Northwest Fishing Reports

For those of you that don't know me as well as others. I'll start this thread being upfront and honest.
I SUCK at bass fishing but love to fish them regardless.
My question(s)

Is it to early for spinnerbaits? The few success's has been from these but was much warmer out.
What does work in these current conditions?
And can I apply those same techniques to the smallies too?

Any info helps, I'm drooling for my first LMB of the year.:rambo:

It all depends on water temperature. In Eastern Washington, at Downs, the water temp is high enough that a spinner bait will work, as will a wacky worm.

At our Elokia Lake, the water is just tooooooo cold yet.

I find that a wacky worm starts to work at about 40 degrees, but you had better have a spot that has fish that you can pinpoint, because you can't cover much water with it. I have also caught bass at this time of year on streamer flies, out of a float tube, while fishing for trout.

At about 45 degrees, a slow rolled spinner bait can be awesome. Fish the warmer shallows, looking for prespawn bass.

As the water temperature warms up, say about 50 degrees, the spinner bait picks up and you can pull them faster. I also like lipless rattle baits, buzzed in, to trigger pre-spawn bass.

When the water temperature approaches 60 degrees, the bass start to spawn. At that point, I usually fish for something else for a while, or fish a different lake where the spawn has not started or one where it is already over.

Of course, these are only guidelines, and there are exceptions to every rule.

kevinb wrote:For those of you that don't know me as well as others. I'll start this thread being upfront and honest.
I SUCK at bass fishing but love to fish them regardless.
My question(s)

Is it to early for spinnerbaits? The few success's has been from these but was much warmer out.
What does work in these current conditions?
And can I apply those same techniques to the smallies too?

Any info helps, I'm drooling for my first LMB of the year.:rambo:

its never too early or never too late. if you put a lure in a strike zone it will get bit, but the strike zone will vary from lake to lake.

largemouth have already been caught this year on a spinnerbait, as early as march. i didnt pay much attention to jan or feb, as my schedule was too busy. this can apply to smallies too.

Water temps at 50 or a tad below are ok for spinnerbaits. Got a 6+ on a spinnerbait in 50 degree water 2 years ago, what a strike. Missed another that day probably over 4, just work them slow. I think I'm going for smallies this weekend, only got one this year so far.

Thanks for the help. I've picked up 2 smallies at about a month ago. Its been so long on the bucketmouths that I forgot what they look like:-({|=

It's probably a good time for spinnerbaits. Try them early and late in the day or overcast weather.

Is there a good chance of the bass starting to come back up shallow since we are gonna start having warmer water

fishingmachine wrote:Is there a good chance of the bass starting to come back up shallow since we are gonna start having warmer water

sure is.

When the water is around 50 is my favorite time to use a ratt'l'trap or a crankbait. Spinnerbaits work well too, be sure to add the trailer hook it make a big difference!

I use a few crankbaits on bass but never when its this cold out. I'll give it a shot.

kevinb wrote:I use a few crankbaits on bass but never when its this cold out. I'll give it a shot.

Work them with a slow retrieve and give them a pause every once in a while!

kevinb wrote:I use a few crankbaits on bass but never when its this cold out. I'll give it a shot.

I actually use the Ratt'l'trap now, it's louder than a crankbait. If I start catching fish I will switch to the crankbait. Crankbait should be good when they start getting back into pre-spawn.

how about rattln raps? I've got a ton of these

kevinb wrote:how about rattln raps? I've got a ton of these

They'll work just vary your speed and be sure to add stop and go until you start catching fish!