Northwest Fishing Reports

Did your bass spawn this year, and how sure are you?

For example, I was talking the the people at Jerry's Landing at Elokia Lake in Eastern Washington. They said the Crappie were on the beds when the last big storm came in, but the storm pushed them off and they never came back. Did they complete their spawn, or did the abandon it this year? They said that they saw LMB on the beds when the storm came in, but after the storm only a few returned.

I have heard that at Banks people are catching Post Spawn, Spawn, and Pre Spawn, all in the same bay, even as late a June 20th.

I have observed that at Coffee Pot, in Eastern Washington, that two weeks ago I saw only three "old" beds, nothing new, no fish on beds. I fished my normal post spawn areas and caught fish. Last week, while fishing with a Mutaka Fly, barbless of course, I stomach hooked a 19" bass, way way way away from spawning areas; in fact, of the cliffs while fishing for trout. Now I don't make a practice of keeping my big bass, but I will not put a bleeding, about to die, bass back for the Pelicans to eat.

When I cleaned out the bass, SHE proved to be full of eggs, completely full. The water temperature was 67 degrees, no beds were to be found anywhere on the lake, and she clearly had not spawned, nor did she appear to be in any pre-spawn location.

So, are the bass just going to absorb their eggs and skip the spawn this year? I have heard of this before, but never observed it. Did your bass spawn, or did they skip also?

I've seen tons of fry swimming around in Lake Tapps. Not sure if they are bass or not though.

In most Lake only about 50% of the bass population actually spawn.. It's mother natures way of keep a good balance .. As for bass being in all three stages , thats typical for this time of year .. I can asure that most of the females bass have moved off there beds but you will find the males up garding there fry .. Hope this gives you some better insight as to whats going on right now .. Peace .. BBD

Good topic Anglin. I have been out on a regular basis fishing for pike, musky and bass. I have seen a FEW on beds but nothing like normal. I don't even see beds in areas where there were lots last year. Everytime we get weather that puts these fish in spawn mode we get a good cold front right behind it and it pushes them back out. I found bass on beds two days ago. Still only a couple but they were there. I think that it is just getting spread out more this year than normal. I saw a few on beds a month ago and still see a few on beds now.

I pulled a male off a bed the other day, no sight of his suitor though....

I've seen Bass beds with fish and fry bass every where in the lakes I'm fishing. Water temp 62* is the key for the female to drop eggs. The male will start the bed befor the temps get to 62*. If the temps drop they will stop bedding unless she has droped her eggs then the male will stay on bed even if the temps drop. And when the temps rise they will start again,the ones that didn't spawn befor the cold fronts.

i have seen hatched bass fry and males guarding beds and females still on nests

The Thumb currently has a bass nested on his seawall under a stump, circling and guarding.

E

Offut is having a second spawn now they are in all stages I saw a female with a male 2 days ago the male was about 5-6 pounds the female was smaller but boy was she fat!! It has been crazy but fun:-$

A lake in Yakima that I have been fishing has several(5-6) lg mouth on beds. I spotted over 10 beds each one with several bass within 3ft area. They would swim off but always come back. I have never seen this many bass per bed, thought they are territorial. Was able to get couple to bite, largest over 3.5lbs and smaller over 2lbs. Weather has been crazy this year. Had week stretch in mid May ove over 90, then down to low 60's early June. Back to low 80's lately.


"Reel Screamer"

Sounds like the Bass Spawn is going off, just a little weird this year.

I fished a prime lake Friday and Saturday and found that there were still Females that appeared to be egg full, but no ware near bedding areas. I found no beds at all around the lake. But .............. I did find fry. I doubt that the egg full females will spawn now with the water temp in the low 70's, but at least some must have got the spawn off before the big cold spell confused everything.

Thanks for the information, I look forward to more reports.

Water temp at my place is still a chillery 65.

E