Northwest Fishing Reports

On the hunt once again for a lake to fish with no stop action. This time I'm only looking at the Western half of the state for the weekend. Looking to boost some confidence in my fishing abilty for the end of the season. Did good at Long Lake last week would like a similar experience. Also if anyone could tell me what the fish are doing this time of year to help me understand where to look for them would be much apreciated. Most of the time I just throw baits in areas where I would think Bass hang out and its a luck thing for me. I would really like to understand what fish are doing at Specific times of the year, Day and certain weather patterns. Any info is much apreciated and the name of a lake I should try these theories out on.

Well let's see, around the western part of washington bass behavior really varies, its not like the south where most lakes are either resevoirs or marshes.The patterns I like to follow especially on a lake i've never fished before is to fish deep around offshore structure (groups of boulders, logs, dunes, sandbars, pilings especially, etc.) in spring until the first couple warm stretches of the year. You're going to want to use a lot of slim profiled baits, smaller in size, retrieving them slow when fishing this time of year as the fish are very lathargic. Once we hit those first couple warm stretches of the year is when most bass tend to start spawning and coming into the shallows. This usually happens between late may and early july. Once this happens you will have a small window to fish in the shallows for lunkers while they are digging out their beds or feeding. Start cruising creek channels as this is where these lunkers are most likely to spawn and feed, following around the bait fish. Look for the spawning beds and sit on them it should be very easy to spot fish the big guys during this time period as they are at one of their most aggressive points of the year. After a couple weeks you will notice you will not be able to spot anymore fish near their beds, this means they have went back down towards the deep into open water. This is when you will want to start deep fishing again (if you're going for the big guys, if you want to catch dinks and you're all about numbers continue to fish the shallows, this is when the little guys usually take over the shoreline and weedlines.) Continue to do this until about sept which is when the big bass will start heading to the shallows again to feed and fill their stomachs to prepare for the long winter ahead. During this time period I have noticed that the big guys will tend to hang out around docks or big pilings during this strong feeding frenzy. I happen to think this is the best time to bass fish in western washington, as during the prespawn (spring months) the bass arent as aggressive as they are down south, it doesn't warm up as fast. During the fall months you'll want to use bigger lures as well as the baitfish and juvenile fish have all gotten a lot bigger during their summer feed. Some good lakes to start with are the three lakes up in snohomish/monroe area. Flowing lake is the best lake out of the three. Some other good lakes are Lake sawyer down near black diamond/covington area as well as beaver lake out near issaquah. Seen some huge small mouth caught out of sawyer before in the 6-7 lb range. Tight lines buddy!@!

Thank you for the information. You've told me a lot of things I havnt been doing. I will definitly give that a try. Also is this specifically for smb or LMB or both? Also how deep are we talking here when fishing deep? I only ask because some of the lakes I fish have depths of over 100 feet and I wouldn't think bass would be that deep.

Excellent, now I would love to hear how the seasonal patterns are for the eastern side of the state.

Bass WILL go 100 feet deep. There is a lake in Nevada/Calif/Az/Col/New Mexico that EVERYONE fishes 60 to over 100 feet deep, as that's where the fish are most ALL the time. I forget the name of the lake and just which state it's in. Some LONG sorta narrow lake.

Here on the wet side you can fish 60 feet deep and catch bass, Smallies and Largies. I hate fishing deep and find 10 to 20 feet depths deep enough for me.

Also if you are going to fish deep at all and hold the fish for any period of time please learn how to fizz properly.

Eoso wrote:Also if you are going to fish deep at all and hold the fish for any period of time please learn how to fizz properly.

That there is a very important tip. At what fish catching depth, will the "fizz" technique factor in? I wanna say 45ft and below, but that is taking a stab in the dark at best. A wild one at that.

MotoBoat wrote:

Eoso wrote:Also if you are going to fish deep at all and hold the fish for any period of time please learn how to fizz properly.

That there is a very important tip. At what fish catching depth, will the "fizz" technique factor in? I wanna say 45ft and below, but that is taking a stab in the dark at best. A wild one at that.

Depends on the temperature of the water, the activity level of the fish, how long and how hard it fights. Be ready for all fish from 20 feet and deeper. Get the fish in the boat, quick picture and weight, and back in the water inside of a minute or 2. Have everything ready at all time, camera, scale, fizzing needle. You DON'T want to waste time looking for those items.

Amx wrote:

MotoBoat wrote:

Eoso wrote:Also if you are going to fish deep at all and hold the fish for any period of time please learn how to fizz properly.

That there is a very important tip. At what fish catching depth, will the "fizz" technique factor in? I wanna say 45ft and below, but that is taking a stab in the dark at best. A wild one at that.

Depends on the temperature of the water, the activity level of the fish, how long and how hard it fights. Be ready for all fish from 20 feet and deeper. Get the fish in the boat, quick picture and weight, and back in the water inside of a minute or 2. Have everything ready at all time, camera, scale, fizzing needle. You DON'T want to waste time looking for those items.

Where does one get a fizzing needle?

MotoBoat wrote:

Amx wrote:

MotoBoat wrote:
That there is a very important tip. At what fish catching depth, will the "fizz" technique factor in? I wanna say 45ft and below, but that is taking a stab in the dark at best. A wild one at that.

Depends on the temperature of the water, the activity level of the fish, how long and how hard it fights. Be ready for all fish from 20 feet and deeper. Get the fish in the boat, quick picture and weight, and back in the water inside of a minute or 2. Have everything ready at all time, camera, scale, fizzing needle. You DON'T want to waste time looking for those items.

Where does one get a fizzing needle?

A 'fizzing needle place'.

Auburn should have them, try Limit Out, Three Rivers might, places like that. I think Bass Pro Shops, Cabellas has them.

Just checked Cabelas, no fizz needle came up in a search. Why would one need a special needle? When it occurs to me. Wouldn't a syringe, with the plunger removed, do just fine for a fizz needle?

fizzing needles are hollow in the middle. You also need to be able to control the amount that is released from the bladder. Don't do too much.

MotoBoat wrote: Why would one need a special needle? When it occurs to me. Wouldn't a syringe, with the plunger removed, do just fine for a fizz needle?

A standard hypodermic needle will work ok. The ones that most bass fishermen use are larger so the air exits quicker. I think a size 10, but don't quote me on that size. I could go out to look at mine to see if there is a size on it, but I'm watching 'The Addams Family', and a commercial isn't on at this time. And cooking dinner.

Amx wrote:

MotoBoat wrote: Why would one need a special needle? When it occurs to me. Wouldn't a syringe, with the plunger removed, do just fine for a fizz needle?

A standard hypodermic needle will work ok. The ones that most bass fishermen use are larger so the air exits quicker. I think a size 10, but don't quote me on that size. I could go out to look at mine to see if there is a size on it, but I'm watching 'The Addams Family', and a commercial isn't on at this time. And cooking dinner.

What's Uncle Fester up to this time?

MotoBoat wrote:

Amx wrote:

MotoBoat wrote: Why would one need a special needle? When it occurs to me. Wouldn't a syringe, with the plunger removed, do just fine for a fizz needle?

A standard hypodermic needle will work ok. The ones that most bass fishermen use are larger so the air exits quicker. I think a size 10, but don't quote me on that size. I could go out to look at mine to see if there is a size on it, but I'm watching 'The Addams Family', and a commercial isn't on at this time. And cooking dinner.

What's Uncle Fester up to this time?

He's trying to get to the gold. He still thinks he's the woman's son, not Fester yet.

The numbers on mine are 38, and then a B under the number. Then there is a R6. This one is .028" dia, and 2" long. A guy was doing a clinic a 10 or so years ago and giving out these syringes. I think I have another that is even bigger, I'll have to look around.

You can get horse syringes at Reber Ranch on 232nd, east of Kent, south of Kent Kangley Road.

The other one I have says on the tube;

monosect 82012-01

ce0123

18x1-1/2A

1.6mm x 38.1mm ste???e?r

It is .065" dia, 1 1/2 " long

I think this is the one I got at that clinic as it's big and the first one I ever got was small.

Guys,

If you really want to learn about how to catch more bass in both eastern & western washington lakes then you need to come to our Warm Water Seminar to be held on Saturday November 17th from 10 am-2 PM. We will be having 3 of the best bass tournament anglers from two states. FLW touring Pro Ron Hobbs, Big Bass Swim Bait Specialist Tag Watson, and 7 time Oregon ABA Champion Chris Carpenter will answer your questions on how to catch more and bigger fish .

This seminar is going to be mostly a Question & Answer type educational event. So start thinking about your questions you want to ask these guys and join us for the seminar. This is going to be a packed house at Limit Out Marine so get your seats early.

Just a note on whats to come at Limit Out Marine:

We are working on getting one of the following touring pro's for future seminars - Aaron Martens, Bobby Lane, Davey Hite, and Greg Hackney.

For more information and location of these seminars contact Russ Baker or Chris Ferry at 253-863-9973 or visit our website at http://www.limitoutmarine.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

These guys are great speakers. Not only will there be great information, but I'm betting it will be pretty entertaining as well.

Dang right in the middle of hunting season