Northwest Fishing Reports

The temps have dropped nearly 20 degrees this week with light rain and cloud cover. What can I do to trigger bites? Wouldn't this weather make them more active in shallow water? I fish from shore and have not had any luck yet. going to be this way for couple more days and I wanna take advantage of the break from the heat. Any tips are much appreciated and will be put to use with reports to follow.

If anything, strange weather patterns like this past week will push fish into deeper water if there isn't good cover nearby. They'll hole up in heavy cover (docks, rock piles, lay downs, grass) when they can and feed when it gets close enough to grab - you won't see too many big bass swimming the shallows right now. You might see some little ones, though, but they won't be aggressive at all, and most likely won't expend the energy to hit topwater unless you really tick one off.

Keep in mind that while the temperature outside dropped 20 degrees for us, the water temperature hasn't dropped that much - but it's enough to slow the fish down a bit. As water gradually gets deeper, surface temperature changes aren't as impactful - that water at 15 to 25 feet deep isn't going to change much just because of a few days of lower temperature. A month of lower temps and then that thermocline is going to start shifting dramatically.

We're expecting good weather Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. I expect the fishing will be better on Sunday - give them a few days to acclimate to more typical temps and to get back to where they were last week before this blew in. I'll probably fish tomorrow morning for a little while, but I'm not expecting much until Sunday.

In Wa the cold weather and rain! I think from fishing here, the cold dosen't bother the fish like it dose us, as fishermen. They are still very active right now. I've been out this week end in the rain,wind,and cold weather we caught plenty of LMB. This past spring was cold,rain,wind and some very nice fish came out of some nasty conditions. Fish on don't stop now the BIG ONES are about to feed.

Try using reaction lures to cover water, spinnerbaits and cranks.

Dont be afraid to try stuff that isnt "correct". i was shore fishing washington today getting topwater hits in the cold and rain. Also got a fatty squawfish on a swimbait... stupid squawfish...

The crappy weather is great. Last Sunday (17th) the wind came up real good at 3:30. I headed for the lake and when I got there. Almost ALL the skiers and borders were waiting to get their boats out of the lake. Me.. I was launching. In about 75 minutes I boated 8 smallies between 2.5 and 3.5 pounds. In 4 or 5 outings, many fish were caught. Yesterday I watched a bass take down a 14" suckerfish, only wounding it. As the fish twitched on top, the BASS repeatedly attcked it, trying to take it down. The big fish are active and being caught. Just ask the guy that went with me and got a nice 6lb 12oz largemouth on a swimbait! It put my 5lb 4 oz to shame.... IMO, changes in barometric pressure are good and give me the fishing itch real good. My advice, fish bigger than usual baits and i would use more natural patterned baits too. Golds and Chromes depending on forage.

Thanks for advice JWerner, will put it to action today. Mid 70's in Yakima

allot of good info guys thanks

I tend to agree with all of the above, but of course just to a point.

I have had my best days just as a cold front moved in after a long hot dry spell. It seems to kick them into a feeding mood. Now, after the cold front has settled in, it can put them down hard, and that takes fishing deep, often slow, often big.

I have seen that just changing from cold and low pressure to high pressure will not help.

Here is my observations, three days of stable weather, be it cold and miserable or hot and clear, is the best. It seems to take three days for the fish to stabilize. If the pressure and temperature are stable, then wind only makes the fishing better, no mater what.

Of course, there have been exceptions to that rule, and fish in rivers and streams seem to respond faster to stable weather, so my best advice is simple.













No mater what, the worst day fishing is still better than the best day working.