Northwest Fishing Reports

Starting the year with bass fishing one of my goals is to catch a keeper on spinnerbait, buzzbait, jig, crankbait and a frog. Now with that I also want to get better on one of the methods as last year I consently fell back on the plastics when the method I was trying didn’t work. Honestly I know I didn’t give any method much time or attention. So my question for this year if I were to pick one method to practice and use consistently for the entire season so that I have confidence with it by the end of the year, which would it be? My long term plan is each year pick one that I had focused on the year prior and then during that year stick with it while also practicing and getting better with the others that I have used during previous years. Well it is a plan anyways.

Best advice is to not get caught in one presentation as they all have their time and place. Read up on each and learn to put each tactic at work at the right time. If you are dead set on using one and only one make it the jig. That is the only tactic you have listed that will catch fish in any conditions, anytime of day, and anytime of year.

skeeter bassin wrote:Best advice is to not get caught in one presentation as they all have their time and place. Read up on each and learn to put each tactic at work at the right time. If you are dead set on using one and only one make it the jig. That is the only tactic you have listed that will catch fish in any conditions, anytime of day, and anytime of year.

Great advice, Skeeter. I agree. Catching quality bass consistently is all about decision making and adapting to changing conditions. For this reason, it is important to be proficient in a variety of techniques, but I have to agree with Skeeter on learning the jig. In my opinion, it is the most versatile lure you have listed. Jig fishing is one of the most difficult techniques to master, but I honestly believe that other techniques become much easier to learn once you dial in your jig fishing.

With that being said, crankbaits and spinnerbaits are two extremely versatile lures on your list that I feel are VERY important to master. They both cover water quickly and efficiently and catch a lot of fish. If you dial in the jig, the crankbait and the spinnerbait this season, you will be amazed at the numbers of quality fish you will catch during the course of the year.

Buzzbaits and frogs are two of my favorite lures to throw. They are fun and exciting to fish, plus they trigger strikes from huge bass. While they are not quite as versatile as the three previously mentioned lures, they are excellent lures to learn.

I think you have a great list. If you make a conscious effort stick with these lures and keep yourself from falling back on your plastics too soon, I know you will be pleased with the results.

Good luck.

I've found that plastics can be fished in MANY different ways, which makes them one of the most versatile lures available.
They can be fished on top, bottom, or middle water. The fact that they can be rigged weedless is a HUGE plus.

This year I plan on fishing BIG tubes a lot more. Local bass see LOTS of senkos & dropshot rigs, but I doubt if they see many tubes. Maybe it will work, and maybe it wont' -- we shall see...

Crankbaits have been my bread & butter search lure, but I'm going to use more swimbaits -- especially ones that wobble & can be rigged weedless (hollow belly).

Wow ... such great insight and so quick. Thanks all for the tips as it is sure to help define my upcoming year!!!

More great tips,thanks again.

BNG,we'll have to meet up and try some stuff out

kevinb wrote:More great tips,thanks again.

BNG,we'll have to meet up and try some stuff out

That sounds great Kev! Let me know and we will get it figured out. Am looking forward to it!

Listen to tag 100% if you havent noticed hes our celebrity here...if u havent done so check his pics out on his link and also kgm baits and the other was fish site..Thanks tag ur info helps me want to better myself

Bisk1tSnGraV wrote:

kevinb wrote:More great tips,thanks again.

BNG,we'll have to meet up and try some stuff out

That sounds great Kev! Let me know and we will get it figured out. Am looking forward to it!

In a couple weeks I'm meeting up with Micropterus again. Not sure where exactly...Offut,American or Black.
I'll keep you posted. I'm hitting Fivemile or Bradley early Sunday morning but won't be out to long,...sorry
its NFL Championship(s) games and I'm freakin' addicted to "Foosball"

Thanks, Sparky. I'm glad you find some of the tips helpful. I really miss all the ponds back in my hometown of Olympia. Black, St. Clair, Offut, Lawrence, Chambers, Ward, Long, Hicks, Patterson, McIntosh. Thurston County has some of the best largemouth fishing in the State as far as I'm concerned. I'll have to get down there fishing with you this season. You can show me where all the big girls live now!

Allot of great info on this thread, and again thanks tag for your input. Going to try to put some of these techniques to work.

BassFanatic wrote:Allot of great info on this thread, and again thanks tag for your input. Going to try to put some of these techniques to work.

There is a lot of great info!! :brilsmurf

i had to choose one and only one bait to fish from early spring through late fall for largemouth, i would choose a spinnerbait hands down. the spinnerbait bite slows down in the summer, but in my opinion nothing catches bass better in bad weather and cold water, 2 things that there are plenty of in Washington in the spring and fall.

Nik wrote:i had to choose one and only one bait to fish from early spring through late fall for largemouth, i would choose a spinnerbait hands down. the spinnerbait bite slows down in the summer, but in my opinion nothing catches bass better in bad weather and cold water, 2 things that there are plenty of in Washington in the spring and fall.

What colors do you like?

HillbillyGeek wrote:

Nik wrote:i had to choose one and only one bait to fish from early spring through late fall for largemouth, i would choose a spinnerbait hands down. the spinnerbait bite slows down in the summer, but in my opinion nothing catches bass better in bad weather and cold water, 2 things that there are plenty of in Washington in the spring and fall.

What colors do you like?

i know you arent asking me but i am a huge spinnerbait fan. i like white or a chartrouse and white 3/8 to a full oz. most of my big fish fall to spinnerbaits.

tnj8222 wrote:

HillbillyGeek wrote:

Nik wrote:i had to choose one and only one bait to fish from early spring through late fall for largemouth, i would choose a spinnerbait hands down. the spinnerbait bite slows down in the summer, but in my opinion nothing catches bass better in bad weather and cold water, 2 things that there are plenty of in Washington in the spring and fall.

What colors do you like?

i know you arent asking me but i am a huge spinnerbait fan. i like white or a chartrouse and white 3/8 to a full oz. most of my big fish fall to spinnerbaits.

Thanks for the info. I've never done very well with spinnnerbaits but I'm going to give them another try this spring.

HillbillyGeek wrote:

tnj8222 wrote:

HillbillyGeek wrote: What colors do you like?

i know you arent asking me but i am a huge spinnerbait fan. i like white or a chartrouse and white 3/8 to a full oz. most of my big fish fall to spinnerbaits.

Thanks for the info. I've never done very well with spinnnerbaits but I'm going to give them another try this spring.

I have always had a spinnerbait at the top of my list in the midwest! Not so much of a fan up here in the Washington!

tnj8222 wrote:

HillbillyGeek wrote:

Nik wrote:i had to choose one and only one bait to fish from early spring through late fall for largemouth, i would choose a spinnerbait hands down. the spinnerbait bite slows down in the summer, but in my opinion nothing catches bass better in bad weather and cold water, 2 things that there are plenty of in Washington in the spring and fall.

What colors do you like?

i know you arent asking me but i am a huge spinnerbait fan. i like white or a chartrouse and white 3/8 to a full oz. most of my big fish fall to spinnerbaits.

he might as well have been asking you because i would have given him pretty much the same answer.

As far as colors 4 spinners or any other bait,..water clarity plays a big part!! JMO!

BB

BassinBomber wrote:As far as colors 4 spinners or any other bait,..water clarity plays a big part!! JMO!

BB

I agree 100%, BB. When selecting colors for spinnerbaits I also like to factor in light penetration or sky conditions (sunny, overcast, early morning/late evening, night time) as well as forage (more applicable in clearer water).