Northwest Fishing Reports

I just got some new cranks, and I was so bored the other day i decided to go try them out.
I was fishing Larson Lake in Bellevue, and it has these pads that never go away...like they stay through the winter.
I tied on one of the cranks and threw it beside the pads a for a while and i caught two largemouths...one was tiny, and the other one was about 1lb, but thats a nice bass to me.

What i was wondering is why were the bass in the pads at this time of year? And also, arent they supposed to be larger then the 5 ouncer and 1lber at this time of year?

Thanks guys.

Hey there. I believe the main reason for them to be under the pads is because when the sun hit the pads it heats the pads and the water around them. Almost the opposite holds true for thw summer time. They hide under them for shade and to ambush. I guess one can compare it to how we blow on our hands to warm them when they're cold but we blow on hot food to cool it down. Same force is being used for two opposite outcomes.

As far as size goes you may have got some that are a year or so old. Different bass will grow faster or slower dependant on forage, genetics, and a buncha other factors. This time of the year the bigger boys are going to be in the most ideal places for warmth and feeding while the smaller ones get what they can.

RB

Nice work JT, great info RB

Thanks RB. I was pretty lost about why i caught them there.
Maybe its a good idea to hit the pads on a warmer then normal day.

JT,
I fish this lake up here on Whidbey, and struggle to catch bass, UNTIL late fall or winter, and then I get plenty of small fish like you caught. I believe (from what I have read and seen) is that these are yearling fish trying to still fatten up for the winter. When they start to feed it is pretty amazing. I know the little guys I pulled out ( a little less than a pound) had stuffed little bellies, like they had been really eating a lot lately. I was fishing a jointed rap topwater, just around docks and lily pads too. Good presentation for late fall, early winter.

As I am sure you know, Bass grow much slower up here in our cold water than elsewhere, so these are probably holdovers or early spring fish, and not very wiley yet.

Still a hoot to catch any Bass!