). I would imagine this place would be treated like any other shallow water area in lk wa? (55ish degree water up)
Also, any action midday or more of a morning/night area? I see a lot of crayfish being active in there during the evening, but I'm not sure how the baitfish stack in there at all, if at all, and what they are (never seen any sticklebacks in there, pretty sure there is perch, dunno about those smelt or anything).

Gear/Tackle:
My Cut fish have all been on a firetiger shallow crank (perch, anyone?). I would imagine a crawdad imitation like a twintail grub to be effective in there, although I've tried a few times with no success last yr. Any other proven lures in there?

I'm a little less clueless and a little more equipped this year but still got a long way to go!

thx and sorry for being long winded :D