Northwest Fishing Reports

For those that enjoy the excellent bass fishing in the Seep Lakes below O'sullivan Dam south of the Potholes, be advised that the WDFW will be poisoning a lot of these lakes during Sept. and Oct. The plan is to remove the bass, regardless of how good the bass fishing might be in order to restock them with trout fingerlings in the spring of 2011. More info and a list of all the lakes they plan to poison can be found on the WDFW web site. The WDFW says that it is the Feds from the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge that insist on trout being planted in the lakes located on the refuge. Examples of these would be N. and S.Teal Lake and Herman Lake, all of which I can personally verify have excellent bass fishing. Makes me sick to think about it.

that's really too bad. The WDFW keeps forcing trout on us, and it's easy to understand why... It's a big market locally. A lot of people like being able to just sling powerbait and catch fish. justifies their fishing license with one family camping trip. I understand that, but it's too bad because those hatchery trout are very weak creatures. They die so easy and reproduce poorly. Bass would be a better investment in many areas, in my opinion (look how trout have to be restocked every year compared to bass that are never stocked).

Plus, the local economy probably spends as much on bass lures... I know I spend a fortune on bass lures. not even sure why I need so many, LOL.

additionally who wants to spend the weekend chasing 8 inch stocked trout when there could be a 6lb smallmouth lurking out there.....?

Yes this is sad news. I was over there on the 4th of July. When the resevoir was windy I hit soda lake and did real good with some big bass. All the lakes I`ve seen over there are a soap color so the trout have to taste like you know what. Why would you waste your time. I don`t understand this state. To much more of the BS from the state and there great ideas with fish and wildlife and I`m done.

This is total BS. Why can't Washington leave well enough alone? They seem to have a tendency to "manage" lakes into the ground. There are plenty of lakes that are managed for trout. Cold water lakes that the wimpy little trout can live in. Trout do not do well in lakes with 70 degree plus water temps. I am sorry for the rant but I hate it when Washington does this, it is like Sprague lake all over again.