Northwest Fishing Reports

Alright guys...help me out here. I'm the new guy to Washington. We got here two days before the December storm, and didn't really have a whole lot of time to do any winter fishing to say the least (I work for PSE, enough said).

I'd like to start gearing up for the winter run. What happens up here? Does everyone just switch to Salmon fishing or can I fish "Sunfish" all year-round?

If so, same techniques? or is there some special method for catching bass when it's cold. Forgive me for all the stupid questions, I grew up in California, was stationed in Texas in the early 90's, lived in Oklahoma for a stint and then back to California. So I've never really had to put on a big jacket to fish let's say.

Oh ya...one more thing....if you are the Asian guy that was yelling at your wife at 6:30 a.m. on the shore of Beaver Lake last weekend, YOU'RE AN IDIOT and need to be slapped for talking to your wife like that (whew...I feel better now)

Bassackwards :rambo:

Yes you can but the surface temp will only be 39 so you must go deep. As far as the small lakes go its hard to locate fish its actually easier to do on the big lakes because you can fish deep and look for structure. On these small lakes there is nothing in the deep ends...just a fish bowl. Sometimes they stay next to shore but super tight to cover and very hard to get to. If you do get out to WA or Sam drop shot and small blade baits like road runners. You would be lucky to catch anything in under 20ft and fish slow. Small presentations with super light line. Good luck!

Lake Wa in January can be tough to beat at times. One of the best times to get monster smallies is then. I like to fish deep, 35'-40' with football heads. Did decent this year when it was snowing. Wife called me when I was on the water to see how I was doing, told her not too bad. Then she asks if anybody else was on the water, replied with "are ya crazy", she responds with "ur the one on the water". Enough said I guess.

haha if anyone during the dead of winter has an open seat on lake wa or union I will happily split gas and whatnot to sit in the cold with ya

you gotta try squid fishing more this winter too bpm. it keeps my fishing itch down a little.

bpm2000 wrote:haha if anyone during the dead of winter has an open seat on lake wa or union I will happily split gas and whatnot to sit in the cold with ya

Careful what you wish for...I have a canoe!! We can pretend it has a motor and you can give me $20

bpm, if your serious about wanting to get out I will be getting in touch with ya. I normally try and hit the lake at least once a week on a weekday. I drop my son off at the bus stop and I am on my way and fish till about 1 pm so I have time to get home and get him off the bus. Would be nice to have some company out there, not to mention it being much safer to fish with somebody in those frigid waters that time of year.

skeeter bassin wrote:bpm, if your serious about wanting to get out I will be getting in touch with ya. I normally try and hit the lake at least once a week on a weekday. I drop my son off at the bus stop and I am on my way and fish till about 1 pm so I have time to get home and get him off the bus. Would be nice to have some company out there, not to mention it being much safer to fish with somebody in those frigid waters that time of year.

good luck to ya both

:king:

i dont like fishing in the cold, but thats probably cuz i havent caught anything. might i suggest bringing a heater of some kind. most likely i will be fishing indoors on the wii.

I am serious but weekdays are probably not good for me, with the usual 9-5 and all. Do you avoid the weekends out there?

Ohh come on T-Dot- a real gamer would know the only good fishing game made the past 8 years has been Pro fishing challenge for xbox. As for real fishing in the winter. I'd give it a whirl but do not expect much. I am fine with that. As long as i get out there and can relax, I'm good.

T Dot wrote:

skeeter bassin wrote:bpm, if your serious about wanting to get out I will be getting in touch with ya. I normally try and hit the lake at least once a week on a weekday. I drop my son off at the bus stop and I am on my way and fish till about 1 pm so I have time to get home and get him off the bus. Would be nice to have some company out there, not to mention it being much safer to fish with somebody in those frigid waters that time of year.

good luck to ya both

:king:

i dont like fishing in the cold, but thats probably cuz i havent caught anything. might i suggest bringing a heater of some kind. most likely i will be fishing indoors on the wii.

I don't avoid fishing on the weekends, but with my schedule I get very few weekends off. So when I do, I spend them with my family, fishing a tournament, or if it works out my son fills the back seat (my son filling the back seat is ALWAYS my first option). Weekdays are always the best for me so I can get a few hours in while my son is in school, plus I can save an hour at the boat launch not having to wait in line while the big boats tie up 2 lanes trying to launch one boat (although it is quite humerous at times). Right now my boat is in the shop, but as soon as I get it back, rest assured I will be on Washington.

skeeter bassin wrote:bpm, if your serious about wanting to get out I will be getting in touch with ya. I normally try and hit the lake at least once a week on a weekday. I drop my son off at the bus stop and I am on my way and fish till about 1 pm so I have time to get home and get him off the bus. Would be nice to have some company out there, not to mention it being much safer to fish with somebody in those frigid waters that time of year.

Skeeter...can you bring me an application from where ever it is you work??? Holly great schedule Batman!!! That's great. I like the part about your son sittin in the back seat, very cool. Just remember, that's your seat one day, don't think he's gonna let Pop sit up there forever, that'll be a tearful day for sure.

Have fun out there. I'll PM you if I ever get the mid-week itch and need to scratch it.

skeeter bassin wrote:I don't avoid fishing on the weekends, but with my schedule I get very few weekends off. So when I do, I spend them with my family, fishing a tournament, or if it works out my son fills the back seat (my son filling the back seat is ALWAYS my first option). Weekdays are always the best for me so I can get a few hours in while my son is in school, plus I can save an hour at the boat launch not having to wait in line while the big boats tie up 2 lanes trying to launch one boat (although it is quite humerous at times). Right now my boat is in the shop, but as soon as I get it back, rest assured I will be on Washington.

very cool, does your son go out often in the winter? (thats the true test to see if he is addicted!) - if for some reason our schedules ever match this winter I will give you a holler!

bassackwards wrote:Oh ya...one more thing....if you are the Asian guy that was yelling at your wife at 6:30 a.m. on the shore of Beaver Lake last weekend, YOU'RE AN IDIOT and need to be slapped for talking to your wife like that (whew...I feel better now)

Bassackwards :rambo:

Its sad when I have very good idea which house you were near...

CK14 wrote:you gotta try squid fishing more this winter too bpm. it keeps my fishing itch down a little.

yea i keep saying im gonna do it but never get around to it - i will FOR SURE this year though!

Sorry about the slow response and not getting back over the weekend. Was fishing Trny at Pot Holes, good times out there with the exception of the outrageously disrespectful walleye trny guys that would park their boat right on top of where we were fishing or troll within 20 feet of where we were at. Actually saw one walleye trny boat run into and old man in his rowboat while they were on the trolling motor. What a bunch of jerks!!!!

Don't take my son out too much in the dead of winter, normally I fish while he is in school. When summer hits he is all over it, he is only 7 years old and that little boy can fish like nothing I have ever seen. Looking forward to the day he is able to take care of hooking up the boat, driving me to the lake (so I can sleep), and running the front seat.

Don't let the cold weather fool you when it comes to smallie fishing it can be pretty good. You aren't going to catch big numbers of fish, but they will be quality fish. They can be and are caught!!

Will be hitting Lake WA next week on either Tue the 25th or Wed the 26th if anyone is available. Will be launching at Coulon at about 9:15 or so and off the water at about 1:30. I live in the Bonney Lake area so if anybody from the south end is available we could car pool up there, or if from the north end could meet at the launch.